Construction

Our team has more than thirty years of experience in the field of construction, both in mainland France and in the overseas departments and French-speaking Africa.

Our lawyers, who enjoy a high reputation in this field, advise and support all players in the construction industry as well as investors and infrastructure operators throughout the life of a construction project, regardless of its size. They support SMEs, medium-sized companies and major construction groups, architects, project managers or even public clients in the preparation and implementation of public-law or private-law construction projects. Our lawyers can advise you from the consultation or tender phase up to the delivery of the binding commitment, then during the development of the construction project as well as during the construction work. After acceptance, we assist you with all problems relating to invoicing (statement of account, complaint) until the expiry of the various guarantee or test periods, in particular the special ten-year guarantee provided for in construction law (construction performance insurance). In the latter case, our lawyers can be hired by the builder’s insurance company. We adopt different kinds of approach, based on a comprehensive understanding of the technical problems (earthworks, sanitary installations, roads; special works and deep foundations; scaffolding; reinforced and prestressed concrete structures; prefabrications; masonry, finishing works; presence of asbestos or lead in renovation works and/or heavy renovation works).
Contracting process
Our long and wide experience helps us to draft, analyze, review and/or negotiate contractual documents, both administrative and technical, but also to enter into settlement agreements in the interests of our clients.
Contract management
At the client’s request, we ensure continuous monitoring of the planned construction project until acceptance, also on site. In this context, we also assess and manage all economic, legal and technical risks. For this purpose, we provide specific advice adapted to the expectations of our clients in the form of operational services. We offer a wide range of services according to the concerned stages of the construction project, from the signing of the contract to invoicing, as well as to the specificities of the planned construction project. Our services include the development of tailor-made solutions that are perfectly adapted to the construction projects to be carried out (contract guidelines, risk management, observation sheets, etc.), but also the creation of a systematic collection of all documents.
Disputes and court proceedings - Mediation

We use our energy and experience to defend our clients’ interests. If an amicable settlement of the dispute is not possible, we naturally also represent our clients in interim proceedings or proceedings on the merits before the civil and administrative courts, whether at first instance or on appeal. If possible, we also act through alternative dispute resolution forms, such as mediation (in particular before the Centre de médiation et d’arbitrage de Paris – CMAP, i.e. the Centre for Mediation and Arbitration of Paris, or before the Médiateur des Entreprises, i.e. the Mediator for Companies).

Amicable or judicial expertise
We offer our support and know-how at every stage of the inquiry method at stake. This applies to problems that have arisen in connection with the special ten-year guarantee provided for in construction law or with a period of drought classified as a natural disaster. Depending on the problem, we work closely with our clients to gradually determine the essential points of the expert opinion and the appointment of a technician. This technician can either be appointed by the parties by mutual agreement in the context of amicable proceedings or, in the case of contentious proceedings, be appointed by the competent judge in interim proceedings at the request of one of the parties. We represent the interests of our clients at court hearings and expert meetings as well as in the final phase of the preparation of the expert report in order to ensure a comprehensive, well-founded and relevant technical analysis. Such an analysis is particularly necessary for the successful course of subsequent court proceedings, but also to reach an amicable settlement. The expert’s suggestions are usually taken into account in the preparation of arguments and in the course of negotiations. Given our broad experience in this field and our consolidated relationship with the players in the construction industry, our activity can also cover, in the case of an amicable expertise, the recommendation of a technician, who will be able to carefully and quickly handle the problems encountered.

Partners, Heads of Department

Pierre Le Breton Partner

Eve Derouesné Partner

Christoph Schödel Partner