Companies & Corporate Contracts
Setting Up or Running a Company in France? It's Not as Simple as Back Home.
You’ve decided to start a business in France — or you’re already running one. Perhaps you’re restructuring, bringing in new shareholders, or expanding from abroad. Either way, you’re dealing with a system that works differently from what you’re used to.
French company law has its own structures, its own formalities, and its own way of doing things. An SAS is not a limited company. A SARL is not an LLC. The articles of association carry different weight, the director’s liability works differently, and the administrative requirements can catch you off guard if you’re not expecting them.
When the company also has international dimensions — foreign shareholders, a parent company abroad, cross-border operations — the questions multiply. Which country’s rules govern the shareholder agreement? How do French corporate formalities interact with your obligations elsewhere? What are the tax implications of the structure you’ve chosen?
These are the situations where getting the structure wrong at the start creates problems that are expensive and time-consuming to fix later.
Why This Needs a Former Notary's Perspective
Julie Gordon spent years as a practising notary — the French professional at the centre of company formations, corporate restructuring, share transfers, and authenticated legal documents. That means practical, first-hand experience of how French corporate structures actually work, not just how they look on paper.
As a specialist consultant in international law and companies, Julie now focuses on the situations where French company law meets international complexity — helping clients who need to get the structure right across borders.
Situations We Work With
Every company situation is different, and the right approach depends on your specific circumstances. Our clients typically come to us when they are:
Creating a company in France as a foreign national or with international shareholders
Choosing between French corporate structures and unsure which one fits their situation
Drafting or reviewing shareholder agreements with cross-border dimensions
Restructuring an existing company or modifying its governance
Managing ongoing corporate formalities that French law requires
Dealing with share transfers, changes of management, or capital modifications
Winding down or dissolving a French company
Once your company is established, the contracts it enters into with international partners raise their own cross-border questions. → International Business Contracts
When shareholders, directors, or operations span multiple countries, determining which rules apply requires specialist analysis. → Private International Law
Contact Us
Every corporate situation has its own specifics. Contact us for a consultation to understand exactly where you stand and what your options are.