France: Litigation, Mediation & Arbitration

Twelve commercial courts in France have been transformed into Economic Activity Tribunals (TAE) as part of a four-year experiment, introducing a mandatory "contribution for economic justice" fee for companies filing claims exceeding €50,000. This new financial charge, validated by the Constitutional Council with important reservations, aims to discourage abusive litigation while encouraging alternative dispute resolution.

France publishes its first proposals for reform of its arbitration law in fifteen years, introducing measures to modernise, improve efficiency and clarify key concepts

France has enacted its first substantive reform of arbitration law since 2011 through Decree No. 2026-741, introducing targeted modernizations to enhance its position as a leading arbitration hub. The amendments introduce a duty of proportionality, expand judicial support powers, establish standalone recognition proceedings, and modernize procedural rules including electronic awards and streamlined challenge procedures. These changes represent the initial phase of a three-stage reform process that will ulti