Cabinet Kohen Avocats, company law in Nice
Company law lawyer in Nice: shareholders, directors, share transfers
Shareholders' agreements, general meetings, disputes between shareholders, removal of directors, share transfers: the firm acts as a company law lawyer in Nice, securing corporate life and litigating its crises. The choice of lawyer is yours, whichever Bar they belong to.
Prompt, confidential response. In business, time is an asset: the earlier counsel steps in, the more options remain open, negotiation included.
Company law · Nice
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Kohen Avocats, Paris 17
Company law in Nice, explained
Company law · Paris 17th
What a company law lawyer in Nice does
- Paris Bar
- Company law
- Firm in Paris 17th
Lawyer at the Paris Bar — company law, shareholders and directors.
Business law is played out on two fronts. First, the amicable route: formal notice, negotiation, settlement agreement. Most commercial disputes are resolved before any hearing when they are taken up early. Then the court: in Nice, the commercial court, known as the tribunal de commerce, at 6 rue Désiré Niel, hears disputes between traders and those involving commercial companies under Article L. 721-3 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce); disputes over the commercial lease statute fall for the most part to the judicial court of Nice, at place du Palais de Justice. No rule requires you to choose a local lawyer. First confidential conversation on +33 6 46 60 58 22.
Send what you have, even if incomplete: the firm will prioritise and complete the file with you. In an emergency, call +33 6 46 60 58 22.
Official profile in the directory of French lawyers (CNB)Firm at 11 rue Margueritte, 75017 Paris
Articles and shareholders' agreements
A well-drafted set of articles of association and shareholders' agreement prevents most crises: approval, pre-emption, exit, inalienability, governance — everything can be written down.
Shareholder disputes
Deadlock, abuse of majority rights, exclusion: failing agreement on the exit price, an expert sets it under Article 1843-4 of the French Civil Code (Code civil) — and the judge decides the rest.
Directors and transfers
Removal, liability for management faults, share transfers and warranty and indemnity agreements: the firm drafts, negotiates and litigates.
Key points
Business litigation: your courts, one method
Address, contacts, appeals: practical points of reference.
- Disputes between traders and commercial companies: commercial court of Nice, 6 rue Désiré Niel, 06000 Nice, tel. 04 93 92 87 87 (Article L. 721-3).
- Commercial lease statute: judicial court of Nice, place du Palais de Justice, 06300 Nice, tel. 04 92 17 70 00, for most of the litigation.
- Appeals against judgments lie to the court of appeal of Aix-en-Provence, 20 place de Verdun, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, within one month (Article 538 of the French Code of Civil Procedure).
- In urgent cases, the president rules in urgent application proceedings: an interim payment where the debt is not seriously disputable, protective measures in the event of a manifest disturbance (Article 873 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
The firm, based on rue Margueritte in Paris 17th, advises and defends company directors, traders and companies in Nice; where the law requires a lawyer with territorial representation rights, it arranges this with a colleague from the local jurisdiction. What matters: command of the subject and availability, from the first appointment to the hearing.
Corporate life
Corporate life: decide, oversee, transfer
From general meetings to transfers: form protects substance, and time limits are short.
Position A
Decide and oversee
- Notices of meeting, quorums, majorities: the regularity of general meetings determines the validity of corporate decisions.
- Actions for nullity of corporate decisions are subject to a two-year limitation period (Article 1844-14 of the Civil Code, 2025 reform).
- Related-party agreements, director remuneration, shareholder current accounts: every flow between the company and its shareholders should be documented.
Position B
Transfer and exit
- Transfer of shares: approval, pre-emption, warranty and indemnity agreement — the drafting is what secures the transaction.
- Failing agreement on the price of the shares, an expert sets it, appointed by the parties or by the president of the court (Article 1843-4).
- Disputes between shareholders of a commercial company fall within the jurisdiction of the commercial court under Article L. 721-3 of the French Commercial Code (Code de commerce).
The reflex: put it in writing before the crisis — articles of association, shareholders' agreement, minutes. When a dispute erupts, it is these documents that win the case.
The firm acts across the whole life of companies:
- Shareholders' agreements
- General meetings
- Share transfers
- Warranty and indemnity agreements
- Removal of directors
- Dissolution and liquidation
Companies
Companies and shareholders: securing, and deciding when necessary
Corporate life produces its crises: they are prevented in writing and resolved by law.
Shareholders stage
Shareholder disputes
Deadlocked decisions, abuse of majority rights, exclusion: the exit often comes through the transfer of the shareholder's rights in the company, and failing agreement on the price, an expert sets it (Article 1843-4 of the French Civil Code).
Directors stage
Mandates and liability
Removal, remuneration, related-party agreements, liability for management fault: the director is protected by articles of association and minutes kept with rigour.
Transactions stage
Transfers and warranties
Sale of a business or of shares, warranty and indemnity agreement, due diligence: every clause carries weight, and the drafting makes the transaction secure.
Nullities stage
Nullities: two years
Actions for nullity of the company or of corporate decisions are subject to a two-year limitation period (Article 1844-14 of the Civil Code, as worded following the 2025 reform).
The ordinary commercial limitation period is five years (Article L. 110-4 of the Commercial Code); for commercial leases, two years. Dating the starting point precisely is often half the case.
Timeline
From dispute to court: how it unfolds
The typical stages of a business case handled by the firm in Nice.
The dispute
Unpaid invoice, terminated contract, blocking shareholder: date the facts and gather contracts, emails and accounting documents from day one.
The consultation
Analysis of the contracts, time limits and evidence; quantification of the debt or the loss; choice of route: negotiation, urgent application, payment order or full proceedings on the merits.
Formal notice
A lawyer's letter, precise and quantified, resolves many commercial disputes; it fixes the parties' positions and prepares the court stage if it proves necessary.
The writ of summons
Failing agreement, the case is brought before the commercial court of Nice, by urgent application for an interim payment where the debt is not seriously disputable (Article 873 of the CPC).
The hearing and the decision
Submissions, accounting documents, an expert assessment if needed: each claim is quantified and proved, interest and costs included.
The appeal
The judgment may be appealed within one month before the court of appeal of Aix-en-Provence, 20 place de Verdun, 13100 Aix-en-Provence (Article 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure); provisional enforcement applies as of right.
Preparing your case
The documents to gather
The checklist that carries weight, in negotiation as before the judge.
- The contracts: general terms of sale, purchase orders, commercial lease, articles of association and shareholders' agreements.
- Invoices, account statements, payment schedules, acknowledgements of debt.
- Formal notices and replies, decisive emails, minutes of meetings.
- Minutes of general meetings and board meetings, management reports, annual accounts.
- Kbis extracts, deeds of transfer, warranty and indemnity agreements, pledges.
- Reports by a court bailiff (commissaire de justice), out-of-court expert reports, accounting correspondence.
Verified reference points, Commercial Code and Civil Code
The rules of the game, in black and white.
The rules that govern shareholders, directors and transfers — those the firm relies on in Nice, with the text to support them.
5 years
Commercial limitation period, Article L. 110-4 of the Commercial Code
Obligations arising between traders, or between traders and non-traders, are subject to a five-year limitation period, unless shorter periods apply.
2 years
Corporate nullities, Article 1844-14 of the Civil Code
Actions for nullity of the company or of corporate decisions are subject to a two-year limitation period, following the reform that came into force in 2025.
By expert valuation
The exit price, Article 1843-4 of the Civil Code
Failing agreement on the value of the shares, it is set by an expert appointed by the parties or by the president of the court.
Commercial judge
The company courts, Article L. 721-3 of the Commercial Code
Disputes relating to commercial companies fall within the commercial courts — in Nice, the commercial court of Nice.
1 month
Appealing the decision, Article 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure
The time limit for an ordinary appeal is one month in contentious matters; the case goes back before the court of appeal of Aix-en-Provence, 20 place de Verdun, 13100 Aix-en-Provence. Provisional enforcement applies as of right.
Official source. Articles 1843-4 and 1844-14 of the Civil Code; Articles L. 110-4 and L. 721-3 of the Commercial Code; Article 538 of the Code of Civil Procedure
These reference points, set by law, apply in Nice as everywhere in France. Their application is built case by case, document by document.
Frequently asked questions
Your questions: company law
Can a Paris lawyer handle my company law case in Nice?
Yes. Drafting articles of association and shareholders' agreements, general meetings and share transfers know no Bar boundaries; the firm handles its cases in Nice from start to finish.
Before the commercial court, where the law requires representation by a local lawyer (avocat postulant), the firm arranges this with a colleague from the relevant jurisdiction.
The firm, based on rue Margueritte in Paris 17th arrondissement, acts for shareholders, directors and companies in Nice.
What is a shareholders' agreement for?
To plan for a crisis before it happens: entry into and exit from the share capital, approval, pre-emption, inalienability, governance, resolution of deadlocks.
The agreement supplements the articles of association and remains confidential between the signatories; a breach is remedied by damages, and sometimes by specific performance.
The firm drafts agreements that can be argued in court: each clause is designed with the dispute it prevents in mind.
How can I leave a company when everything has gone wrong?
First by transferring your shares: negotiated, or organised by the articles of association and the shareholders' agreement (approval, pre-emption, tag-along).
Failing agreement on the price, an expert sets it, appointed by the parties or by the president of the court (Article 1843-4 of the Civil Code).
In extreme cases, dissolution for a disagreement paralysing the company's operation can be pleaded — the firm uses it as a last resort.
A general meeting was improperly held: can I challenge it?
Yes, under strict conditions: notice of meeting, quorum, majority, abuse — the irregularity is assessed against the law and the articles of association.
Since the 2025 reform, actions for nullity of corporate decisions are subject to a two-year limitation period (Article 1844-14 of the Civil Code).
The firm analyses the minutes and the articles of association, and weighs nullity, liability and negotiation.
Which court hears company disputes in Nice?
Disputes relating to commercial companies fall within the commercial court of Nice, 6 rue Désiré Niel, 06000 Nice — telephone 04 93 92 87 87 (Article L. 721-3 of the Commercial Code).
Civil companies fall within the judicial court of Nice, place du Palais de Justice.
Appeals go to the court of appeal of Aix-en-Provence, 20 place de Verdun, 13100 Aix-en-Provence, within one month.
I have been removed as a director: what are my rights?
Everything depends on the corporate form and the articles of association: removal at will, for good cause, or governed by the shareholders' agreement — with or without compensation.
An abrupt or humiliating removal gives rise to compensation, even where the removal itself is regular.
The firm negotiates directors' exits and argues abusive removals.
What does a director risk on their personal assets?
A management fault can engage their civil liability; in a liquidation, the shortfall in assets can be attributed to them under certain conditions.
Personal guarantees given to banks remain the most frequent risk — they can be negotiated and challenged.
The firm defends directors who are pursued and secures their commitments in advance.
How can a transfer of shares be secured?
First through due diligence, then through the deed: price and terms, representations and warranties, warranty and indemnity agreement with its floors, caps and durations.
Statutory approvals and pre-emption rights must be cleared before signing — an irregular transfer can be challenged.
The firm drafts and negotiates the full set of documents, for the seller and for the buyer.
What can the firm do in an emergency?
Apply to the president of the court by urgent application (référé): appointment of a representative or provisional administrator in case of deadlock, protective measures, interim payment (Article 873 of the Code of Civil Procedure).
Have the evidence secured: reports by a court commissioner, escrow arrangements, preventive expert assessments.
In an emergency, call directly: the first consultation serves to secure the position, then to build the case.
What are the fees for a company law case in Nice?
Fees are set out in a written agreement, in accordance with Article 10 of the Law of 31 December 1971: before committing, the client knows what the assignment covers and what it costs.
The firm favours fixed fees by stage: consultation and strategy, drafting of deeds, proceedings, appeal.
A quote is prepared after the situation has been reviewed. First conversation on +33 6 46 60 58 22.
Sources and related pages
Official texts and related pages
The sources for this page and the firm's related areas of practice.
Further reading
Page updated on 7 August 2026.
A company law question in Nice?
Contact the firm. Our lawyers advise and defend shareholders, directors and companies in Nice: agreements, general meetings, transfers, disputes — and on appeal where necessary.
The latest news.
What our clients say
Best real estate law and business law lawyer in Paris. A humane and attentive lawyer, with a wonderful team. Thank you, Maître KOHEN
Translated from French
Thank you to Maître KOHEN for his analyses of recent case law on fraudulent non-disclosure in property sales. It reassures me about an action for annulment that I am considering after buying a house affected by serious defects intentionally concealed by the seller and not reported by the estate agent; also defects (rising damp) characterised by spreading through-cracks and damp stains, not reported by the estate agent… Worse, defects concealed by the latter or at his instigation, under a coat of paint and by polystyrene tiles glued to the ceiling of a bedroom. And the said estate agent drafted the preliminary contract, which of course contains no information about any of these defects. Just to add that, being 77 years old and suffering from cognitive impairment, I am certain that the estate agent thought I would not be able to discover the deception and above all to establish the fraudulent intent, still less to bring legal proceedings given the complexity and length of the procedure... That is why I am opting for the criminal route, insofar as the intentional concealment of the defects by the seller and then by the estate agent amounts to the fraudulent manoeuvres of art. 313-1 of
Translated from French
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Translated from French
I turned to Maître Kohen for a complex real estate dispute and I highly recommend his firm. He is very professional; he thoroughly analyzed my case from the very first appointment and clearly explained the possible options. Thanks to his expertise, we achieved a very favorable outcome. Responsive, a good teacher, and committed, he is a lawyer you can truly trust. Yours faithfully, Miss Maazaz
Translated from French
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A precise and concrete analysis and an immediate response. Excellent.
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I highly recommend this lawyer for his professionalism, honesty, and transparency. He helped me successfully and guided me through the process with great care and expertise. What I particularly appreciated was his honest approach and the fact that he recommended practical, cost-effective options instead of immediately pushing for the most expensive solution. He genuinely focused on finding the right approach for my situation. I’m very grateful for his support and would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a trustworthy and professional lawyer in France.
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Translated from French
I would like to warmly thank Maître Esther Cornu for her professionalism, her availability and the quality of her support. In a case of particular importance for my professional future, she showed great responsiveness, rigour and a gift for explaining things, taking the time to answer my questions precisely and to explain the various legal steps to me. I particularly appreciate the clarity of her analyses, her seriousness and her commitment in following up my case. Many thanks to Maître Esther Cornu for listening and for her support. I highly recommend!
Translated from French
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Translated from French
A huge thank you to Maître Esther Cornu from Kohen Avocats for her support during a particularly difficult time. Her attentiveness, empathy, and humanity touched me deeply. She was able to answer my questions with clarity and sensitivity, while demonstrating great professionalism and fully respecting the confidentiality of the case. Beyond her professional qualities, I met a deeply humane lawyer whose support made a real difference. I sincerely recommend her.
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