Practices

We assist our clients in the following four practice areas:

• media and communication ;
• information technologies ;
• commercial law ;
• litigation.

Media and Communication

1. Television

Advising a US technology company on the use of interactive advertising within French and UK television programming.

Assisting a large US television company, also based in the UK, in setting up its business in France and obtaining French broadcast licenses.

Reviewing and amending a model management agreement to be offered by a well-known modelling agency to the winner of the UK television show contest produced by a major media company and related mother agency commission agreement.

Negotiating and drafting management and merchandising agreements for UK media company, also based in New York and Los Angeles, with participants of French adaptation of television contest produced by major UK producer and broadcast by French private television channel. Setting up French operation and assisting on labour issues.

2. Film

Negotiating and drafting option and co-production agreements between UK and French film producers.

Re-draft presale television agreement between the English producer of a television series and a French broadcast comapny.

Assisting US guarantor in assessing position under French law in respect to liquidation of the producer “délégué” of the film guaranteed and in discussions with various French financiers, and eventually enabling client to avoid payment of the US $10 million guarantee.

Advising UK funding body in respect to financing French films.

3. Music

Negotiating and drafting artist, producer, motion picture soundtrack, original cast recording, master use, video program licenses and video production agreements.

Advising marketing team in connection with sale and promotion of products through a web site, sweepstakes, and charitable organizations.

Negotiating and drafting supporting documentation in connection with international joint venture agreements (i.e., performance and/or termination) with regional partners in the Middle East, South America and Indonesia.

Managing strategy of litigations or out of court disputes with artists, producers and copyright owners, including with the estate of a famous artist(s).

4. Modelling

Negotiating and drafting industry agreements, including management, scout and commission agreements; intervening in settlements in and out-of-court with models, competitors and clients.

Information Technologies

Information technology in its broadest sense is critical to the commercial success of most businesses. We use our understanding of the technology and the role of IT in today’s world to advise on the best approach to legal issues.

Our litigation expertise covers dealing with information technology and new technologies disputes in addition to experience in areas ranging from intellectual property, communication and press to product liability and international trade.

Our services include advising in the following areas of our corporate clients' IT based activities :

Drafting, audit and negotiation of IT agreements

• Software license agreements
• Maintenance agreements
• System integration agreements (ERP, CRM, SCM...)
• IT development agreements
• Web Site creation and hosting agreements
• Distribution, editing, production agreements etc.

Advising on IT projects’ conduct and outsourcing:

• Drafting of contractual specifications
• Drafting of invitations to tender
• Drafting of Quality Insurance Plan
• Managing and limiting legal exposure
• Managing relationships between the various participants of IT projects

Advising on IT litigations

We have experience in all aspects of dispute resolution, including:

• Preventative measures
• High court litigation
• Court ordered expertises
• Alternative dispute resolution and arbitration

Setting attack or defense strategies, drafting procedural acts and technical responses, representing our clients before the courts, pleadings

Commercial Law

Drafting, audit and negotiation of most civil and corporate law agreements, such as :

• General sales conditions
• General product and services sales conditions
• Distribution agreements
• Franchise agreements
• License agreements
• Commercial agency agreements
• Equipment leasing agreements

Litigation

We advise our clients in litigations arising out of the general business of the company, in particular in the areas of :

• IT projects;
• Infringements and other IP disputes;
• Unfair competition;
• IT systems infringements;
• Libel and other crimes through presse and Internet;
• General commercial litigation and debt collection.