Administrative
and Public Law Litigation
Defending your interestsrnu003cemu003ebefore all administrative courtsu003c/emu003e
Administrative law disputes often involve issues of liability, authorizations, public contracts, or regulatory acts. These matters carry significant financial consequences and can have lasting effects on the execution of strategic projects.
We represent clients before all administrative courts, from administrative tribunals to the Conseil d’État. Our expertise covers actions for annulment, applications for suspension, pre-contract and contract-related injunctions, emergency liberty proceedings, claims for damages, and disputes relating to the award or performance of public contracts. We also act in matters involving administrative permits, urban planning, public entity liability, and criminal aspects of public procurement.rnrnPublic and private operators rely on us to defend their interests in proceedings that are often complex and high-profile.
u003cemu003eour u003c/emu003eInterventions
We represent unsuccessful bidders, contract holders, and public purchasers in disputes involving the award or performance of public contracts. Our work includes pre-contract injunctions, actions for annulment, claims for damages, and disputes relating to contractual liability. We also assist clients during amicable or court-appointed expert proceedings and in debt recovery actions against public entities.
Project developers, neighboring residents, and public authorities frequently dispute planning permissions, building permits, development permits, and commercial zoning authorizations. Our work also covers litigation involving pre-emption procedures, expropriation matters, and decisions issued by consultative commissions.rnrnWe also conduct audits of planning and development documents to anticipate potential litigation risks and secure project feasibility.
We assist companies and public entities in disputes involving the liability of the State, local authorities, or their agents. Our expertise covers claims for compensation based on service faults, breaches of equality before public burdens, or the defective functioning of public services.rnrnWe also act in disputes involving damage caused by public works and harm resulting from unlawful administrative decisions.
Contact Us
u003cemu003eour u003c/emu003eReferences
Public institution – French Council of State
Advising and representing a public institution in the complete overhaul of the regulatory status of its personnel. This project raised delicate issues of public law and employment law, and was the subject of discussions with the Government. It also led to litigation before the Council of State between the institution…
Electricity producer – Public law and environmental litigation
Strategic support to an electricity producer in navigating public domain-related matters, including serial litigation on photovoltaic electricity pricing, and advising on environmental law concerning the renewal of its nuclear fleet.
Polling institute – Public procurement dispute
Representation of a polling institute before the administrative court in a challenge to a public tender, securing the dismissal of a competitor’s claims and confirming our client as the selected bidder.
FAQ
An unsuccessful bidder’s exclusion from a public contract or concession can be challenged through contractual interim proceedings. Article L. 551-13 of the French Administrative Justice Code allows the court to be seized within thirty-one days of the publication of the contract award notice, or six months in the absence of publication. We represent unsuccessful bidders and public purchasers in all public procurement disputes: pre-contractual and contractual interim proceedings, challenges to contract validity, and damages claims. Each remedy is assessed based on its likelihood of success, timelines and impact on project continuity.
Administrative decisions (planning permits, building permits, environmental authorizations, licensing refusals, regulatory decisions) may be challenged through an action for annulment. Article R. 421-1 of the French Administrative Justice Code sets the time limit for contentious proceedings at two months from notification or publication of the contested decision. We act to challenge or defend administrative decisions before administrative tribunals, administrative courts of appeal and the Conseil d’Etat, deploying emergency procedures (suspension orders) when the project timeline demands it.
Public authorities may be held liable for faults in exercising their powers, damage from public works, unlawful decisions or wrongful inaction. In cases of serious and manifestly unlawful interference with a fundamental freedom, Article L. 521-2 of the French Administrative Justice Code allows the emergency judge to be seized, with a ruling due within forty-eight hours. We represent clients in damages claims against the state, local authorities and public establishments, structuring compensation claims and deploying the emergency procedures appropriate to each situation.
Public and private operators, local authorities, public establishments and companies facing administrative disputes entrust us with their most strategic cases. Our expertise covers actions for annulment, suspension orders, pre-contractual and contractual interim proceedings, emergency liberty proceedings, damages claims and disputes relating to the performance or award of public contracts. We also handle disputes over administrative permits, planning matters and criminal aspects of public procurement. Each case benefits from a strategy tailored to the specificities of the administrative courts.