What are the most significant cases, projects and/or transactions that you and/or your legal team have recently been involved in?  

Recently, our attention has been particularly focused on environmental issues, both in terms of prevention (training, instructions, contractual clauses) and in the handling of files or risks. The Eiffage group has long been committed to environmental issues but is increasing its initiatives year after year. For example, an Environment Department was recently created within Eiffage CONSTRUCTION and significantly staffed, whereas EIFFAGE already had a very experienced Sustainable Development Department in force: both Departments provide expert advice to the group’s companies during the study and during the implementation of projects.

How do you approach managing legal aspects during periods of instability or crisis to ensure the organisation’s resilience?

I have previously answered such question last year and after review, I have nothing more to add:

I would not have been able to answer this question five or six years ago because no one imagined the difficult periods that we would have to experience from 2020: especially the Covid crisis of course, but also certain collateral effects of the geopolitical unrest that has arisen. These unusual events in our contemporary career have led us to deploy an unprecedented way of working: leaving aside current affairs, setting up extreme responsiveness of teams to analyse situations and contracts, putting into motion usually “sleeping” clauses. “. » (force majeure, etc.), decryption of texts and circulars enacted exclusively during these periods, writing real-time memo explaining how to apply these texts, etc. All of this allowed us, in full support of our general management, to safeguard our activities as best as possible. and interests, and in the construction industry to restart works as quickly as possible while ensuring their safety and that of our employees. We will thus be able to mobilise the same working methodology tomorrow in the event of a new crisis, hoping however not to have to do it again….

Have you had any experiences during your career as a lawyer that stand out as particularly unique or interesting?

All cases with a criminal dimension are the most special for me: it is first of all a question of learning the facts in the most neutral way possible, not having ready-made ideas, carrying out the most accurate risks analysis possible, and finally putting in place, where appropriate, a defense strategy that is as respectful as possible of the interests involved. These cases fascinate me because, above all, there are major human issues involved: sometimes you have to face difficult challenges for which employees are not prepared in the event of investigations or hearings.

Based on your experiences in the past year, are there any trends in the legal or business world that you are keeping an eye on that you think other in-house lawyers should be mindful of?
Yes, obviously artificial intelligence is one of the topics that must be included in every lawyer’s “bag.” But we must pay attention to the excitement this new technology generates: the uncontrolled use of AI exposes companies to major risks: data leaks, errors, invasions of privacy, plagiarism and copyright, fraud, non-compliance, business ethics, compliance with European regulations such as the AI Act. The lawyer must be an essential safeguard to ensure that the facilities provided by AI do not, in turn, lead to abuses that are detrimental to the company.