Choose France 2024: France’s attractiveness still at its highest

Lydie Bontemps-Helmy, Esq.

The 7th Choose France Summit, held on May 13, 2024, brought together nearly 200 foreign business leaders of 40 different nationalities. 56 foreign investment projects were announced, representing a total of €15 billion and 10,000 jobs.

Created in 2018 by President Emmanuel Macron, Choose France aims at highlighting the importance of international investment and presenting to international companies the reforms carried out by the French Government to promote economic growth on its territory.

This success illustrates France’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its economy and attract foreign investors.

Related rights and press publishers: Google fined €250 million

Claire Filliatre, Esq.

Google has agreed to pay a substantial new fine of €250 million to the French Competition Authority for failing to comply with its commitments regarding related rights (also known as neighboring rights).

Law No. 2019-775 of July 24, 2019 “on the creation of related rights for the benefit of news agencies and press publishers”, that transposed Directive (EU) 2019/790 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market, aims at ensuring fair compensation for news agencies and press publishers when their contents are reused on online platforms.

Paid leave entitlement and medical leave : New rules and new employers’ obligation to inform employees

Olivia Heilpern, Esq.

The new legal rules on paid leave entitlement during a medical leave, and on the taking of such paid leave, introduced by Law No. 2024-364 of April 22, 2024, became effective on April 24, 2024.

With a few exceptions, these new rules apply retroactively for the period between December 1, 2009 and April 24, 2024 (the day after publication of the Law).

European Ecodesign Regulation definitively adopted

Laure Marolleau, Esq.

The European Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR) was adopted by the European Parliament on April 23, 2024 and by the Council on May 27, 2024. This regulation establishes a general framework for the introduction of environmental sustainability standards for most products placed on the European market.

It replaces the existing Ecodesign Directive and extends its scope beyond energy products to all types of products placed on the EU market.

Invitation to the next meeting of our Compliance Task force – How to prevent and mitigate reputational risk?

The next meeting of the Compliance Task Force created by the European American Chamber of Commerce Auvergne Rhone-Alps (EACC) in partnership with Soulier Avocats will be held on June 13, 2024 in Genay (Rhône).

In today’s ever-expanding risk landscape, any business development strategy requires a reputational due diligence, inspired by the “Reputational and Integrity Due Diligence” (RIDD) practice in Anglosphere countries, in order to assess the reputation and honorability of, for example, a target or a potential business partner.

Following a brief review of the latest developments in compliance by our Counsel Claire Filliatre, Laurent Delhalle, Senior Manager at Implid, will share his experience, professional practice and methodology in reputational due diligence and reputational risk mapping.

WLG | regional Helsinki ’24 conference

Our Counsels Laure Marolleau, Claire Filliatre and Lydie Bontemps-Helmy attended the “WLG | regional Helsinki ’24” conference which took place on May 7 and 8 in Helsinki, Finland.

This conference brought together senior associates and young partners from EMEA member firms of the World Law Group, a global network of leading independent law firms.

Two major themes were addressed: the growing use of artificial intelligence and the expanding role of ESG in lawyers’ professional activities.