French boutique law firm Seattle Avocats is experienced in corporate accountability law and in particular matters concerning the compensation and prevention of environmental damage and environmental duty of care, often acting in high-profile cases. For example, the firm represented Surfrider Foundation Europe, Client Earth, and Zero Waste France in the issuance of warnings to Danone over its failure to reduce its plastic footprint; Danone’s response was deemed inadequate by the activist groups who are now suing the company.

In another matter of significance, the team supports Oxfam France, Friends of the Earth France and Notre Affaire à Tous who accuse BNP Paribas of failing to apply climate change due diligence due to its continued financing of oil and gas projects. In October 2022 the NGOs gave BNP three months to comply with the Paris Agreement and completely stop its support for new fossil fuel projects. Failure to do so will lead to a referral to the Paris court and what could be the first climate litigation in the world involving a commercial bank.

Sebastien Mabile has a deep knowledge of French due diligence law and provides numerous training sessions for judges, both on ecological damage and on the “devoir de vigilance”. At Po Paris School for International Affairs Mabile lectures on environmental law and also chairs the “Environmental Law and Policies” Commission of the IUCNs French Committee.