--- title: "White-Collar Crime & Investigations" id: "2032" type: "expertise" slug: "white-collar-crime-et-investigations" published_at: "2026-01-26T08:48:52+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-30T15:05:57+00:00" url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/white-collar-crime-et-investigations/" markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/white-collar-crime-et-investigations.md" excerpt: "Defending your interests in your most sensitive matters Economic and financial offenses expose executives and companies to significant judicial, reputational, and strategic risks. Corruption, misuse of corporate assets, insider trading, money laundering, and tax fraud: our team defends corporations, executives,..." taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_69772a7470a94" taxonomy_tax_expertise: - "White-Collar Crime and Investigations" taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise: - "Dispute Resolution" --- ## Defending your interests *in your most sensitive matters* Economic and financial offenses expose executives and companies to significant judicial, reputational, and strategic risks. Corruption, misuse of corporate assets, insider trading, money laundering, and tax fraud: our team defends corporations, executives, and public figures whether they are under investigation, formally charged, or appearing as civil parties. Our lawyers represent clients before French criminal courts as well as foreign authorities, including the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.K. Serious Fraud Office, working in close coordination with our network of international partner firms. We support our clients through sensitive internal investigations and negotiate alternatives to prosecution, including guilty plea proceedings (comparution sur reconnaissance préalable de culpabilité) and negotiated settlements in corruption and environmental criminal matters. Our lawyers rank among the most experienced practitioners in France in the field of Judicial Public Interest Agreements (conventions judiciaires d’intérêt public, CJIP) and regularly lead negotiations with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office (Parquet National Financier, PNF). ## *our*Capabilities ### (01) Offenses Against Integrity Corruption, influence peddling, unlawful taking of interests, favoritism, and misappropriation of public funds can expose executives to criminal liability and subject companies to severe penalties. We assist clients throughout every stage of proceedings, from investigation to trial, developing a rigorous defense strategy and maintaining constructive dialogue with prosecuting authorities. Each case requires a detailed analysis of contractual arrangements, financial flows, and business relationships, often with international dimensions. Our expertise draws on a thorough understanding of anti-corruption mechanisms and global compliance standards. ### (02) Economic Offenses Misuse of corporate assets, breach of trust, and fraud are criminal charges that may be brought in connection with management practices or transactions deemed fraudulent. We represent executives and companies before criminal courts, analyzing the alleged facts and building a defense tailored to each situation. Our approach focuses on contextualizing management decisions, demonstrating good faith, and preventing both financial and professional consequences. ### (03) Tax Criminal Law Tax fraud and money laundering of tax fraud expose companies to severe criminal penalties and significant tax reassessments. We assist clients throughout every stage of proceedings, from investigation to trial, by reviewing the accuracy of tax filings and developing a defense strategy tailored to each case. Each matter requires a technical understanding of tax structures, international financial flows, and applicable reporting obligations. We also represent executives facing personal criminal charges arising from tax management matters. This expertise combines mastery of tax law, deep knowledge of criminal procedures, and extensive experience in engaging with regulatory and prosecuting authorities. ### (04) Labor Criminal Law Unreported employment, illegal loan of labor, unlawful subcontracting, workplace accidents, moral or sexual harassment, and assault are all criminal offenses under labor law that may expose companies, executives, and employees to liability. We represent both corporate entities and individuals throughout criminal proceedings, carefully addressing the reputational and media risks associated with such cases. ### (05) Cyber Criminal Law Cybercrime, data breaches, attacks on information systems, and online fraud are rapidly increasing and require a swift, technically informed legal response. We assist companies and executives throughout criminal proceedings related to data security, hacking, or the disclosure of sensitive information. Each case demands a precise understanding of information systems, data protection obligations, and potential liabilities. We also represent victims of cyberattacks in pursuing legal action. Our expertise is supported by ongoing technological monitoring and close partnerships with forensic experts. ### (06) Environmental Criminal Law and ESG Litigation Pollution incidents, harm to biodiversity, climate-related offenses, and ESG violations expose companies, industrial groups, and executives to significant sanctions. We represent both corporate entities and individuals, taking into account remedial measures and the follow-up of related civil actions. Each case requires a detailed analysis of ESG regulatory obligations and careful management of reputational and media issues. Our team also negotiates environmental Judicial Public Interest Agreements (CJIP) with prosecuting authorities. Our criminal lawyers work closely with our environmental law specialists to provide an integrated and strategic defense. Collective excellence at the service of the *highest standards.* Team [Basile Ader ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/basile-ader/) [Olivier Attias ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/olivier-attias/) [Astrid Mignon Colombet ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/astrid-mignon-colombet/) [Valérie Munoz-Pons ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/valerie-munoz-pons/) [Benjamin van Gaver ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/benjamin-van-gaver/) [Anaïs Coviaux ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/anais-coviaux/) [Aude Londero ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/aude-londero/) [Amélie Tripet ( Counsel )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/amelie-tripet/) [Agathe de Marcillac ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/agathe-de-marcillac/) [Alexandre Mennucci ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/alexandre-mennucci/) [Alexandre Trovato ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/alexandre-trovato/) [Dahlia Brazi ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/dahlia-brazi/) [Juliette Dreyfus ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/juliette-dreyfus/) [Marie Edelstenne ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/marie-edelstenne/) [Lola Elbaz ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/lola-elbaz/) [Noureen Nhari ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/noureen-nhari/) [Sophie Peter ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/sophie-peter/) Précédent Suivant ## Contact Us ## *our*References White-Collar Crime and Investigations #### Industrial group – Environmental criminal law Advising an industrial group on environmental criminal law in an investigation regarding the discharge of effluents into the sea from its French facility. White-Collar Crime and Investigations #### Technology company – Ransomware attack Advising a company specialized in new technologies in an internal investigation concerning a ransomware attack. White-Collar Crime and Investigations #### Banking sector – Money laundering investigation (cum-cum/cum-ex) Advising a senior executive of a bank in a large-scale investigation into money laundering related to tax fraud in the context of the cum-cum and cum-ex scandal. *Rankings* & Recognitions m - (01)Best Lawyers 2027 – France Litigation / Arbitration / White-Collar Crime - (02)Best Lawyers 2027 – France Litigation / Arbitration / White-Collar Crime - (03)Le Point 2026 – France White-collar crime [More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=white-collar-crime-and-investigations) ## *Latest* News [29/09/25 Deal 1 min August Debouzy represented Dany Boon in the “Thierry B.” fraud case On September 26, 2025, the Criminal Court of Nice convicted Thierry B. of fraud in connection with the acquisition and management of a luxury yacht. Thi](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/deal/august-debouzy-represented-dany-boon-in-the-thierry-b-fraud-case/) 01 01 Précédent Suivant [Find our latest news](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/le-hub/) News ## *FAQ* ### (01) How does a law firm specializing in white-collar crime defend companies in corruption cases and negotiate a CJIP? Prosecutions for corruption, influence peddling or illegal conflict of interest expose companies to criminal sanctions and major reputational risk. Article 41-1-2 of the French Code of Criminal Procedure allows the prosecutor to offer the legal entity a judicial public interest agreement (CJIP) comprising a fine capped at 30% of average annual turnover calculated over the last three fiscal years, a compliance program and victim compensation. Our lawyers are among the most experienced CJIP practitioners in France and regularly negotiate these agreements with the National Financial Prosecutor’s Office. ### (02) How should you defend against charges of misuse of corporate assets, fraud or money laundering? Economic offences (misuse of corporate assets, breach of trust, fraud, money laundering, bankruptcy offences) directly threaten executives and companies. Article L. 242-6 of the French Commercial Code punishes misuse of corporate assets in societes anonymes with five years’ imprisonment and a EUR 375,000 fine. We defend executives and companies from the preliminary investigation stage, during police custody and hearings, through the formal investigation and at trial. Each defence strategy is built to challenge the charges, limit criminal exposure and preserve the company’s operational capacity. ### (03) What specific features distinguish tax, employment and digital criminal law proceedings? White-collar criminal law covers a broad range of specialized proceedings. In tax matters, fraud carries up to five years’ imprisonment and a EUR 500,000 fine (Article 1741 of the French Tax Code), with aggravating circumstances raising penalties to seven years and EUR 3 million. In employment criminal law, offences relating to undeclared work, labor supply fraud or unlawful temporary staffing engage the employer’s criminal liability. In digital matters, attacks on information systems and personal data offences are multiplying. We coordinate the defence across all these areas, combining criminal law with sector-specific expertise. ### (04) How should you handle environmental criminal proceedings within the scope of white-collar crime? Environmental criminal prosecutions are increasingly linked to white-collar crime, particularly when offences are committed in the course of industrial or commercial activities. The environmental CJIP (Article 41-1-3 of the Code of Criminal Procedure), created by the law of 24 December 2020 and extended by the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act, allows the negotiation of an agreement including a fine, remediation measures and a compliance program. We represent clients in these proceedings, coordinating the criminal, environmental and reputational dimensions, and manage the negotiation of environmental CJIPs with the competent prosecutor. ### (05) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for white-collar crime in France? We defend companies, executives and public figures, whether under formal investigation, charged or acting as civil parties, before French criminal courts and foreign authorities (Department of Justice, Serious Fraud Office). Our team works with our international network of partner firms to ensure a consistent defence in multijurisdictional proceedings. From conducting sensitive internal investigations to negotiating CJIPs, from police custody assistance to trial defence, we cover the full spectrum of white-collar criminal law.