Commercial, business and competition law
Direct marketing of banking and financial services: a complete guide to regulations and obligations
By Charlotte GAUCHON30 June 2025Banking and financial canvassing, the practice of soliciting potential customers outside traditional branches, is an activity that is strictly regulated by law to protect savers. Given the proliferation of offers and the complexity of the products on offer, it is essential to understand the framework governing these practices in order to avoid pitfalls and make informed decisions. This article provides an overview of the basic rules governing direct marketing. To navigate this regulatory environment with confidence, the assistance of a professional can prove decisive. You can consult the expertise of our lawyers in banking and financial law for tailor-made assistance. Introduction to banking and financial canvassing Definition and purpose of canvassing Banking or financial canvassing is defined as any unsolicited contact with a person, by any means whatsoever, with the aim of obtaining an agreement for a banking or financial transaction....
Insurance for aircraft users: protecting yourself as a passenger or shipper
Insurance, Commercial, Business and Competition LawWhile airlines are at the heart of the aviation insurance system, they are not the only ones concerned. As a user - whether you are an occasional or regular passenger, a private pilot, a member of an aeroclub, or a company shipping goods by air - you also have specific needs in terms of...Understanding river and lake insurance: a specific legal framework
Insurance, Commercial, Business and Competition LawNavigation on France's rivers, canals and lakes is an important economic activity, whether for transporting goods or for tourism. Yet the insurance that covers these activities is often little-known, overshadowed by its maritime or land-based cousins. Sailing on inland waters is certainly less risky...What is an agricultural activity in the eyes of the law?
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawThe traditional image of the farmer, often associated with working the land and raising livestock in a family setting, has changed considerably. Today, agriculture covers a much more diverse and complex economic reality. From energy production to tourism, the facets of this sector have multiplied. This diversification raises...Legal tools specific to the modern farmer (farm business, EIRL, insolvency proceedings)
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawToday's farm is much more than just a place of production: it's a real business. Like any business, it has specific needs in terms of financing, asset enhancement and protection of the farmer's assets, and must be able to cope with economic uncertainties. Aware of these...Choosing the right structure: agricultural companies and cooperatives
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawGone are the days when farming was almost exclusively the preserve of individual farmers. Today, to pool investment, share work and risks, optimise taxation or prepare for the transfer of the farm, many farmers are choosing to form a group. But what legal form does this take? French law offers a...The farmer and the market: contracts, distribution and competition rules
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawFar from being an isolated player, the modern farmer is at the heart of a complex network of economic relationships. He engages in dialogue, negotiates and contracts with his suppliers upstream, his customers downstream (cooperatives, manufacturers, distributors, consumers), and has to deal with a dense regulatory framework, including competition rules. The way in which...The legal framework for agriculture today: understanding the key issues
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawFrench agriculture, rich in diversity and tradition, is also a sector undergoing profound change. Faced with new economic, environmental and social challenges, farmers have to navigate an increasingly complex legal environment. This legal framework, which combines old rules with new ones, is...Understanding aviation insurance: an essential guide for industry players
Insurance, Commercial, Business and Competition LawThe world of aviation fascinates by its technology and its ability to connect people and continents. But behind this image of modernity and efficiency lies a complex environment, where risks are omnipresent and the financial stakes are considerable. Whether it's a minor technical incident, a meteorological event...Specific procedures for obtaining an entrepreneur's residence permit in France
Commercial, business and competition lawHave you identified the right residence permit for your business project in France? Congratulations, that's an important step. Now you need to get ready to take the next step: the administrative formalities involved in obtaining this residence and work permit. Whether you're still abroad...The agricultural integration contract in brief: what you need to know
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawAre you a farmer working closely with a food company, feed supplier, abattoir or processing plant? Your relationship may be governed by an integration contract, a very specific legal arrangement with precise rights and obligations for each party. Understanding the...Collective integration contracts and the move towards economic dependence
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawThe individual integration contract, a direct link between a farmer and a company, is just one aspect of the legislator's desire to organise agro-industrial relations. As early as the 1960s, tools were put in place to encourage a collective approach, via interprofessional agreements and standard contracts. The idea was...Integration contract: conditions of validity and focus on livestock farming
Agriculture, Commercial, business and competition lawSigning an integration contract involves the farmer in an often intense economic and legal relationship with a company. But be careful: to be valid and effective, this contract must comply with very precise formal conditions imposed by law. A poorly drafted or incomplete contract simply runs the risk of being...Operating a hotel in France: legal and regulatory framework
Commercial, business and competition law, HotelsRunning a hotel business in France is an exciting entrepreneurial adventure, at the heart of a dynamic but highly regulated sector. Navigating the maze of legal and regulatory rules can be a complex task for professionals, whether newcomers or established players. However, a good understanding of this framework is essential...The hotel contract: booking, rights and duties of the customer and the hotelier
Commercial, business and competition law, HotelsA stay in a hotel, whether for business or pleasure, is based on a fundamental agreement: the hotel contract. Often concluded quickly, sometimes even without a formal written document for a simple overnight stay, this contract nonetheless remains the cornerstone of the relationship between the operator and the guest...Doing business in France as a foreigner: what you need to know
Commercial, business and competition lawFrance, with its dynamic market and innovation-friendly ecosystem, attracts many entrepreneurs from all over the world. If you're a foreign national thinking of setting up a business in France, you're probably wondering about the specific rules that apply...River and lake insurance: the essential guide to protected navigation
Insurance, Commercial, Business and Competition LawNavigating France's rivers, canals and lakes offers unique opportunities, whether for transporting goods or for pleasure. Although inland navigation is often considered less dangerous than maritime navigation, it is not without its risks. Technical problems,...Identifying inland waterway vessels: registration and measurement
Commercial, business and competition law, NavigationFor many people, navigating the rivers and canals of France in their own barge, houseboat or self-propelled transport vessel is a dream or a professional reality. However, beyond the pleasure of navigation or commercial imperatives, river boats have a very specific legal status...Ownership and transfer of a river boat
Commercial, business and competition law, NavigationAt first glance, the purchase or sale of an inland waterway vessel, whether a houseboat, a converted former motor vessel or a goods transport unit, may seem to fall under the classic rules for the sale of movable property. However, the legal reality is more nuanced. While the French Code...Security interests in river vessels: liens and mortgages
Commercial, business and competition law, NavigationAcquiring, maintaining or operating an inland waterway vessel often represents a substantial investment. To finance these operations, recourse to credit is frequent. Conversely, many professionals (suppliers, repairers, crews, port authorities, etc.) may hold debts relating to the operation of the boat. How can lenders guarantee repayment?...Seizure of the boat: enforcement measures and protection of the creditor
Commercial, business and competition law, NavigationWhen a debtor fails to honour his financial commitments, the creditor has legal means at his disposal to recover the debt. If the debtor is the owner of a valuable asset, such as an inland waterway vessel, this asset may be subject to specific procedures known as enforcement measures. French law, supplemented by other...
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