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Has your French customer become insolvent? How French insolvency procedures work, how to file your claim in time, and how to protect what you are owed.

A practical guide for international companies on protecting trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets under French law. Written by George Apostol, English-speaking lawyer in France.

For US and UK businesses trading in France, protecting a brand name or trademark is a legal necessity in a market where rights are territorial. This guide explains how registration works, the national, EU and international routes available to foreign companies, and how to enforce your rights.

For many English-speaking entrepreneurs from the United States and the United Kingdom, a French joint venture represents an attractive gateway into the European market. Whether the objective is to access local distribution networks, share industrial know-how, or respond to public tenders, partnering with a French company can significantly accelerate market entry.

Disputes between business partners in France can arise at various stages of a company’s development: disagreements over governance, profit distribution, strategic direction, breach of shareholders’ agreements, or allegations of mismanagement. For US and UK entrepreneurs operating in France, understanding how business disputes are resolved under French law is essential to protecting both corporate stability and personal liability exposure.

For US and UK entrepreneurs operating in France, negotiating contracts with French companies requires more than commercial alignment. The French legal environment is structured, codified and strongly influenced by principles of good faith, statutory protections and judicial scrutiny of contractual balance.

France represents one of the largest franchise markets in Europe, with a well-developed retail infrastructure, sophisticated consumers and a mature legal framework. For international franchises from the United States or the United Kingdom, the French market offers significant opportunities. However, entering France requires careful navigation of legal, regulatory, tax and cultural constraints that differ substantially from common law jurisdictions.