Regulated professions
PROFESSIONAL CIVIL LIABILITY
Collaborating with leading professional institutions and major insurance companies, our firm has, for 25 years, safeguarded the interests of professionals (statutory auditors, chartered accountants, attorneys, brokers, insurance agents, financial investment advisors, intermediaries in banking operations, real estate agents, among others) when their liability is sought before civil courts.
Over the years, we have built substantial expertise, especially in the handling of complex serial claims and cases involving claims valued at several hundred million euros.
INVESTIGATIONS AND CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS
Offenses such as misappropriation of corporate assets, breach of trust, fraud, tax evasion, falsified financial statements, fraudulent bankruptcy, unauthorized practice of a profession, and conflicts of interest are among the charges that professionals may encounter, often as a result of their clients’ actions.
In these circumstances, professionals may be subjected to criminal investigations, during which Arma’s attorneys can provide comprehensive assistance, particularly during hearings (as witnesses, in informal questioning, during police custody, or as part of a formal indictment), all of which are meticulously prepared in advance, and, if necessary, before criminal courts.
Our added value lies in our deep technical knowledge of our clients’ professions, enabling us to deliver effective representation before specialized law enforcement and judicial authorities, alongside continuous support, including psychological assistance, given the potentially distressing nature of such proceedings.
DISCIPLINARY AND ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDINGS
Our firm has developed significant expertise in disciplinary and administrative defense, frequently involving complex cases where professionals are simultaneously subject to civil and/or criminal proceedings, requiring the implementation of an appropriate strategy tailored to each situation.
Our attorneys routinely represent clients before independent administrative bodies, such as the AMF (Autorité des marchés financiers), the H2A (Haute Autorité de l’Audit), the ACPR (Autorité de Contrôle Prudentiel et de Résolution), and professional disciplinary chambers, notably those governing chartered accountants.
REGULATORY COMPLIANCE
Due to the relentless pace of legislative and regulatory reforms, our firm is frequently called upon by clients to provide guidance and to ensure their processes are aligned with regulatory mandates, especially in the financial, insurance, accounting, and legal sectors. Additionally, we address challenges related to professional monopolies and exclusive rights of practice.
STRUCTURING GOVERNANCE AND CAPITAL
The developpement of interprofessional collaboration and the integration of financial stakeholders within regulated professional entities requires these firms to reconsider their governance frameworks and shareholding structures in order to comply with stringent regulatory constraints.
In this context, we act on behalf of both professional entities and financial investors, advising them on the implementation of solutions that reconcile potentially divergent regulatory and operational requirements.
