Notification of a decision to a foreign state or its embassy

Laurent LATAPIE Avocat Docteur en Droit

What about diplomatic channels for notifying a French decision to a foreign state directly to the foreign state or to its French embassy? In particular, a French decision to be notified to the United States of America and the United States Ambassador to France. Distinction between the so-called « long » and « short » circuits and the practical implementation of the Hague Convention of 15 November 1965 on the Service Abroad of Judicial and Extrajudicial Documents in Civil or Commercial Matters .

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Notification d’une décision à un Etat étranger ou à son Ambassade

Laurent LATAPIE Avocat Docteur en Droit

Qu’en est-il des voies diplomatiques pour notifier une décision française à un Etat étranger directement auprès de l’Etat étranger ou à son Ambassade en France. Plus particulièrement une décision française à notifier aux Etats-Unis d’Amérique ainsi qu’à l’ambassadeur des Etats-Unis d’Amérique en France. Distinction entre circuit dit “long” et circuit dit “court” et mise en œuvre pratique de la Convention de la Haye du 15 novembre 1965, relative à la signification et la notification à l’étranger des actes judiciaires et extrajudiciaires en matière civile ou commerciale.

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Exequatur of an arbitral award, corruption and judicial review

Laurent Latapie Avocat French riviera

In the event of an exequatur of an arbitration award, is the French judge obliged to widen the scope of these verifications? This is even more so when criminally convicted cases of corruption are at the origin of the commercial dispute that led to the contractual recourse to arbitration?

Article:

It is worth looking at two case law that was issued last September and that come to address the issue of the exequatur of an arbitral award and the judicial control that can be performed by magistrates on this occasion.

In French law, the exequatur approach is always approached in a so-called minimalist manner.

In fact, the Judge just carries out verifications of use in particular for the respect of the rules of international public order to be able to proceed to the exequatur of a foreign decision.

In the case of an arbitration, the French Judge is in a position to exequaturate an arbitration decision.

However, the case seemed more complex than it seemed.

Indeed, the arbitration phase itself was accompanied by a criminal procedure, distinct indeed, but characterizing the corruption of members belonging to the parties involved in the conduct of the arbitration.

The question arose as to whether, ultimately, the judge was not required to carry out a more extensive check and refuse, if necessary, to validate the exequatur?

The Court of Cassation answers, once is not custom, in the affirmative.

In that case and following two contested judgments of the Paris Court of Appeal of 27 September and 15 November 2016, Company B and Company I concluded on 13 December 2007 a contract for the sale of granular urea for two African states.

Relying on the delay in unloading the vessel carrying the goods, the second company implemented the arbitration agreement contained in the contract and requested the payment of demurrage.

During the arbitration proceeding on February 25, 2013, the parties agreed that Company B would pay US $ 1 million to Company I.

It was then a question of proceeding to the exequatur of two decisions, the arbitration decision of May 6, 2015 which condemned company B to the payment of various sums to company I, including a million dollars, and a second arbitration decision of January 4th 2016 on the costs of proceedings.

However, it was at the same time reproached to one of the employees of the company I to have been corrupted by the other company, it is in these circumstances that a correctional decision was made by the Paris Criminal Court condemning the person concerned and consecrating the facts of corruption.

In this case a sales contract was concluded between the two companies and a dispute arose due to a delay in delivery.

The Tribunal had ordered the seller to pay various sums but subsequently the Paris Criminal Court had found the buyer guilty of the offense of bribery on the ground that he had paid an erroneous commission to one of the employees of Company B.

The question was whether the above-mentioned acts of corruption were intended to affect the arbitration decision and thereby prevent its exequatur.

The Court of Appeal dismissed the application for exequatur on the ground that a correctional decision had been issued for acts of corruption directly related to the subject of the arbitration.

Company I has lodged an appeal on points of law by holding that the reservation made in the case where the plea is based on a fact subsequent to the arbitral award, or the case where the fact is not brought to the attention of the party who may invoke that subsequent to the arbitration award, it is incumbent on the party, who has an interest in invoking it, to rely on it before the arbitrator in the course of arbitration proceedings and failing that, it is inadmissible .

The exequatur imposed, the French judge does not have to know this problem of corruption … sic.

Company I argued that the arbitrator subordinated the examination of the corruption as it could be ascertained by the French correctional judge to the constitution of a bank guarantee and that it is because of the absence of constitution guarantee that the arbitrator has decided to render a decision without waiting for the decision of the latter.

Company I, responsible for the corruption, considered that the facts of corruption were not established during the arbitration procedure and that therefore nothing prevented the exequatur, the correctional decision being inoperative and sufficient distinct so as not to be linked to the exequatur of the arbitration decision.

Company I also maintained that the Exequatur Judge could validly retain an infringement of public order only if this infringement was flagrant, concrete and effective.

Insofar as the arbitration proceedings concerned only the execution of one of the contracts concluded, nothing prevented an exequatur, all the more so because the French judge did not really determine a direct link or a sufficient impact. to challenge the arbitration awards themselves.

Company I would consider that if the French Correctional Judge had retained the existence of the offense of corruption, in connection with a problem of overcharging, there was nothing to suggest that this was sufficient to call into question the two arbitral awards rendered, so that that nothing prevented the exequatur.

However, the Court of Cassation is not mistaken.

The High Court holds that, after having stated that when it is argued that an award gives effect to a contract obtained by bribery, it is of course for the French Judge of the exequatur to assess whether the execution of the award violates, or not, the French conception of international public order,

Thus, the Court of Appeal, whose extent of control over the respect of the public order of substance could not be conditioned by the attitude of a party before the referee, was not obliged to explain on a circumstance arising from the non-renewal by company B of the bank guarantee.

The Court of Cassation then held that, having stated that the disputed sale had been concluded, on the basis of unbalanced conditions to the detriment of company B, by his employee, because of his corruption by company I, the unlawfulness of this contract had been established by the Criminal Justice and that the recognition of the sentence would allow society I to withdraw the benefits of the corruptive pact, it is right that the Court of Appeal held that this pact offense was originally the sentence pronounced by the arbitrator,

So that the Court of Appeal had legally justified its decision not to recognize in France this sentence violating the French conception of the international public order.

This decision is to be welcomed for two reasons.

In the first place, this case-law confirms that, in the event that there are alleged acts of corruption which would have allowed one of the co-contractors to take advantage of it, and, in case of dispute, to obtain substantial compensation without these facts of corruption seriously impacting the arbitration award, the exequatur of an arbitrable award arising from a contractual breach directly linked to the acts of corruption is contrary to French public policy.

Secondly, more generally, this case-law reiterates that it is for the parties seeking the exequatur of a decision to ensure that it complies fully with the rules of private international law.

Divorce international franco algérien et régime matrimonial applicable

Laurent latapie avocat tribunal aix

Cette jurisprudence prend comme exemple le cas du divorce international d’un couple de deux algériens, mariés en Algérie, qui ont acquis tous la nationalité française et qui divorcent finalement en France. Les époux s’opposent sur la détermination de leur régime matrimonial. Entre Loi applicable du premier domicile de la famille, principe d’immutabilité du régime matrimonial et désignation expresses d’une autre Loi applicable.

Article :

Il convient de s’intéresser à un arrêt rendu par la Cour de Cassation en décembre dernier qui vient aborder, dans le cadre d’un divorce international franco-algérien, le cas particulier du conflit de lois entre droit français et droit algérien concernant le sort du régime matrimonial.

La Convention de La Haye du 14 mars 1978 sur la loi applicable aux régimes matrimoniaux, prévoit, à l’article 6, alinéa 1, que les époux peuvent, au cours du mariage, soumettre leur régime matrimonial à une loi interne autre que celle jusqu’alors applicable et, à l’article 11, que cette désignation doit faire l’objet d’une stipulation expresse.

Pour autant, qu’en est-il dans le cas d’un divorce international franco-algérien ?

Il convient de préciser que pour ce cas de divorce international, la Cour de cassation a jugé que la déclaration, mentionnée par les époux dans des actes notariés poursuivant un autre objet, ne traduisait pas leur volonté non équivoque de soumettre leur régime matrimonial à une loi interne autre que celle le régissant jusqu’alors leur couple et ne pouvait donc constituer une stipulation expresse portant désignation de la loi applicable.

Suivant l’article 11 de la convention de La Haye du 14 mars 1978 sur la loi applicable aux régimes matrimoniaux, la désignation de la loi applicable doit faire l’objet d’une stipulation expresse ou résulter indubitablement des dispositions d’un contrat de mariage.

Ce texte s’applique naturellement pour le cas d’un divorce international,

Suivant l’article 6 de la même convention, les époux peuvent, au cours du mariage, soumettre leur régime matrimonial à une loi interne autre que celle jusqu’alors applicable.

Qu’il résulte de la combinaison de ces textes que le changement de loi applicable suppose une stipulation expresse par laquelle les parties déclarent, au cours du mariage, soumettre leur régime matrimonial à une loi autre que celle jusqu’alors applicable.

L’article 13 de la convention de La Haye du 14 mars 1978 sur la loi applicable aux régimes matrimoniaux, précise que la désignation par stipulation expresse de la loi applicable doit revêtir la forme prescrite pour les contrats de mariage, soit par la loi interne désignée, soit par la loi interne du lieu où intervient cette désignation.

Il convient de rappeler que le principe de l’immutabilité du régime matrimonial est consacré par la convention de La Haye du 14 mars 1978 et exclut de faire application d’un autre droit que celui du mariage aux époux sauf si les parties ont expressément convenu au cours du mariage de soumettre le régime matrimonial à une loi interne autre que celle jusqu’alors applicable,

En effet, la Convention de La Haye, du 14 mars 1978 consacre ce principe et précise très clairement qu’à défaut de contrat de mariage, la loi voulue par les époux est indiquée par la loi de leur établissement de mariage.

A toute fin, il convient de reprendre l’article 4 de ladite convention de La Haye, lequel article précise :

« Si les époux n’ont pas, avant le mariage, désigné la loi applicable à leur régime matrimonial, celui-ci est soumis à la loi interne de l’Etat sur le territoire duquel ils établissent leur première résidence habituelle après le mariage,

A défaut de résidence habituelle des époux sur le territoire du même Etat et à défaut de nationalité commune, leur régime matrimonial est soumis à la loi interne de l’Etat avec lequel, compte tenu de toutes les circonstances, il présente les liens les plus étroits. »

Dans le cas d’espèce, dans cette affaire de divorce international franco-algérien, M. X… et Mme Y… , tous deux algériens, s’étaient mariés en 1982, sans contrat préalable, en Algérie, où étaient nés leurs trois enfants.

Ils se sont installés en France en 1995 et ont acquis la nationalité française.

Cependant ils se sont opposés, après le prononcé de leur divorce, sur la détermination de leur régime matrimonial.

La problématique du divorce international franco-algérien et du régime applicable était ainsi posée,

La Cour d’Appel considérait que le régime matrimonial des époux était le régime français de la communauté réduite aux acquêts et qu’au regard du lieu de leur mariage et de leur premier domicile conjugal, le droit applicable à leur régime matrimonial était le droit algérien, leur installation en France et le changement de nationalité étant sans incidence.

Pour ce faire, la Cour d’Appel retient qu’il ressort de la déclaration des époux contenue dans un acte d’achat d’un bien immobilier et dans un acte de donation entre eux, selon laquelle ils sont « soumis au régime de la communauté, selon le droit français », que ceux-ci avaient, en cours de mariage, désigné leur régime matrimonial comme étant le régime français de la communauté des biens, comme les y autorise l’article 6 de la Convention de La Haye du 14 mars 1978, applicable avec effet rétroactif.

Pour autant la Cour de Cassation ne s’y trompe pas et considère :

« qu’en statuant ainsi, alors que cette déclaration, mentionnée dans des actes notariés poursuivant un autre objet, ne traduisait pas la volonté non équivoque des époux de soumettre leur régime matrimonial à une loi interne autre que celle le régissant jusqu’alors et ne pouvait constituer une stipulation expresse portant désignation de la loi applicable, la cour d’appel a violé les textes susvisés »

Cette jurisprudence est intéressante dans le cas d’un divorce international, car en abordant le cas particulier d’un divorce d’algériens en France, elle vient mettre en exergue la force de la Convention de la Haye sur la loi applicable aux régimes matrimoniaux en droit international en ses articles 6 11 et 21,

Il convient en effet de rappeler que si les époux peuvent désigner une autre loi applicable à leur régime matrimonial que celle qui les régit, cette désignation doit être non équivoque et certaine.

Les principes en la matière demeurent,

Retenons principalement qu’en cas de divorce international, le principe d’immutabilité du régime matrimonial qui exclut de faire application d’un autre droit aux époux et la règle de conflit fait que la loi voulue par les époux du fait du premier domicile de la famille emporte présomption de volonté sauf dispositions expresses et sauf liens étroits avec l’autre pays ce qui n’est pas le cas en l’espèce.

Article rédigé par Maître Laurent LATAPIE,

Avocat, Docteur en Droit,

www.laurent-latapie-avocat.fr

Law of Marriage Place and Divorce of a Dutch citizen in Hong Kong: Between Jurisprudence and Experience

Legal analysis of a divorce proceeding initiated in Hong Kong between a Dutch citizen who married, without a marriage contract, to a Russian citizen, in France, who had her first family residence in France, and who found to divorce in Hong Kong. Between the law of the place of marriage and the law of the first home of the family, how to protect real estate assets acquired in France.

Article:

If Montaigne liked to think that travel is youth, it is also true that they can help form a refined opinion in private international law,

The legal analysis conducted in Hong Kong made it possible to examine the question of the immutability of matrimonial agreements in private international law, particularly in the particular case of a Dutch citizen who married, without a marriage contract, to a Russian citizen, in France, who finds herself, a professional career doing, to divorce in Hong-Kong,

And inevitably, to approach the love of France before a judge of Hong Kong, is not necessarily easy.

In this case, it was indeed about the love of France.

Fortunately, the Hague Convention and the Rome Convention provide a number of answers.

Mr. X is a Dutch citizen, in love with France as his parents who live there for years he invests and buys an apartment on the « French Riviera »,

Afterwards, he meets Ms. Y, a Russian citizen,

He married in France, without a marriage contract, and lived there for several years, notably by buying, with his wife, a villa on the « French Riviera »,

Before being transferred to work in different parts of the world.

And finally, the couple separates while Mr. X was posted for only 6 months in Hong-Kong,

Ms. Y initiated divorce proceedings and seized the Hong Kong judge.

The French regime of the legal community, that is, of the community reduced to acquests, leads the judge to take into consideration only the property acquired during the marriage.

The Hong Kong law is clearly different on this point.

Hong Kong law suggests that the wife can integrate in the sharing apprehend both half of the common property but also the assets acquired by Mr. X before marriage.

The financial and patrimonial consequences are clearly different according to whether we apply French law or Hong Kong law,

In Hong Kong, while it is true that assets acquired before marriage remain in principle the exclusive property of the party who financed the purchase, the fact remains that if family assets are insufficient to meet the needs of the parties or children, and if the income from that property is mixed with the family’s assets and expenses, pre-marital assets may be considered part of the family’s assets for the purpose of division of property.

It is quite obvious that such a decision is totally contrary to the matrimonial regime of the community reduced to acquests in French law since it allows the judge of Hong Kong to apprehend personal assets acquired before the marriage and to integrate them in the partition to fill assets insufficient to meet the needs of the wife or children.

This would suggest that the Russian wife could express financial claims to the judge of Hong Kong on the estate of Mr. X, acquired before marriage.

For all that, private international law makes it possible to challenge this approach,

First of all, it should be recalled that private international law enshrines the principle of the immutability of matrimonial agreements, excluding the application of another right.

In fact, the Hague Convention of 14 March 1978 enshrines this principle and makes it very clear that, in the absence of a marriage contract, the law required by the spouses is indicated by the law of their marriage establishment,

For all purposes, it is necessary to repeat Article 4 of the Hague Convention, which states:

If the spouses have not, before the marriage, designated the law applicable to their matrimonial regime, this one is subjected to the internal law of the State in the territory of which they establish their first habitual residence after the marriage.

However, in the following cases, the matrimonial regime is subject to the internal law of the State of the common nationality of the spouses:

1. where the declaration provided for in Article 5 has been made by that State and its effect is not excluded by paragraph 2 of that Article;

2. when that State is not a Party to the Convention, its domestic law is applicable according to its private international law, and the spouses establish their first habitual residence after marriage:

(a) in a State which has made the declaration provided for in Article 5, or

(b) in a State which is not a Party to the Convention and whose private international law also prescribes the application of their national law;

3. where the spouses do not establish in the territory of the same State their first habitual residence after the marriage.

In the absence of a habitual residence of the spouses in the territory of the same State and in the absence of a common nationality, their matrimonial property is subject to the internal law of the State with which, having regard to all the circumstances, it has the closest ties .

However, in this case of species, the spouses, both of different nationality, were married in France and had their first residence in France,

The Hague Convention is perfectly applicable,

They also bought a property in France and also gave birth in France while they were posted in a job abroad.

In such a way that the Hong Kong judge can not apply the Hong Kong law but must apply French law which prohibits the Hong Kong judge from considering any right of Mrs. Y to the marriage on the property of Monsieur,

Moreover, it is also necessary to apprehend the law applicable to the property of Mr. X, because again, private international law does not allow the judge of Hong Kong to create rights to Mrs. Y on the French property acquired in own of Mr. X.

In order to determine what is the law applicable to Mr X’s property situated in France and acquired before marriage, reference is made to Articles 7 and 9 of the 1991 Rome Convention on the law applicable to contractual obligations, in particular contracts concluded subsequently including a marriage.

Articles 3, 7 and 9 of the 1991 Rome Convention, which states in article 3 that « The contract shall be governed by the law chosen by the parties » should be taken over. This choice must be express or result of certain provisions of the contract or the circumstances of the case.

A Frenchman getting married in France and investing in France suggests that French law is applicable.

The text states clearly « By this choice, the parties can designate the law applicable to all or only part of their contract. « 

It would have been advisable that a marriage contract be envisaged not only to determine the community regime and especially to determine which law would be applicable in particular the French law to the detriment of that of Hong Kong in case of divorce.

Article 3-3 states « The choice by the parties of a foreign law, whether or not accompanied by a foreign court, may not, where all other elements of the situation are localized at the time of such choice in a the only country to violate the provisions of the law of that country which does not permit derogations by contract, hereinafter referred to as « mandatory provisions ».

This text is in harmony with the Hague Convention concerning the strong ties of marriage mentioned above,

All would suggest that if the career has brought Mr. X to Hong Kong, place of separation, the fact remains that the judge of Hong Kong should apply French law, right of the first family home is specified that all the clues suggest that the initial choices were perfectly tied to France and that the divorce in Hong Kong results only from a career accident.

Article 7 of the 1991 Rome Convention on Police Laws provides:

« In the application, under this Convention, of the law of a particular country, the mandatory provisions of the law of another country with which the situation is closely related may be given effect, if and to the extent that, according to the law of the latter country, these provisions are applicable irrespective of the law governing the contract.

In deciding whether these mandatory provisions should be given effect, account shall be taken of their nature and purpose and of the consequences of their application or non-application. « 

Article 9 (6) of the same Rome Convention states that: « Notwithstanding the provisions of the first four paragraphs of this Article, any contract relating to an immovable real right or a right of use of an immovable is subject to the mandatory rules of form of the law of the country where the immovable is located, provided that according to this law they apply regardless of the place of conclusion of the contract and the law governing the substance.

Everything suggests that for the real estate property of Mr. X, only French law is intended to apply, even if, in fine, in my opinion, the judge of Hong Kong, who is the judge of the last known marital home should be much more inclined to use Hong Kong law than French law,

And yet …

It is therefore intended to decide the circumstances of the divorce and to impose on Mr. X this legal problem in Hong Kong which suggests that if the assets acquired before the marriage are in principle considered as belonging to the party that financed the purchase, it the fact remains that if the family assets are insufficient to meet the needs of the wife or children and the income of his property is mixed with the assets and expenses of the family, he may consider that they are part of the assets. family for purposes of division of property.

This is totally contrary to the rules of French law.

Everything suggests the visa of the above-mentioned international provisions and according to the case law of private international law, that the French law of the regime of the community reduced to acquests would apply to the detriment of Hong Kong law.

Even if the judge of Hong Kong would fix a claim for maintenance that would be owed by Mr. X that would lead to the realization of the asset, the fact remains that he can not impose it.

Indeed, the Hong Kong judge has no right to personal property.

Not only would Hong Kong’s decision be contrary to private international law and the Hague Convention,

But in addition, this decision would be impossible to execute in France.

Understandably, the Hong Kong judge would simply be able to apprehend a claim but the latter would result from Hong Kong law to create a kind of bridge between family debt and exclusive property that one of the spouses acquired before the marriage.

While it is true that in Hong Kong law the principle of equal sharing prevails over the common heritage, there is the question of personal wealth acquired before marriage.

The decision to determine a claim on the basis of a prior estate is, in my opinion, contrary to the French provisions.

If the Hong Kong judge may consider that the concept of own property does not have to be taken into consideration, the fact remains that French law is opposable.

Accordingly, the abovementioned international provisions are applicable and come into conflict with the extended power of a judge who may, on the basis of Common Law law and their case-law, in particular the WHITE judgment, or even the NORRIS judgment, support the fact that personal real estate assets can be integrated.

Only French property acquired during the marriage can be shared 50/50.

And again, to the extent that he is not a marital home, he can also be the subject of discussions about possible rights to reward between spouses, precisely for the benefit of Mr. X who assured without fail the maintenance and all current, tax and banking expenses of the common good,

It is important to note that the NORRIS case confirms that the judge can ask the husband to repay the sums he has spent on the community so that even on a common good nothing would allow the judge from Hong Kong to come generate any right to reward or share on the property.

In any event and in this particular case, Mr. X could argue despite all the fact that all of the assets that were covered and financed by his personal funds.

Even if the Hong Kong judge considered that Mrs. Y had a right to this personal property, Mr. X would be entitled to proceed by way of compensation by reporting the expenses he had incurred and seeking a right of reward.

With regard to the common property acquired after the marriage, Mr. X would be entitled, even before Judge Hong Kong, to state that a large part of this property was settled by him and to claim a right of reward.

Mr. X is justified in considering that he can preserve his own property regardless of the view of the Hong Kong judge on this point.

Even though the Hong Kong judge considered that the property proper is to be reported in the context of sharing, the fact remains that in my opinion, it can not make this decision payable under French law.

Let us remember for all that any procedure for the purpose of carrying out the exequatur in French law of the decision of the Hong Kong judge requires a triple demonstration,

First, the decision must have been made regularly by the Hong Kong court,

Secondly, the decision must have been made in accordance with the rules of procedure in Hong Kong and be enforceable in Hong Kong,

Thirdly and above all, the decision must be in accordance with national public order, which may cause a difficulty in the light of the violation of the abovementioned international texts,

Moreover, it should be remembered that in terms of conflict of laws, Article 3 of the Civil Code stipulates that:

« The police and security laws oblige all those who live in the territory.

Buildings, even those owned by foreigners, are governed by French law.

The laws concerning the state and the capacity of the people govern the French, even residing in foreign country. « 

As a consequence, in the light of the Hague Convention, the French conflict rule enshrines the principle of the immutability of matrimonial agreements imposes the application of French law, designated as the applicable law, the law desired by the spouses indicated by the law of the place of marriage and the law of the first domicile of the family,

The fact remains that all the choices made at the time of the marriage show that the interests are rather French and the Hong Kong judge could only apply French law.

If the Hong Kong judge chose to apply Hong Kong law, which in practice remains possible even though contrary to the aforementioned rules of private international law, the Russian wife could not have the decision of the Hong Kong judge enforced in France. could not consider executing judicially the real estate assets of Mr. X.

This trip also allowed a legal and judicial exchange in comparative Franco-Hong Kong law matrimonial regimes with the cabinet HALDANES extremely rewarding.

I warmly thank my excellent colleague, Mr Nicholas HEMENS, for his fine legal analysis and his great judicial experience, allowing us to apprehend a judicial strategy not on one, but on two countries.

I warmly thank Patricia LIU, whose charm is matched only by her high degree of expertise in family law and matrimonial property law, especially when the international scope of the case has given it some relief,

Article written by Maître Laurent LATAPIE,

Lawyer, Doctor in Law,

www.laurent-latapie-avocat.fr

Loi du lieu de mariage et divorce d’un hollandais à Hong-Kong : entre jurisprudence et expérience

Analyse juridique d’une procédure de divorce initiée à Hong-Kong, entre un citoyen hollandais qui s’est marié, sans contrat de mariage, à une citoyenne russe, en France, qui a eu sa première résidence familiale en France, et qui se retrouve à divorcer à Hong-Kong. Entre loi du lieu de mariage et loi du premier domicile de la famille, comment protéger les actifs immobiliers acquis en propre en France.

Article :

Si Montaigne aimait à penser que les voyages forment la jeunesse, il est aussi vrai qu’ils peuvent aider à se former un opinion affiné en droit international privé,

L’analyse juridique faite à Hong-Kong permettait de s’intéresser à la question de l’immutabilité des conventions matrimoniales en droit international privé notamment dans le cas particulier d’un citoyen hollandais qui s’est marié, sans contrat de mariage, à une citoyenne russe, en France et qui se retrouve, parcours professionnel faisant, à divorcer à Hong-Kong,

Et immanquablement, aborder l’amour de la France devant un juge de Hong-Kong, n’est pas forcément chose facile.

Dans cette affaire, il était effectivement question de l’amour de la France.

Fort heureusement, la Convention de La Haye et la Convention de Rome permettent d’apporter un certain nombre de réponses.

Monsieur X est citoyen hollandais, amoureux de la France comme ses parents qui y vivent depuis des années il investit et se porte acquéreur  d’un appartement sur la « French Riviera »,

Par la suite, il rencontre madame Y, citoyenne russe,

Il se marie en France, sans contrat de mariage et y vit pendant plusieurs années notamment en se portant acquéreur, avec son épouse d’une villa sur la « French Riviera »,

Avant de se retrouver muté pour son travail à différents endroits de la planète.

Et finalement, le couple se sépare alors que Monsieur X était posté depuis seulement 6 mois à Hong-Kong,

Madame Y engage une procédure de divorce et saisi le juge de Hong-Kong.

Le régime français de la communauté légale, soit, de la communauté réduite aux acquêts, amène le juge de ne prendre en considération que les biens acquis pendant le mariage.

Le droit de Hong Kong est clairement différent sur ce point.

Le droit hongkongais laisse à penser que l’épouse peut intégrer dans le partage du appréhender à la fois la moitié des biens communs mais également les actifs acquis par Monsieur X avant le mariage.

Les conséquences patrimoniales et financières sont clairement différentes selon que l’on applique le droit français ou le droit hongkongais,

En effet, à Hong-Kong, s’il est vrai que les avoirs acquis avant le mariage demeurent en principe la propriété exclusive de la partie qui a financé l’achat, il n’en demeure pas moins que si les avoirs familiaux sont insuffisants pour répondre au besoin des parties ou des enfants et si le revenu de ce bien est mêlé aux avoirs et dépenses de la famille, les avoirs antérieurs au mariage peuvent être considérés comme faisant partie des avoirs de la famille aux fins de division des biens.

Il est bien évident que pareille décision est parfaitement contraire au régime matrimonial de la communauté réduite aux acquêts en droit français puisque cela permet au juge de Hong Kong d’appréhender des actifs personnels acquis avant le mariage et de les intégrer au partage pour combler des avoirs familiaux insuffisants pour répondre aux besoins de l’épouse ou des enfants.

Ce qui laisserait à penser que l’épouse russe pourrait exprimer des prétentions financières au juge de Hong-Kong sur le patrimoine de Monsieur X, acquis avant mariage.

Pour autant, le droit international privé permet de contester cette approche,

Avant toute chose, il convient de rappeler que le droit international privé consacre le principe de l’immutabilité des conventions matrimoniales, excluant l’application d’un autre droit.

En effet, la Convention de La Haye, du 14 mars 1978 consacre ce principe et précise très clairement qu’à défaut de contrat de mariage, la loi voulue par les époux est indiquée par la loi de leur établissement de mariage,

A toute fin, il convient de reprendre l’article 4 de ladite convention de La Haye, lequel article précise :

Si les époux n’ont pas, avant le mariage, désigné la loi applicable à leur régime matrimonial, celui-ci est soumis à la loi interne de l’Etat sur le territoire duquel ils établissent leur première résidence habituelle après le mariage.

Toutefois, dans les cas suivants, le régime matrimonial est soumis à la loi interne de l’Etat de la nationalité commune des époux :

1. lorsque la déclaration prévue par l’article 5 a été faite par cet Etat et que son effet n’est pas exclu par l’alinéa 2 de cet article ; 
2. lorsque cet Etat n’est pas Partie à la Convention, que sa loi interne est applicable selon son droit international privé, et que les époux établissent leur première résidence habituelle après le mariage :

a) dans un Etat ayant fait la déclaration prévue par l’article 5, ou 
b) dans un Etat qui n’est pas Partie à la Convention et dont le droit international privé prescrit également l’application de leur loi nationale ;

3. lorsque les époux n’établissent pas sur le territoire du même Etat leur première résidence habituelle après le mariage.

A défaut de résidence habituelle des époux sur le territoire du même Etat et à défaut de nationalité commune, leur régime matrimonial est soumis à la loi interne de l’Etat avec lequel, compte tenu de toutes les circonstances, il présente les liens les plus étroits.

Or, dans ce cas d’espèces, les époux, tous deux de nationalité différente, se sont mariés en France et ont bien eu leur première résidence en France,

La Convention de La Haye trouve parfaitement à s’appliquer,

Ils ont également acheté un bien en France et ont également fait naitre leur enfant en France  alors qu’ils étaient postés dans un emploi à l’étranger.

De telle sorte que le juge de Hong-Kong ne peut pas appliquer le droit de Hong-Kong mais se doit d’appliquer le droit français qui interdit au juge de Hong-Kong d’envisager quelque droit de madame Y au titre du mariage sur les biens propres de Monsieur,

Bien plus, il convient également d’appréhender le droit applicable au bien propre de Monsieur X, car là encore, le droit international privé ne permet pas au juge de Hong-Kong de créer des droits à Madame Y sur le bien français acquis en propre de Monsieur X.

Pour déterminer quel est le droit applicable au bien propre de Monsieur X situé en France et acquis avant mariage, il convient de se reporter à la lecture des articles 7 et 9 de la Convention de Rome de 1991 sur la loi applicable aux obligations contractuelles notamment les contrats conclus postérieurement en ce compris un mariage.

Il convient de reprendre les articles 3, 7 et 9 de la Convention de Rome de 1991 qui précise dans son article 3 que « Le contrat est régi par la loi choisie par les parties. Ce choix doit être exprès ou résulter de façon certaine des dispositions du contrat ou des circonstances de la cause ».

Un français se mariant en France et investissant en France laisse à penser que le droit français est applicable.

Le texte précise bien « Par ce choix, les parties peuvent désigner la loi applicable à la totalité ou à une partie seulement de leur contrat. »

Il aurait été judicieux qu’un contrat de mariage soit envisagé ne serait ce que pour déterminer le régime de communauté et surtout de déterminer quelle loi serait applicable notamment la loi française au détriment de celle de Hong Kong en cas de divorce.

L’article 3-3 précise « Le choix par les parties d’une loi étrangère, assorti ou non de celui d’un tribunal étranger, ne peut, lorsque tous les autres éléments de la situation sont localisés au moment de ce choix dans un seul pays, porter atteinte aux dispositions auxquelles la loi de ce pays ne permet pas de déroger par contrat, ci-après dénommées «dispositions impératives».

Ce texte est en harmonie avec la Convention de La Haye concernant les liens étroits du mariage sus-évoqués,

Tout laisserait à penser que si le parcours professionnel a amené Monsieur X à Hong Kong, lieu de sa séparation, il n’en demeure pas moins que le juge de Hong Kong devrait appliquer le droit français, droit du premier domicile familial étant précisé que tous les indices laissent à penser que les choix initiaux étaient parfaitement attachés à la France et que le divorce à Hong Kong ne résulte que d’un accident de parcours professionnel.

L’Article 7 de la Convention de Rome de 1991, concernant les Lois de police, prévoit :

« Lors de l’application, en vertu de la présente convention, de la loi d’un pays déterminé, il pourra être donné effet aux dispositions impératives de la loi d’un autre pays avec lequel la situation présente un lien étroit, si et dans la mesure où, selon le droit de ce dernier pays, ces dispositions sont applicables quelle que soit la loi régissant le contrat.

Pour décider si effet doit être donné à ces dispositions impératives, il sera tenu compte de leur nature et de leur objet ainsi que des conséquences qui découleraient de leur application ou de leur non-application ».

L’article 9 alinéa 6 de la même Convention de Rome précise quant à lui que : « Nonobstant les dispositions des quatre premiers paragraphes du présent article, tout contrat ayant pour objet un droit réel immobilier ou un droit d’utilisation d’un immeuble est soumis aux règles de forme impératives de la loi du pays où l’immeuble est situé, pour autant que selon cette loi elles s’appliquent indépendamment du lieu de conclusion du contrat et de la loi le régissant au fond.

Tout laisse à penser que pour le bien immobilier propre de Monsieur X, seul le droit français a vocation à s’appliquer, même si, in fine, à mon sens, le juge de Hong Kong, qui est le juge du dernier domicile conjugal connu devrait être beaucoup plus enclin à utiliser le Droit de Hong-Kong que le droit français,

Et pourtant….

Il aurait donc vocation à trancher les circonstances du divorce et à imposer à Monsieur X cette problématique juridique hongkongaise qui laisse à penser que si les avoirs acquis avant le mariage sont en principe considérés comme appartenant à la partie qui a financé l’achat, il n’en demeure pas moins que si les avoirs familiaux sont insuffisants pour répondre aux besoins de l’épouse ou des enfants et si le revenu de ses biens est mêlé aux avoirs et dépenses de la famille, il peut considérer qu’ils font partie des avoirs de la famille aux fins de division des biens.

Cela est parfaitement contraire aux règles de droit français.

Tout laisse à penser au visa des dispositions internationales précitées et suivant la jurisprudence de droit international privé, que le droit français du régime de la communauté réduite aux acquêts aurait vocation à s’appliquer au détriment du Droit de Hong-Kong.

Quand bien même le juge de Hong Kong fixerait une créance alimentaire qui serait due par Monsieur X qui amènerait à réaliser l’actif, il n’en demeure pas moins qu’il ne peut l’imposer.

En effet, le juge de Hong Kong n’a pas de droit sur le bien immobilier personnel.

Non seulement, la décision de Hong-Kong serait contraire au droit international privé et à la Convention de La Haye,

Mais en plus, cette décision serait impossible à exécuter en France.

A bien y comprendre le juge de Hong-Kong serait simplement en mesure d’appréhender une créance mais cette dernière résulterait du droit hongkongais à créer une sorte de passerelle entre créance familiale et propriété exclusive que l’un des époux a acquis avant le mariage.

S’il est vrai que dans le droit de Hong Kong, c’est le principe de partage à parts égales qui l’emporte sur le patrimoine commun, se pose la question du patrimoine personnel acquis avant le mariage.

La décision qui consisterait de déterminer une créance sur la base d’un patrimoine antérieur est à mon sens contraire aux dispositions françaises.

Si le juge de Hong Kong peut considérer que la notion de bien propre n’a pas à être pris en considération, il n’en demeure pas moins que le droit français est opposable.

Dès lors les dispositions internationales susvisées sont applicables et viennent se heurter au pouvoir élargi du juge qui peut sur la base du droit du Common Law et de leurs jurisprudences, notamment l’arrêt WHITE, ou bien encore l’arrêt NORRIS, soutenir le fait que l’actif immobilier personnel peut être intégré.

Seul le bien français acquis au cours du mariage peut faire l’objet d’un partage 50/50.

Et encore, dans la mesure ou il n’est pas domicile conjugal, il peut également faire l’objet de discussions quant à d’éventuels droits à récompense entre époux, justement au profit de Monsieur X qui a assuré sans faillir l’entretien et l’ensemble des charges courantes, fiscales et bancaires du bien commun,

Il importe de préciser que l’arrêt NORRIS, jurisprudence anglaise, vient confirmer que le juge peut demander à l’époux le remboursement des sommes qu’il a dépensé pour la communauté de telle sorte que même sur un bien commun rien ne permettrait au juge de Hong Kong de venir générer un quelconque droit à récompense ou à partage sur le bien propre.

En tout état de cause et dans ce cas précis, Monsieur X pourrait faire valoir malgré tout le fait que l’intégralité de l’actif qui a été couvert et financé par ses deniers personnels.

Même si le juge de Hong Kong considérait que Madame Y avait un droit sur ce bien personnel, Monsieur X serait en droit de procéder par voie de compensation en faisant état des dépenses qu’il a réalisées et de solliciter un droit à récompense.

Concernant le bien commun acquis après le mariage, Monsieur X serait en droit, même devant le juge Hong Kong de faire état de ce qu’une grande partie de ce bien a été réglée par ses soins et solliciter un droit à récompense.

Monsieur X est bien fondé à considérer qu’il peut préserver son bien propre qu’importe le regard du juge de Hong Kong sur ce point.

Quand bien même le juge de Hong Kong considérait que le bien propre a vocation à être rapporté dans le cadre du partage, il n’en demeure pas moins qu’à mon sens, il ne peut rendre exigible cette décision au droit français.

Rappelons à toute fin que toute procédure aux fins de procéder à l’éxéquatur en droit français de la décision du juge de Hong-Kong nécessite une triple démonstration,

Premièrement, la décision doit avoir été rendue régulièrement par la juridiction de Hong-Kong,

Deuxièmement, la décision doit avoir été rendu dans le respect des règles de procédure à Hong-Kong et être exécutoire à Hong-Kong,

Troisièmement et surtout, la décision doit être conforme à l’ordre public national, ce qui peut causer une difficulté à la lueur de la violation des textes internationaux susvisés,

Par ailleurs, il convient de rappeler qu’en termes de conflit de lois, l’article 3 du Code Civil stipule que :

« Les lois de police et de sûreté obligent tous ceux qui habitent le territoire.

Les immeubles, même ceux possédés par des étrangers, sont régis par la loi française.

Les lois concernant l’état et la capacité des personnes régissent les Français, même résidant en pays étranger. »

Par voie de conséquence, à la Lueur de la Convention de La Haye, la règle de conflit française consacre le principe de l’immutabilité des conventions matrimoniales impose l’application du droit français, désignée comme loi applicable, la loi voulue par les époux indiquée par la loi du lieu de mariage et la loi du premier domicile de la famille,

Il n’en demeure pas moins que l’ensemble des choix fait au moment du mariage démontrent bien que les intérêts sont plutôt français et le juge de Hong Kong ne pourrait qu’appliquer le droit français.

Si le juge de Hong Kong choisissait d’appliquer le droit hongkongais, ce qui demeure en pratique possible bien que contraire aux règles susvisées du droit international privé, l’épouse russe ne pourrait faire exécuter en France la décision du juge de Hong-Kong et ne pourrait envisager d’exécuter judiciairement les actifs immobiliers de Monsieur X.

Ce voyage a permis également un échange juridique et judiciaire en droit comparé franco-hong-kongais des régimes matrimoniaux avec le cabinet HALDANES extrêmement enrichissant.

Je remercie vivement mon excellent confrère, Maître Nicholas HEMENS, pour son analyse juridique fine et sa grande expérience judiciaire, permettant d’appréhender une stratégie judiciaire non pas sur un, mais sur deux pays.

Je remercie vivement Maître Patricia LIU, dont le charme n’a d’égal que son haut degré de compétence en droit familial et en droit des régimes matrimoniaux, surtout lorsque l’envergure internationale du dossier vient lui donner un certain relief,

Article rédigé par Maître Laurent LATAPIE,

Avocat, Docteur en Droit,

www.laurent-latapie-avocat.fr

executing in France a foreign commercial judgment

Can a foreign commercial creditor enforce, executing in France a decision obtained in another country? Can the debtor object against the fraud on the grounds that the foreign decision could not have been made in France?

 

It is necessary to look at the ability of a foreign commercial creditor to have a decision obtained in another country executed in France,

 

This issue addresses the question of the exequatur of a decision that would condemn a person to the payment of a debt that would have been fixed by a foreign jurisdiction and more particularly American.

 

However, the real difficulty in commercial law, even at the most international level, is not so much to obtain a court decision, but to get it enforced, and in case of a foreign decision to have it enforced. in France, It should be recalled that the exequatur makes it possible to enforce a foreign judgment in French territory and thereby to enforce a decision of foreign law in France,

Where enforcement is not effected through an international convention or an international agreement, exequatur can only be granted if it satisfies a number of conditions and follows a particular procedure.

 

Three criteria are clearly mentioned in the texts but also in case law.

The French judge must verify:

  • The jurisdiction of the foreign judge who rendered the decision that is the subject of a request for exequatur
  • compliance with the international public policy of substance and procedure,
  • The absence of fraud in the law,

It is in these circumstances that in a judgment dated August 27, 1993, the District Court of Columbia sentenced MX, of Colombian nationality, to pay to NA CORPORATIONS and Colombian companies AV SA , the sum of 3,987,916.66 US dollars, in addition to interest.

 

What is not nothing,

 

  1. X … having settled in France, the companies had it assigned to obtain the exequatur of this decision in order to allow to execute in France the American decision,

 

By judgment of 1 February 2000, however, the District Court dismissed them,

 

On the grounds that there was no link attaching the facts in question to the United States and that, in addition, the applicable law was Colombian law;

Preventing foreign companies from executing in France their US decision against their debtor resident in France,

 

Appeal was lodged and the Court of Appeal of Aix en Provence has given the creditors the right, enabling them to execute in France, notwithstanding the appeal,

 

However, Mr X has therefore appealed in cassation.

 

Before the Court of Cassation, Mr. X considered that the judgment of August 27, 1993 by the district court of Columbia District was irregular and that consequently the jurisdiction of the foreign judge was not acquired,

 

On the ground in particular that the principal plaintiffs were at the time domiciled in ColombiaAccordingly, the creditor did not justify a sufficient connection of the dispute over the District of Columbia, the only signature in that district of an agreement by a company led by MXne could allow the jurisdiction of the US Judge, said creditor could not so run in FranceWill the Court of Appeal then have disregarded the principles governing international jurisdiction?

 

Mr. X recalled that the exequatur of a foreign judgment can be granted only if the foreign judge applied the law designated by the French rule of conflict or a law leading to an equivalent resultBy granting the exequatur to a US judgment which had applied the American law, in order to allow the creditor to execute in France, without seeking, if the competent law was not the Colombian law of the headquarters of the company, the Court of Appeal had not favored the French rule of conflict,

 

However, the Court of Cassation is not mistaken,

 

It recalls that in order to grant exequatur outside any international convention, the French judge must ensure that three conditions are met, namely- the indirect jurisdiction of the foreign judge, based on the connection of the dispute with the judge seized, – compliance with the international public policy of substance and procedure and- the absence of fraud to the law.

 

The Court of Cassation considered that the District Court of Columbia had retained its international jurisdiction in accordance with the rules of federal civil procedure which gave it jurisdiction to hear applications made against nationals of a foreign state to the extent that the principal defendant himself domiciled in Washington and that the « charges against Mr. X related to facts committed in his business dealings in Washington with the principal defendant and that two of the five plaintiff companies were under US law and domiciled in the United States « .

 

This jurisprudence is salutary,. It recalls the strict requirement of the three criteria mentioned above to carry out the exequatur of a foreign decision and in this case a US decision, allowing the foreign creditor to execute in France a decision of foreign law, Regarding the criterion of law fraud, we should also look at a judgment of 4 May 2017 which addresses the specific issue of law fraud

 

This notion is subtle, Master Laurent LATAPIE, as Doctor in Law has also largely addressed this topic in his thesis: The bank support of a company in difficulty after the law of July 26, 2005 « , supported in 2010 to the Faculty of Law of the University of Nice Sophia Antipolis, In this case-law, the question was whether fraud could be obtained by obtaining abroad a decision with a view to invoking it later in France, in order to allow the plaintiff to execute a foreign judgment in France while no French Judge would have made such a decision.

 

Still, it is the purpose of US law to apply to the substance of the dispute,

 

It is therefore right that the US company has obtained a decision in the District Court of the District of Columbia

 

It only remained to execute in France, The exequatur procedure was necessary, Since the three criteria were met, Mr X could not come to address the specific question of the French conflict of laws rule which is a substantive problem that should have been raised in due course.

 

It is therefore right that the Court of Cassation considers and recalls that to grant exequatur out of any international convention, the French judge must ensure that three conditions are met, namely the indirect jurisdiction of the foreign judge, based on the attachment of the dispute to the judge seized, the conformity with the international public policy of substance and procedure and the absence of fraud to the law;

 

Thus, the judge of the exequatur does not have to verify that the law applied by the foreign judge is that designated by the rule of conflict of French law,

 

As a result, foreign creditors may, in the event of a conviction decision obtained in another country, execute a debtor in France provided that the three cumulative criteria specific to the exequatur procedure are respected

 

Article written by Maître Laurent LATAPIE, Lawyer, Phd,

 

Exequatur of a divorce judgment,

It is necessary to look at the specific procedure of the exequatur which allows to make Executory a foreign judgment in France or a French judgment abroad.

 

This makes it all the more important for one of the spouses of different nationalities to return to his country or to stay with the common children.

 

The exequatur makes it possible to ensure that any decision of justice rendered abroad applies on the French territory.

 

It should be remembered that any court decision rendered abroad does not automatically apply to French territory and must therefore be recognized.

 

The judgment will then be perfectly enforceable in France and will allow forced execution if one or the other parent creates difficulties.

 

Decisions that may be subject to an exequatur procedure are as follows:

  • Judgments pronouncing a divorce,
  • Judgments pronouncing an adoption,
  • Judgments condemning a party to pay a sum of money,
  • Arbitration awards,

 

The exequatur procedure is provided for by articles 509 et seq. Of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides that « Judgments rendered by foreign courts and acts received by foreign officers shall be enforceable in the territory of the Republic in the manner and in the manner the case provided by law « .

 

This legal provision is completed by the exequatur judge who laid down the basic conditions for recognizing a foreign decision.

 

This is important especially with regard to divorce and childcare.

 

It is also possible to exequatur a French decision abroad.

 

It should be noted that the exequatur is subject to three distinct procedures

 

The French judge checks:

  • The jurisdiction of the foreign judge,
  • compliance with the international public policy of substance and procedure,
  • The absence of fraud in the law,

These 3 conditions are cumulative, which means that the exequatur can be refused when only one condition is missing.

These provisions apply in the absence of an international convention organizing the conditions for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and decisions.

Indeed, some countries have, by mutual agreement, put in place the rules of recognition and enforcement of judgments rendered in the territory of the other State party to the convention.

In the context of a Franco-American divorce, a Franco-Russian divorce or a Franco-Mexican divorce everything suggests that competent judges are not vitiated by nature of a fraudulent intent.

The exequatur procedure as such, in order to have a foreign judgment recognized, must be made by a lawyer before the Tribunal de Grande Instance territoriale, with the understanding that if the parties have no ties in France they can seize any High Court.

The lawyer writes a summons which he has served on the person of the defendant.

This assignment must be translated.

It must be ensured that the decision which is the subject of the exequatur application is definitive and that it has been served according to the rules of procedure of the country in question.

The exequatur procedure is provided for by articles 509 et seq. Of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides that « Judgments rendered by foreign courts and acts received by foreign officers shall be enforceable in the territory of the Republic in the manner and in the manner the case provided by law « .

 

This legal provision is completed by the exequatur judge who laid down the basic conditions for recognizing a foreign decision.

 

This is important especially with regard to divorce and childcare.

 

It is also possible to exequatur a French decision abroad.

 

It should be noted that the exequatur is subject to three distinct procedures

 

The French judge checks:

  • The jurisdiction of the foreign judge,
  • compliance with the international public policy of substance and procedure,
  • The absence of fraud in the law,

These 3 conditions are cumulative, which means that the exequatur can be refused when only one condition is missing.

These provisions apply in the absence of an international convention organizing the conditions for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and decisions.

Indeed, some countries have, by mutual agreement, put in place the rules of recognition and enforcement of judgments rendered in the territory of the other State party to the convention.

In the context of a Franco-American divorce, a Franco-Russian divorce or a Franco-Mexican divorce everything suggests that competent judges are not vitiated by nature of a fraudulent intent.

The exequatur procedure as such, in order to have a foreign judgment recognized, must be made by a lawyer before the Tribunal de Grande Instance territoriale, with the understanding that if the parties have no ties in France they can seize any High Court.

The lawyer writes a summons which he has served on the person of the defendant.

This assignment must be translated.

It must be ensured that the decision which is the subject of the exequatur application is definitive and that it has been served according to the rules of procedure of the country in question.

 

The exequatur procedure is provided for by articles 509 et seq. Of the Code of Civil Procedure, which provides that « Judgments rendered by foreign courts and acts received by foreign officers shall be enforceable in the territory of the Republic in the manner and in the manner the case provided by law « . This legal provision is completed by the exequatur judge who laid down the basic conditions for recognizing a foreign decision. This is important especially with regard to divorce and childcare. It is also possible to exequatur a French decision abroad. It should be noted that the exequatur is subject to three distinct procedures The French judge checks: • The jurisdiction of the foreign judge, • compliance with the international public policy of substance and procedure, • The absence of fraud in the law, These 3 conditions are cumulative, which means that the exequatur can be refused when only one condition is missing. These provisions apply in the absence of an international convention organizing the conditions for the recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and decisions. Indeed, some countries have, by mutual agreement, put in place the rules of recognition and enforcement of judgments rendered in the territory of the other State party to the convention. In the context of a Franco-American divorce, a Franco-Russian divorce or a Franco-Mexican divorce everything suggests that competent judges are not vitiated by nature of a fraudulent intent. The exequatur procedure as such, in order to have a foreign judgment recognized, must be made by a lawyer before the Tribunal de Grande Instance territoriale, with the understanding that if the parties have no ties in France they can seize any High Court. The lawyer writes a summons which he has served on the person of the defendant. This assignment must be translated. It must be ensured that the decision which is the subject of the exequatur application is definitive and that it has been served according to the rules of procedure of the country in question.

 

Then, the French judge is put in a position to carry out the exequatur of the judgment, to give it force enforceable in France, In the event of a Franco-American, French-Mexican or French-Russian divorce, this procedure makes it possible in all circumstances to have a decision obtained in France, in Canada, in Mexico, in Russia, etc., which is much more protective. for the representation of the child of whom one of the parents would have returned to France hoping to escape the rigor of a foreign decision,

Laurent LATAPIE French Riviera Law Firm

I have been called to the bar more than 6 years ago and I have practiced law since then. I am based in Fréjus and I operate in the law firm I have created. I have built a solid expertise in the fields of banking law, real estate law and bankruptcy law, in various capacities, for more than 16 years. I will assist, advise and represent you in all types of litigation, in France and abroad.

 

 

My chief consideration is the defence of your interests, in all their legal and economic aspects. I believe that the achievement of this goal requires the association of the finest legal reasoning with direct and pugnacious pleadings in order to best assist my clients, who irrespective of their capacities, as business men or customers, are often confronted to relentless mechanisms operated by financial, real estate or judicial institutions,

 

Being a native French speaker and fluent in English, and benefiting from my familiarity with private international law and « law-shopping », I will represent you in all international litigations and affairs. I operate in France, Europe and the World.

 

I assist, advise and represent French citizens residing abroad, as well as foreign citizens residing in France in all banking law, business law, and bankruptcy law matters.

 

I also assist, advise and represent clients in the context of divorce proceedings, child custody and community liquidation between French citizens and foreign citizens, and more particularly between French and North Americans, Mexicans, citizens of France. Central America of South America or even Russian and Eastern European citizens,

 

Each time, the international connotation imposes to carry out verifications in order to ascertain what is the applicable law, to determine which of the French law or the foreign law applies to the dispute, in full compliance with international treaties and international conventions, as well as European standards. I also determine which court is competent in any given case.

 

My law firm is also involved in the defence of Human Rights. In my personal capacity, I act as project manager PADEF – Chad – Program for assistance and access to the law for women and children, and as a stakeholder in the PRODEF project – Côte d’Ivoire – Promotion and Protection of Human Rights Defenders, on behalf of the NGO Avocats sans frontiers.

 

Banks’ clients

 

I assist, advise and represent private and professional clients of banks who have difficulties to meet their obligations related to loans they have contracted or to the management of their bank accounts. I will help you to obtain delays or the judicial suspension of your payment deadlines, and to challenge all aspects of your contractual obligations, in terms of costs, penalties, or interest rates related to your loan or the management of your bank account. Where necessary, I will represent your best interests in court.

 

Indeed the possibilities to challenge banks’ claims are various and include the following:

  • Liability of banks and credit institutions,
  • failure to provide advice and warning
  • disproportionate and inappropriate credit
  • bond of guarantee null,
  • abusive support,
  • breach of an abusive bank account,
  • breach of abusive competition,
  • lapse of the irregular term,
  • non-compliance with consumer law,
  • non-compliance with the death and disability insurance attached to the loan,
  • contesting the interests of the loan,
  • inaccurate count,
  • abusive foreclosure procedure,
  • amicable sale or judicial sale,
  • put too low a price,
  • request for time,
  • judicial suspension of maturities,
  • loan in foreign currency,
  • lack of management of the bank on the accounts,
  • scam with checks and blue cards,
  • insurance Group,
  • command to pay worth real estate foreclosure,

 

You have rights guaranteed by law that banks must comply with. It is my job to make sure that your rights are properly respected.

 

Companies, artisans, traders, SCI, leaders:

 

I assist, advise and represent entrepreneurs, craftsmen, merchants, business owners, and companies facing economic difficulties, including in cases of conflict between partners, conciliation, judicial reorganization or bankruptcy proceedings, and for all matters related to the following:

 

  • Business creation,
  • Conflicts between partners
  • Declaration of cessation of payments,
  • Opening of the collective proceedings,
  • Safeguard, recovery and liquidation,
  • Safeguard plan and recovery plan,
  • Procedures for the liberal professions and ICS,
  • Continuation of the activity,
  • continuation of contracts in progress,
  • Continuation of bank accounts,
  • Leaving the commercial lease,
  • Fate of employment contracts and dismissals,
  • Payroll support by AGS, UNEDIC,
  • Audit and challenge of claims,
  • Challenge of guarantee commitments,
  • Preservation and realization of assets,
  • Commercial and criminal sanctions,
  • Prohibition of management and personal bankruptcy,
  • Liability of the administrator and the agent of justice,

 

In all these matters, Maître Laurent LATAPIE will assist you, in partnership with, or if necessary, against the institutional actors, including the judicial administrators, the Prosecutor or the Judge Commissioner,

 

Owners and tenants, civil and commercial:

I assist, advise and represent owners of real estate properties or individuals in the process of acquiring such property, including on the following matters:

– litigations related to concealed defaults at the time of the purchase (septic tank, asbestos, etc …),

– consequences of any failures of the real estate agent, the diagnoser, or even the notary,

– any matters related to urbanism law and requirements, rules of cities planning with regard to the Law Allur, and in particular for the benefit of the housing estates,

– disputes with the builder related to the guarantee of perfect completion, biennial guarantee or decennial guarantee,

– disputes between the landlord and the tenant of the property.

 

I also assist, advise and represent tenants of private and commercial properties in all matters and disputes with the landlords. In particular, I will assist you in challenging any attempt to obtain the annulment of rental and lease agreements, or in obtaining the revision of your rent and the landlord’s compliance with his obligations towards you.

 

Resume:

 

Holder of a Master’s degree in Criminal Careers and Criminal Sciences Law, and auditor of the IHEDN, I subsequently benefited from a solid experience in commercial law, corporate law, real estate law, banking law and law of companies in difficulty, having been for more than 8 years associate attorney of justice with several commercial courts.

 

Experience that I confirmed first by obtaining a Master II Research in Economic Law and Business,

 

Then by supporting a Thesis concerning « The banking support of a company in difficulty after the law of safeguard of July 26, 2005 ».

As a Doctor of Laws, I also teach in University as a lecturer in Corporate Law, the Law of Obligations or even in the Law of Securities and as a teacher in procedural law.

 

Experience and practice of technical disputes:

I have a solid experience in banking law, real estate foreclosure law, real estate law, or in the law of companies in difficulty that allow me to understand all the technical, legal, accounting and strategic data. a procedure, as well as economic issues that remain a real priority.

 

I also conduct a lot of legal research and writing in order to usefully plead before the different jurisdictions,

 

Legal reflections and pleadings that I also highlight in the context of my university interventions.

Passionate about economic law and business, banking law and property foreclosure law, I am familiar with the operation and working methods specific to these judicial institutions, whether commercial courts, judges or commissioner.

 

I like to evolve in this litigation in order to preserve the interests of companies in difficulty, as well as individuals or real estate companies, in order to ensure that their interests are not prejudiced from the actions of financial, economic and judicial institutions.

 

My experience and skills allow me to raise all the legal and factual arguments in defence of their interests, and this, through a representation in justice of quality.

 

I also remain very attached to areas of intervention related to the law of co-ownership, real estate law, the right of security rights to enforcement proceedings and the law of residential leases and commercial leases.

 

Sports agent:

 

As a lawyer and sports representative, I assist athletes, coaches, sports clubs, sports federations, agents, as well as sponsors. I advise them in relation to employment contracts, transfers of players, establishment of contractual links between players, sports clubs and the various economic partners, advertising or sponsorship contracts, while protecting the image of the player and his or her club. I represent them before courts in the context of disputes related to all aspects of their employment contracts.

 

Real estate agent:

 

The lawyer as a legal professional is the natural agent who accompanies his clients in all acts of civil life, especially in all phases of an operation for the purpose of buying a property, its sale or its rental.

 

The real estate mandate is one of the new missions of the lawyer.

 

As a lawyer and real estate agent, I can intervene in all stages of a contractual process in the real estate field.

 

In the same way, my firm can assist you in the search for a co-contractor and in the negotiation of the contract with him.

 

Fee Policy:

Fees are free.

 

I also charge consulting fees if you have specific questions.

Do not hesitate to contact me.