Our expertise
French governance & shareholders
You share ownership of a French business. Make decision-making and exit arrangements clear.
Discuss your French projectFor international shareholders, joint-venture partners and founders.
The French legal work involved.
The parties may have different expectations about control, information and share transfers. We help them turn the agreed commercial arrangements into French corporate documents, including governance rules and shareholder agreements. Your home-country advisers can remain involved throughout the work.
Questions to address
- Which decisions require the shareholders’ agreement?
- How will changes in ownership and exits be handled?
- What should happen if the parties cannot agree?
- Set the governance framework
Management powers, reserved matters and corporate decision-making.
- Agree shareholder rights
Information rights, minority protections and the balance between investors and founders.
- Plan share transfers
Transfer restrictions, pre-emption, exit rights and changes in ownership.
- Organise joint ventures
French corporate documentation and coordination with the parties’ advisers.
- Anticipate disagreement
Deadlock provisions and legal support when shareholder relationships become difficult.
An agreed French-law scope.
We agree the legal documents, the working arrangements and the fee structure before the engagement starts.
Your lawyer and the working approach
The next steps for your French business