Publications
Banking secrecy and safes: access by the authorities and reporting obligations
By Raphaël MORENON12 August 2025Renting a safe deposit box from a bank is often seen as the ultimate in discretion and security. For many individuals and businesses, it is a private, almost inviolable space designed to protect valuable assets or important documents from prying eyes. This perception is based on a long tradition of banking secrecy, which is one of the cornerstones of trust between customers and their financial institution. Yet this confidentiality, while fundamental, is not absolute. The legal and regulatory framework has evolved considerably, seeking a balance between the protection of privacy and the imperatives of the fight against fraud, money laundering and terrorism. Understanding the real contours of this secrecy is therefore essential for any safe-deposit box holder. In order to understand the basics of the bank safe deposit box contract, it is necessary to analyse the scope and limits of the...
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> The practice of seizing propertyA practical, chronological and exhaustive study of the implementation of a property seizure procedure.
We put all our expertise to work to achieve a simple objective: to prevent a property seizure.
European regulation of cross-border financial services
Leasing has become an essential financing tool in the European single market. Its cross-border dimension raises complex legal issues. This article analyses the regulatory framework for financial institutions operating across national borders. Freedom to provide services in the European Banking Directive...International leasing and the Ottawa Convention
Cross-border financing requires appropriate legal frameworks. International leasing meets this need but creates areas of legal uncertainty. The Ottawa Convention attempts to remedy this. Definition and characteristics of international leasing A leasing transaction becomes international when the parties are governed by different legal systems. The contract...Dispensing with formal notice: when and how to dispense with it legally
A reminder seems necessary. A formal notice is the act by which a creditor asks his debtor to fulfil his obligation. It marks the starting point for default interest and crystallises the recipient's default. This unilateral legal act challenges and informs the addressee of the creditor's demands....The fundamental tasks of the Banque de France within the ESCB
The Banque de France is no ordinary banking institution. As part of the European System of Central Banks (ESCB), it performs essential functions in our economy. It contributes to price stability and the smooth functioning of financial systems. Let's take a look at its four main tasks. 1. implementing the...Banking ethics rules: between soft law and legal obligations
Today's banks are juggling with different standards. On the one hand, strict laws and regulations. On the other, ethical rules that are sometimes blurred. This grey area between obligation and recommendation is worth exploring to understand how these requirements fit together and what the implications are for customers. IntroductionThe components of the TEG: what is included and excluded
Understanding the components of the Total Effective Rate (TEG) is essential for any borrower. This rate, which is used to compare the real cost of borrowing, includes much more than just interest. Certain costs are systematically included, while others are excluded. These distinctions can have significant financial and legal consequences....Informing borrowers of the TEG: legal obligations and issues
Credit mechanisms are based on a natural imbalance between lender and borrower. The law attempts to correct this asymmetry by imposing strict obligations to provide information, particularly on the Total Effective Rate (TEG). Understanding these obligations protects your rights as a borrower and may, in certain situations, enable you to dispute charges...Penalties for errors or omissions in the TEG: developments in case law
The Total Effective Rate (TEG) is often at the heart of disputes between borrowers and banks. Case law has changed considerably in recent years, altering the balance between protecting borrowers and ensuring the legal certainty of loan contracts. Developments in civil penalties Historically, the courts declared the nullity of the clause...Usury in credit law: understanding and protecting yourself
Any financial transaction can quickly fall into the trap of excessive interest rates. Alongside the TEG (Taux Effectif Global), usury constitutes a legal bulwark against abuse by lenders. But what exactly does this concept mean under French law? When does a rate become usurious? Who can claim usury? Legal definition...Penalties for loansharking: criminal and civil consequences
French legislation strictly regulates the cost of credit. It protects borrowers against excessive rates by means of a comprehensive repressive system, particularly in terms of usury. A loan becomes usurious when its total effective rate (TEG) is more than one-third higher than the average rate charged by credit institutions...
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