EXPERTISE 

Georges is a French lawyer: admitted at the Paris Bar in 2006.

He joined HOCHE Avocats in 2010, having previously practised as a lawyer at ARES-Avocat, Law Firm for 4 years.  As a member of the Commercial Litigation Department, he focuses his practice on the advising and representation of clients before Courts in Commercial and Insolvency issues. 

Experience

He is specialized in 

  • Insolvency law (takeover bids, special purpose receiverships, conciliations, judicial reorganization and liquidation proceedings, filing of proofs of claims), whether acting on behalf of the debtor companies, creditors or bidders:

drafting of take-over bids / advising client during the process

advising and representing clients in distress either in pre-insolvencly proceedings (mandat ad hoc – conciliation) or in insolvency proceedings (reorganization / liquidation proceedings)

dealing with Insolvency practitioners 

drafting of judicial acts (declaration of claims, summonses, judicial requests…)

advising and representing clients in cases referring to liabilities within the context of insolvency proceedings

advising and representing Insolvency practitioners in judicial proceedings 

  • Commercial law and business law (contractual liability, warranty actions, directors’ and officers’ civil liability, shareholders’ disputes, unfair competition:

-pre-litigation and litigation

representing clients before Mediator / Arbitrator  

representing clients before French Courts (Civil, Commercial and Criminal Courts) 

drafting writings (assignation, conclusions, mémoire, dires)

drafting summonses and statements of claim

negotiating and Drafting commercial contracts

advising and Dealing with clients (both French and Foreigners) on legal issues

drafting of legal opinions (both in French and in English)

negotiating and setting up settlement agreements

dealing with judicial experts

  • Commercial leases (negotiation, performance and enforcement of leases, renewal of leases, indemnities for termination/eviction…), whether acting on behalf of the landlords or the tenants
Education
  • 2004 - University of Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne Postgraduate Degree in International Business Law (DESS)
  • 2003 – 2004 - Ecole de Formation des Barreaux – Paris -Paris Bar School
  • 2001 - Université Paris Nanterre,  Postgraduate Degree in French Business Law (DEA)
  • 2000 - University of Paris I - Panthéon-Sorbonne - Business Law Degree - (Maîtrise de droit des affaires)
Publications
  • "Cross-border insolvency after Brexit: Where are we now? Où en sommes-nous? ¿Dónde estamos? " written with Stefan Ramel / José Carles – Eurofenix – Winter 2022/2023 
  • “French pre-insolvency proceedings: a before and after the Covid period?” co-written with Gaël Couturier – Revue Lamy Droit des Affaires – Octobre 2021;
  • “The post-Brexit cross-border world; a Franco-English comparison” co-written with Stefan Ramel - Recovery - Winter 2018 / Revue Lamy Droit des Affaires – February 2019;
  • “Corruption et corruption” co-written with Thomas Webb - Procurement & Outsourcing Journal - July / August 2017;
  • “The principle of confidentiality (in pre-insolvency proceedings - Cass.com. - 15 December 2015)” - INSOL Europe - Inside Stories – March 2016;
  • “Should we really be afraid of co-employment in Groups of Companies from a French Legal perspective?” - International Corporate Rescue - Volume 12 - Issue 5 – October 2015;
  • “Commercial justice in France : Insolvency proceedings at the heart of the reform” - EUROFENIX - Journal of INSOL Europe - Summer 2013;
  • “A stitch in time saves ... Time” - EUROFENIX - Journal INSOL Europe - Autumn 2012 ;
  • “A French Act to save PETROPLUS?” - EUROFENIX - Journal of INSOL Europe - Spring 2012;
  • “Groups of companies in France” - EUROFENIX - Journal of INSOL Europe - Winter 2011/2012;
  • “La réforme de la prescription par la loi n° 2008-561 du 17 juin 2008: plus court mais pas plus simple” (the reform of the termination by lapse of time by the Act n° 2008-561 of 17 June 2008 : shorter but not simpler) Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise – November-December 2008;

Speaker at:

  • INSOL Europe / AIJA – Joint seminar – "Debate addressing confidentiality of pre-insolvency proceedings" – Seville 1st july 2023 
  • Madrid Bar – Insolvency seminar  – "French Tools to restructure the company in distress" – Madrid 10th february 2023 
  • the INSOL Europe Autumn Online Conference – “Future of restructuring and Insolvency professions”– October 2021;
  • the INSOL Europe Annual Congress in Copenhagen – “Insolvency in the Brexit era: Ever wonder how different your life would be?”– September 2019;
  • the one-day seminar co-organized by the Anti-Fraud Forum Group and the Young Members’ Group of INSOL Europe in London – “Combatting fraud within the context of the insolvency proceedings under French Law” – November 2016;
  • the INSOL Europe Annual Congress in Istanbul – “Director’s liability in Insolvency under French Law” – October 2014
Languages
  • French
  • English
Professional Memberships
  • INSOL Europe - member since 2012
  • Co-chair of the Young Member Group – YMG of INSOL Europe (2017 – 2020)
  • Co-chair of the Eastern European Countries’ Committee (since 2021 – current position)
  • Member of the Council 
  • AIJA – International Association of Young Lawyer - member since 2015
  • IFPPC
  • French Institute of Collective Proceedings Practitioners – Member since 2022