MINDING YOUR BUSINESS - CultureShock! A Survival Guide to Customs and Etiquette - page 317

ATTORNEYS AND EXPERT HELP
Many bilingual law firms in Paris specialise in droit des
affaires (business law). All attorneys must pass the French
bar exam to practise law under their own name. Because
fees can be high, be clear as to your financial limits; on the
other hand, be wary of any cut-rate offers. Some attorneys
will sign a convention d'honoraires with their clients to set
out the fee structure.
Make sure the lawyer you are considering is an expert
in precisely the area you need—many are knowledgeable
about employment legislation, which is important if your
business requires hiring personnel. The American and British
embassies publish lists of Anglophone attorneys in the Paris
district but make no recommendations. Consulting agencies
can also recommend bilingual attorneys.
A notaire may be helpful in rights concerning patents,
copyrights and royalties, while an expert-comptable should
help set up the financial reporting system to reflect the official
French (and EU) method of accounting. The filling out of
employee payslips, complicated in its legal intricacies, is often
contracted to an expert-comptable rather than done in-house.
A comptable (accountant) generally works in a company
and does the financial record keeping on a daily basis.
International consulting firms, although probably somewhat
more expensive than local French firms, are expert in new
business transactions and also serve as experts-comptables .
For professional help in understanding all the legal
intricacies of business in Paris in English and administrative
requirements, you might contact Jean Taquet, who
specialises in civil and commercial law for expatriates
(tel: [phone]; mobile: [phone]; fax:
01.40.62.94.27; email: [e-mail]; website: http://
www.insiderparisguides.com).
THE LABOUR POOL
Foreign-controlled firms currently account for 22 per
cent of the French workforce; yet it would be wise to
take into account the rigid labour laws and the costs of
hiring employees when considering a business start-up.