Practice areas
Audrey Michel, Attorney at Law
Member of the Draguignan Bar Association
Professional Legal Support at Your Service
Audrey Michel, Attorney at Law, took her oath on January 8, 2014, before the Court of Appeal of Aix-en-Provence. She has since been practicing under the Draguignan Bar, with law office in Cogolin (Var, France).
Business and Civil Law
Employment Law
Family Law
Legal Services for Americans
Intellectual Property & New Technologies
Business and Civil Law
The firm provides legal assistance in business law and civil law, particularly in the following areas:
- Competition Law: sudden termination of commercial relationships, unfair competition.
- Representation before the Commercial Court and other competent jurisdictions.
- Drafting of commercial contracts.
- Drafting of specific contractual clauses in Terms & Conditions (CGU) and General Terms of Sale (CGV).
- Client-supplier disputes and debt recovery.
- Advisory and litigation services in business and contract law.
- Consumer Law: assistance with contract termination, withdrawal rights, refunds, cooling-off periods, misleading advertising.
Employment Law
The firm provides assistance from the drafting of employment contracts to litigation before the French Labor Court (Conseil de prud’hommes).
We listen, advise, and support you in every aspect of French employment law, including:
- Choice of employment contract.
- Drafting of employment contracts.
- Leave, incapacity, discrimination, working hours, etc.
- Non-compete clauses.
- Severance pay and compensation for termination.
- Amendments to employment contracts.
- Dismissals.
- Resignation with immediate effect (prise d’acte).
- Management of job abandonment, reassignment of unfit employees, expatriation.
The firm also assists in settlement negotiations between employers and employees.
We act for both employers and employees, ensuring full representation before the Conseil de prud’hommes and on appeal before the Court of Appeal.
Our services are available throughout France.
Family Law
In cases of divorce or legal separation, representation by a lawyer is mandatory in France. Each party must choose their own attorney – including, since January 1st, 2017, for the new mutual consent divorce procedure carried out before a Notary.
The firm represents one spouse in divorce proceedings. We provide tailored advice at every stage of the procedure, offering solutions adapted to your specific situation.
We explain the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure and address all necessary aspects, including:
- Parental authority
- Child custody and residence
- Visitation rights
- Child support
- Division of movable and immovable property
- Possible spousal support (prestation compensatoire)
The firm regularly handles:
- Legal advice and representation in divorce and separation proceedings
- Fault-based divorces and amicable divorces by mutual consent
- Defense of your rights regarding child custody and visitation
- Child support and spousal support claims
- Civil status matters: marriage, civil partnerships (PACS), name and surname changes
- Minors’ rights, paternity disputes and recognition, parentage, parental authority
- Property division and asset distribution
- Domestic violence cases and restraining orders
The firm provides services throughout France and regularly appears before the Judicial Court of Draguignan (Tribunal Judiciaire, Var 83).
Legal Services for Americans
Are you an American citizen living, working, or investing in France? Do you need an English-speaking French lawyer to navigate the French legal system with clarity and confidence?
As a registered attorney (“avocat”) with the Bar of Draguignan, I provide legal services tailored to the needs of U.S. expatriates, families, and investors in France.
Areas of Practice
- Family Law: international divorce, child custody, inheritance with French law.
- Employment Law: employment contracts, termination, employer/employee disputes.
- Civil & Contract Law: drafting, reviewing, and litigating contracts.
- International Issues: recognition of U.S. court decisions, cross-border legal conflicts.
Why choose my services?
- Clear bilingual communication (French / English)
- Strong experience with cross-border and international legal issues
- Flexible remote consultations by videoconference, WhatsApp, or phone, making legal advice accessible wherever you are
- Office in Cogolin– nationwide legal assistance in France
Contact me today to schedule a remote or in-person consultation with an English-speaking lawyer in France.
Intellectual Property & New Technologies
The firm assists and represents you in cases of counterfeiting, unfair competition, both in civil and criminal matters, as well as upstream in the acquisition and management of intellectual property rights (trademarks, patents, designs and models, copyrights, and related rights).
Assistance and representation in litigation:
- Implementation of seizure measures in matters of counterfeiting (saisie-contrefaçon).
- Civil actions (plaintiff and defense) in matters of counterfeiting and unfair competition.
- Criminal actions (plaintiff and defense) in matters of counterfeiting (criminal complaint with civil party application, direct summons, etc.).
- Assistance in customs litigation related to counterfeiting (defense, settlements, customs seizures).
- Representation before Commercial Courts in matters of unfair competition, competition law, and contract law.
Acquisition and management of intellectual property rights:
- Trademarks: prior rights searches, availability and conflict analysis, filing, registration monitoring, opposition proceedings, portfolio management, monitoring services.
- Designs and models: filing, registration, portfolio management.
- Patents: filing in partnership with patent engineers.
- Copyright & software: proof of creation, SOLEAU envelopes, source code deposits.
The firm provides services throughout France.