--- title: "Employment and Social Security Litigation" id: "2002" type: "expertise" slug: "employment-and-social-security-litigation" published_at: "2026-01-25T17:14:00+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-30T15:05:41+00:00" url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/employment-and-social-security-litigation/" markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/employment-and-social-security-litigation.md" excerpt: "Safeguarding your interests, reducing exposure, delivering effective solutions Labor and employment disputes impact a company’s liability, reputation, and financial stability. Whether involving individual or collective conflicts, labor court or administrative proceedings, criminal prosecutions, or challenges to collective agreements, every case..." taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_69764f58493fe" taxonomy_tax_expertise: - "Employment and Social Security Litigation" taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise: - "Dispute Resolution" --- ## Safeguarding your interests, reducing exposure, *delivering effective solutions* Labor and employment disputes impact a company’s liability, reputation, and financial stability. Whether involving individual or collective conflicts, labor court or administrative proceedings, criminal prosecutions, or challenges to collective agreements, every case demands a precisely calibrated strategy and a technically sound defense. We represent companies before all courts to protect their interests, anticipate developments in case law, and pursue the most favorable resolutions. Our litigation team combines procedural expertise, deep knowledge of labor and social security law, and strong negotiation skills to resolve crises effectively. We assist major corporations, mid-sized companies, and executives in managing their most sensitive disputes. ## *our* Capabilities ### (01) Individual and Collective Disputes Strikes, harassment, workplace accidents, individual or collective conflicts, undeclared work: we represent companies before all civil, criminal, and administrative courts with an unwavering commitment to protecting their interests. For the most complex or high-profile cases, we build an offensive strategy tailored to each situation, with procedural rigor at every stage. Each case involves a thorough analysis to anticipate shifts in case law, challenge opposing claims, and mitigate the company’s financial or reputational exposure. When a negotiated settlement is appropriate, we handle it from a position of strength to secure the most advantageous outcome. ### (02) Health and Safety at Work Disputes Workplace accidents, occupational diseases, gross negligence, criminal liability of employers: health and safety disputes expose companies to significant financial penalties and serious reputational risks. We represent employers before social security courts, criminal courts, and labor tribunals in cases involving alleged breaches of the duty of care. ### (03) Executive Litigation and Termination of Corporate Mandates Disputed dismissals, compensation claims, and post-mandate litigation: conflicts involving executives carry substantial financial and strategic implications. We represent both companies and executives in proceedings related to the termination of corporate mandates, severance payments, non-compete clauses, and delegated liabilities. Collective excellencernrnat the service of the *highest standards* Team [Emmanuelle Barbara ( Senior Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/emmanuelle-barbara/) [Marie-Hélène Bensadoun ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/marie-helene-bensadoun/) [Virginie Devos ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/virginie-devos/) [Philippe Durand ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/philippe-durand/) [Fabienne Haas ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/fabienne-haas/) [Laure Hosni ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/laure-hosni/) [Catherine Le Manchec ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/catherine-le-manchec/) [Éric Manca ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/eric-manca/) [Anaïs Qureshi ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/anais-qureshi/) [Diane Reboursier ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/diane-reboursier/) [Nathalie Lengaigne ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/nathalie-lengaigne/) [Boris Léone-Robin ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/boris-leone-robin/) [Zoé Rival ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/zoe-rival/) [Alexandre Dumortier ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/alexandre-dumortier/) [Joël Fernandez ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/joel-fernandez/) [Marie Huard ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/marie-huard/) [Laetitia-Marie Jamet ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/laetitia-marie-jamet/) [Claire-Lisa Leclerc ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/claire-lisa-leclerc/) [Ghislaine Zaïdi ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/ghislaine-zaidi/) [Manon Couval ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/manon-couval/) [Claire Ducrocq ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/claire-ducrocq/) [Elise Fusz ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/elise-fusz/) [Célia Lesueur ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/celia-lesueu/) [Elodie Robert ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/elodie-robert/) [Lina Torresilla Spinella ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/lina-torresilla-spinella/) Précédent Suivant ## Contact Us ## *our* References Employment and Social Security Litigation #### Ride-Sharing Platform – €100M URSSAF Reclassification Case Advised a top ride-sharing company in a landmark URSSAF audit, cutting claims from €100M to €55M and securing a Court of Appeal win rejecting driver reclassification. Employment and Social Security Litigation #### Tech industry – Labor Disputes & CSE Proceedings Represented a tech company in major CSE disputes, securing key court wins on governance, acquisitions, and internal rules, while advising on complex labor matters. Employment and Social Security Litigation #### Public enterprise – Restructuring and Labor disputes Advising a leading public service company on employment law matters related to its restructuring projects, the management of post-election collective litigation (150 cases), and occupational health and safety issues. *Rankings and Recognitions* m - (01)Chambers and Partners 2026 Employment - (02)Chambers and Partners 2025 – Global Employment - (03)Legal 500 2025 – Global Social security: Compensation and benefits [More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=employment-and-social-security-litigation) ## *Latest* News [19/06/26 Press release 7 min August Debouzy Announces the Promotion of Three Partners and Strengthens Its Corporate and Employment Law Practices](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/press-release/august-debouzy-announces-the-promotion-of-three-partners-and-strengthens-its-corporate-and-employment-law-practices/) [04/11/24 Legal Article 2 min Dismissal for Gross Misconduct in France: What Happens if the Date of the Misconduct is Missing? The process of dismissing an employee for gross misconduct in France is highly regulated, requiring employers to follow specific procedures to avoid legal challenges. Among these, sending a detailed letter of dismissal is a critical step. This letter must clearly outline the reasons for dismissal, as any additional reasons or facts discovered later are inadmissible before the French labor courts. Since September 2017, the Macron Statute has allowed employers to…](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/dismissal-for-gross-misconduct-in-france-what-happens-if-the-date-of-the-misconduct-is-missing/) [22/05/24 Legal Article 4 min Employers: the important thing is to anticipate! As the Olympic and Paralympic Games are fast approaching, the government has put the website “anticiperlesjeux.gouv.fr” online with the slogan: the importa](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/employers-the-important-thing-is-to-anticipate/) [07/03/24 Legal Article 8 min Labour & Employment Law : 3 questions to Ghislaine Zaidi & Boris Léone-Robin More than 10,000 athletes from 206 different countries will be taking part in the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, which will attract millions of specta](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/legal-article/labour-employment-law-3-questions-to-ghislaine-zaidi-boris-leone-robin/) 01 04 Précédent Suivant [Find our latest news](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/le-hub/) News ## *FAQ* ### (01) What compensation caps apply in employment litigation for unfair dismissal? A dismissal challenged before the labour court exposes the employer to awards governed by the scale set out in Article L. 1235-3 of the French Labour Code. This scale, upheld by the Cour de cassation in plenary assembly on 11 May 2022, provides minimum and maximum compensation levels expressed in months of gross salary according to the employee’s length of service and the size of the company, with caps reaching up to twenty months’ salary for thirty years of seniority. It does not apply to void dismissals (discrimination, harassment, breach of a fundamental freedom). We defend companies in individual and collective disputes: dismissals, challenges to redundancy plans, disputes relating to pay, working time and staff representative elections. ### (02) How should you defend your company in health and safety litigation? Health and safety disputes (moral or sexual harassment, workplace accidents, occupational diseases, inexcusable fault, psychosocial risks) engage the employer’s civil and criminal liability. The action to establish inexcusable fault is time-barred after two years from the accident or the date on which daily allowance payments ceased, under Article L. 431-2 of the French Social Security Code. We assist companies in preventing and managing these disputes: internal investigations, responses to labour inspectorate notices, and representation before civil, criminal and social security courts. ### (03) How should you handle litigation relating to a director’s status or termination of office? Corporate officers (CEOs, managing directors, management board members, managers) operate at the intersection of corporate and employment law, which complicates disputes over their removal, requalification of their status or enforcement of contractual guarantees. Article L. 1471-1 of the French Labour Code sets a twelve-month limitation period for actions relating to the termination of employment contracts, running from notification of the termination. We advise companies and directors on securing mandates, negotiating departure terms and defending before commercial and labour courts. ### (04) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for employment and social security litigation in France? Major groups, mid-sized companies and executives entrust us with their most sensitive employment disputes. We act before all courts (labour tribunals, civil courts, courts of appeal, the Cour de cassation, criminal and social security courts) to anticipate case law developments and pursue the most favourable outcomes. Our team combines procedural expertise, deep knowledge of employment law and the ability to negotiate crisis exits, integrating the reputational and financial dimensions of each case.