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.
Credit unions: fundamental principles and legal framework
The French banking landscape includes players that are less well known to the general public, but whose economic weight remains considerable: the credit cooperatives. These institutions now account for more than two-thirds of bank financing for the French economy. Major groups such as Crédit Agricole, Crédit Mutuel and Crédit Agricole de France are...Property leasing: specific situations and special arrangements
Property leasing is a powerful financing tool, but its structure can take different forms depending on a company's needs. Unlike traditional credit, leasing combines rental and purchase options in a sophisticated legal arrangement defined by article L. 313-7 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. Controlling the...The administration of syndicated loans: legal and operational issues
Syndicated loans are an essential tool for financing large-scale projects. This technique makes it possible to spread the risk between several banks while ensuring harmonised credit management. The effectiveness of this mechanism depends on rigorous organisation and a clear definition of roles. 1. Centralised administration...Ethical banking rules: protecting private individuals
How do you navigate the jungle of bank charges? What protection is there for vulnerable customers? Under pressure from regulators and consumer associations, the French banking sector has developed a vast body of rules of good conduct. These professional standards, which are often ignored by the general public, nevertheless constitute...Auctions of boats, ships and aircraft: procedures and legal particularities
Buying a pleasure boat, merchant ship or aircraft by auction can be an excellent opportunity. However, these procedures, which come under the heading of sales by movable auction, are governed by complex legal rules that are often unfamiliar to the general public. Whether it is a forced sale after...Changes in over-indebtedness law: towards better protection for debtors
Over-indebtedness is a relatively recent phenomenon in our legal system. Since the Neiertz Act of 1989, there has been a steady succession of reforms. This constant evolution aims to adapt the law to new economic and social realities. The emergence of the law on over-indebtedness in France Over-indebtedness has not...Abandoned objects: auction procedures and rights of parties
What happens to suitcases left in a hotel for months? How can a garage owner dispose of a car that has never been recovered? The law lays down specific procedures for auctioning abandoned items, protecting the rights of both owners and custodians. 1 The legal framework...The legal framework for furniture auctions: what you need to know
The public auction, with its characteristic ritual and the hammer that seals the deal, fascinates as much as it questions. The legal framework surrounding auctions has changed radically in recent years. Since 2011, the field has been liberalised, opening up new possibilities while maintaining the necessary framework. Recent developments...Auction sales of timber harvests and cuttings: legal framework and specific features
Selling crops or timber at auction involves a specific procedure. The repeal of the law of 5 June 1851 changed this legal framework. What rules apply today? Introduction: legal classification of harvests and cuttings of wood Public sales of harvests concern the products of...Auctions of new goods: legal framework and practices
Act 2011-850 of 20 July 2011 radically changed the rules governing auctions of new goods in France. Previously severely restricted, these sales are now authorised subject to conditions. This change marks the end of a centuries-old principle enshrined in the law of 25 June 1841, which prohibited the sale...
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