Criminal Law

Articles

Illustrated Law🎬Law & Cinema

🎭𝐅𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧🎬The talks in the Town: what can a law professor do about it?”

  ► Full reference : M.-A. Frison-Roche, "Fiction🎬The talks in the Town  : what can a law professor do about it?", article from the Newsletter Law & Art, December 2025. - 🎬Watch the trailer - ► Summary of this article : This 1942 film seems to have left little trace. However, the main character, an innocent man whom the villain manipulates into being designated as the culprit by the small town's population, leading him to behave like a guilty person, is played by Cary Grant. This film inspired lawyers even more. And even more so law professors, because it was a law professor, the dean of Harvard Law School, who saved the innocent man who had been caught in the trap. And even more so today, since it was by playing on rumours, by creating them from the outset, in what we would call disinformation, that the powerful villain intended to win and, in the process, become mayor of the town, after escaping bankruptcy by setting fire to his own factory, a crime he blames on the innocent man thrown to the wolves of public opinion as citizens gather in the square. It's almost as if we were there… - 🔓read the article below⤵️ - 🌐Follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on LinkedIn 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on Instagram 🌐Subscribe to the Newsletter MAFR Regulation, Compliance, Law 🌐Subscribe to the video newsletter MAFR Overhang 🌐Subscribe to the Newsletter MaFR Law & Art

Books

Can the Public Be Trusted?: On the Promise and Perils of Voluntary Compliance

► Full Reference: Y. Feldman,Can the Public Be Trusted?: On the Promise and Perils of Voluntary Compliance, Cambridge University Press, 2025.  - ► Presentation of the book (done by the Author) : "When do citizens voluntarily comply with regulations rather than act out of fear of sanctions? Can the Public Be Trusted? challenges prevailing regulatory paradigms by examining when democratic states can rely on voluntary compliance. Drawing on behavioral science, law, and public policy research, Yuval Feldman explores why voluntary compliance, despite often yielding superior and more sustainable outcomes, remains underutilized by policymakers. Through empirical analysis of policy implementation in COVID-19 response, tax compliance, and environmental regulation, Feldman examines trust-based governance’s potential and limitations. The book presents a comprehensive framework for understanding how cultural diversity, technological change, and institutional  shape voluntary cooperation.". -   📗Read the book

Working papers

Working Paper for📺MAFR - OverHang (Notion)

🚧Arbitration, a highly appropriate technique for deploying Compliance Law, in particular to satisfy the Vigilance Obligation

► Full Reference: M.-A. Frison-Roche, Arbitration, a highly appropriate technique for deploying Compliance Law, in particular to satisfy the Vigilance Obligation, Working Paper, March 2025. - 🎤 This Working Paper was developed as a basis for the Overhang👁 video  on …  April 2025 : click HERE  - 🎬🎬🎬In the collection of the Overhangs👁 It falls into the Notion category. ►Watch the complete collection of the Overhangs👁 : click HERE - ► Summary of this Working Paper: If Arbitration has so far not developed much in Compliance Law, it is because this new branch of Law is not well known. Indeed, if it were simply a matter of 'conformity' with mandatory regulations, then Arbitration involving rights that are freely available to the parties and Compliance would be 2 worlds that must ignore each other. But Compliance Law is defined quite differently. Its normativity lies in the Monumental Goals set by the political authorities, which oblige large companies, because these compagnies are in a position to do so, to contribute to achieving these Goals, namely the future preservation of the Systems (banking, digital, climate, energy, etc.) and human beings involved. While the Goal is constrained, the company is free to choose the means, as long as these means  are credible. Arbitration is one of them. From the arbitration clause to the appropriate award. One example is the Duty of Vigilance, the cutting edge of Compliance. In order to effectively find solutions in the value chain that the company governs, Arbitration is a suitable means of achieving the Monumental Goals of environmental protection and human rights, under the control of the Judge.       - 🔓read the developments below⤵️ - 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche sur LinkedIn 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on Instagram 🌐subscribe to the Newsletter MAFR Regulation, Compliance, Law  🌐subscribe to the Video Newsletter MAFR Surplomb

Conferences

🏛️Hearing before a public body

🏛️ hearing before the French Working Group on the modernisation of French Arbitration Law, about the issue Arbitrage et Droit de la Compliance : est-il besoin d’un texte ? (“Arbitration and Compliance Law: is a text required?”)

► Full Reference: M.-A. Frison-Roche, hearing before the French working group on the modernisation of French Arbitration Law, about the issue Arbitrage et Droit de la Compliance : est-il besoin d'un texte ? ("Arbitration and Compliance Law: is a text required?"), Directorate of Civil Affairs' French Ministry of Justice, 13 February 2025. - ► Result of this presentation and the ensuing discussion, recorded in the working group's report published in March 2025 (published in French, translated her: "This report on the guiding principles would not be complete without mentioning the discussions in the working group on the introduction of a guiding principle requiring the arbitral tribunal to take into account "human, environmental and compliance issues, as well as respect for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the parties".This proposal gave rise to particularly heated discussions. Some saw it as a scarecrow likely to make French Arbitration Law less attractive and to weaken Arbitration awards, opening up cases of recourse on the pretext of bad faith, even though these values would already be taken into account in the review of domestic or international public policy.  Others, on the other hand, felt that such a text would have the advantage of enshrining an Arbitration Law connected to values that are not exclusively economically oriented, pointing out, moreover, that such a principle would not be redundant with the control of public policy, which intervenes ex post, whereas this text imposes Ex Ante responsability, and that this principle would allow a noteworthy introduction of Compliance Law in rbitration.  They added that the promotion of such values could make it possible to demonstrate a commitment to virtuous arbitration practice. In the light of these differences, after much hesitation, the decision was made not to include it in the draft Code, considering that the final choice was more a question of political dimension that the working group felt it could not decide on its own. ". (p. 36).   - ► English Summary of the presentation: My presentation deals with the relationship between Compliance Law and Arbitration, particularly International Arbitration. It is built around 12 successive points. The work I have carried out on these various points is associated with it. It precedes the answers I shall give to the questions put by the members of the working group and the ensuing discussion.   1. stagnation in the relationship between Arbitration and Compliance Law, due to continuing misunderstandings about Compliance 2. progress towards a better understanding of Compliance and the appropriateness of the arbitrator's role within Compliance Law 3. prospects for the growing relationship between Compliance Law and Arbitration, particularly with regard to the value chains built up by international companies 4. educational issues 5. time required to build a "culture of place" in this matter 6. "Doctrinal" difficulties 7. benefit from the production of a "doctrine of place" on this subject 8. going beyond the continental summa divisio of Public Law and Private Law 9. practical assimilation of Regulatory Contracts in sustainable sectors and chains 10. opening up the Arbitration World to this articulation with Compliance Law 11.  Can an official legal text contribute to this? 12.  example of the guiding principles of the French Code of Civil Procedure. -   🔓read the presentation developments below⤵️ - 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on LinkedIn 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on Instagram 🌐subscribe to the Newsletter MAFR Regulation, Compliance, Law 🌐 subscribe to the Video Newsletter MAFR Overhang/Surplomb

Publication director

🏗️ direction of the collection: 📚Cours Dalloz – Série Droit privé

📚Publication of : 🕴️Xavier PIN, 📕Droit pénal général (General Criminal Law), 16th ed.

► Full Reference : X. Pin, Droit pénal général 2025 (General Criminal Law 2025), 16th ed., 2024, Dalloz, “Cours Dalloz-Série Droit privé” Series, 722 p. - ► General presentation of the book (written in French) : The new 2024 edition of this book, up to date with the latest reforms, first deals with the « criminal law » in its determination and application; it then deals with « the offence », its characterisation and its attribution, and ends, in a third part, with « the penalty », distinguishing between the penalty incurred, the penalty imposed and the penalty enforced. - 📚See the entire collection in which the book is published. - 📚Books in the collection directly related to this one : 🕴️Ch. André, 📕Droit pénal spécial (Special Criminal Law) 🕴️É. Verny, 📕Procédure pénale (Criminal Procedure) 🕴️G. Beaussonie, 📕Droit pénal des affaires (Business Criminal Law) -

Publication director

🏗️ direction of the collection: 📚Cours Dalloz – Série Droit privé

📚Publication of : 🕴️Christophe ANDRÉ, 📕Droit pénal spécial (Special Criminal Law), 7th ed.

► Full Reference : Ch. André, Droit pénal spécial (Special Criminal Law), 1st ed. 2010 – 7th ed., 2021, Dalloz, “Cours Dalloz-Série Droit privé” Series, 552 p. - ► General presentation of the book (written in French) : This edition of the Course is up to date with the reforms that continually modify criminal offences, particularly in economic and financial matters but also in social matters (for example the « gilets jaunes »), showing above all the constant crisis of a criminal law in decay, now fragmented into special repressive laws. Today, it is not only a special criminal law but also, indeed above all, a criminal law of exceptions (which raises problems with regard to general criminal law, itself inseparable from criminal procedure) that students and practitioners alike must learn. This Course is built in three parts. The first deals with offences against persons; the second with offences against property; the third with offences against the Nation, the State and public peace. The elements of criminal procedure, inseparable from criminal law, are explained for each offence examined. - 📚See the entire collection in which the book is published. - 📚Books in the collection directly related to this one : 📕Droit pénal général (General Criminal Law) 📕Procédure pénale (Criminal Procedure) 📕Droit pénal des affaires (Business Criminal Law) -

Articles in The Journal of Regulation & Compliance « JoRC »

FIORINI, Benjamin🕴️

📝Approche doctrinale de l’enquête interne et de l’enquête pénale privée, in 🕴️M.-A. Frison-Roche & 🕴️M. Boissavy (eds.), 📕Compliance et droits de la défense. Enquête interne – CJIP – CRPC

► Full Reference: B. Fiorini, "Approche doctrinale de l’enquête interne et de l’enquête pénale privée" ("Doctrinal approach to internal investigations and private criminal investigations"), in M.-A. Frison-Roche & M. Boissavy (eds.), Compliance et droits de la défense. Enquête interne – CJIP – CRPC, Journal of Regulation & Compliance (JoRC) and Dalloz, coll. "Régulations & Compliance", 2024, pp. 63-68 - 📕read a general presentation of the book, Compliance et droits de la défense. Enquête interne – CJIP – CRPC, in which this article is published - ► English Summary of the article (done by the Journal of Regulation & Compliance – JoRC): The author sets out the two profoundly distinct, even opposing, cultures of inquisitorial and adversarial repressive procedural systems. The former gives confidence and power to public officials to find the truth, while the latter gives confidence and power to the opposing parties in the dispute. Private investigations naturally develop in the second system and not in the first. This second system of thought is rooted in the United States, which naturally welcomes internal investigations carried out by companies and associates procedural principles such as the rights of the defence, adversarial proceedings and the right to a lawyer. The first system, characteristic of Continental Law systems, is resistant to the very idea of a private criminal investigation. This is why, when the internal investigation mechanism develops within a company, the procedural mechanisms mentioned above are less naturally associated with it. - 🦉This article is available in full text to those registered for Professor Marie-Anne Frison-Roche's courses -

Articles in The Journal of Regulation & Compliance « JoRC »

BAVITOT, Alexis🕴️

📝Shaping the Company through Negotiated Criminal Justice Agreements. French Perspective, in 🕴️M.-A. Frison-Roche (ed.), 📘Compliance Jurisdictionalisation

► Full Reference: A. Bavitot, "Shaping the Company through Negotiated Criminal Justice Agreements. French Perspective", in M.-A. Frison-Roche (ed.), Compliance Jurisdictionalisation, Journal of Regulation & Compliance (JoRC) and Bruylant, "Compliance & Regulation" Serie, 2024, pp. 203-215 - 📘read a general presentation of the book, Compliance Jurisdictionalisation, in which this article is published - ► Summary of the article (done by the author): Negotiated justice is "the situation in which the criminal conflict is the object of a trade in the etymological sense of the term negotio, i.e. a debate between the parties to reach an agreement". Thus, the French legislator has succumbed to globalized mimicry by creating the Convention judiciaire d'intérêt public (Public Interest Judicial Agreement), first in matters of probity and then in environmental matters. What is the nature of this deal of justice? Validated by a judge's order, it does not entail any declaration of guilt, has neither the nature nor the effects of a judgment of conviction and is not registered in the judicial record. Possible at the investigation stage as well as at the pre-trial stage, the Public Interest Judicial Agreement is original in that it makes it possible to avoid either the prosecutor's proceedings or the judge's wrath. A detailed study of the agreements signed shows that in order to negotiate in the best possible way, the company can and must shape itself. The company will shape the facts of its agreement, shape its charge and, finally, shape its sentence. The article offers a concrete analysis of these three dimensions of corporate shaping to better approach understanding the legal nature of negotiated criminal justice agreements. - 🦉This article is available in full text to those registered for Professor Marie-Anne Frison-Roche's courses -

Lessons

Teaching for the École nationale de la magistrature - ENM (French National School for the Judiciary)

⚖️Droit de la compliance (Compliance Law)

► Full Reference: F. Ancel &  M.-A. Frison-Roche, Droit de la compliance (Compliance Law), École nationale de la magistrature – ENM (French National School for the Judiciary), in collaboration with the École de Formation professionnelle des Barreaux du ressort de la cour d'appel de Paris – EFB (Paris Bar School), Paris, February 1 and 2, 2024 This teaching is given in French. - 🌐consult on LinkedIn a general présentation of this event, which links to a presentation and a report of each speech - ► Presentation of the Teaching: The aim of this two-day conference is to enable judges and lawyers to grasp the issues, objectives and methods that define Compliance Law as it is practised in companies. The speakers will illustrate the growing trend towards litigation, which is difficult to reconcile with the supranational dimension, or even indifference to territories, for example when disputes concern systemic climate or digital issues: the result is a renewal of the role of the judge and the role of lawyers. This must be set against the renewal of the role and operation of companies themselves. This is analysed from the perspective of Civil Law, in particular Contract Law and Liability Law. Company Law and Criminal Law are also addressed, as well as the way in which the legal system now integrates governance, regulation, climate and digital issues and the smooth operation of financial markets through Compliance techniques. - ► Organisation of the Teaching: This conference is divided into two parts. The first day is designed as a presentation of the major themes through which Compliance Law crosses the branches of traditional Law. The speakers will be professors of Law who will successively summarise the branches of Law and put into perspective the way in which Compliance imperatives give rise to new situations, new difficulties and new solutions. This enables the second day to focus on practical and topical issues and to debate controversial questions between people of different sensibilities. The participants tend to be judges, members of regulatory authorities, lawyers, members of associations and so on. - ► Enrolment procedure: The course is open to all judicial and consular magistrates, as well as lawyers. Registrations can be made directly with the ENM or with the EFB. - ► Speakers :   🎤François Ancel, Judge at the Première Chambre civile de la Cour de cassation (First Civil Chamber of the French Court of cassation)  🎤Thomas Baudesson, Attorney at the Paris Bar, Partner at Clifford Chance 🎤Guillaume Beaussonie, Full Professor at Toulouse 1 Capitole University 🎤Jacques Boulard, Premier Président de la Cour d’appel de Paris (First President of the Paris Court of Appeal) 🎤Marie Caffin-Moi, Full Professor at Paris Panthéon-Assas University 🎤Malik Chapuis, Judge at the Tribunal judiciaire de Paris (Paris First Instance Civil Court) 🎤Lucie Chatelain, Advocacy and Litigation Manager – Civil Liability of Parent Companies, Sherpa 🎤Jean-Benoît Devauges, Directeur Juridique, Ethique et Gouvernance des entreprises (Legal, Ethics and enterprises governance Director), MEDEF 🎤Marie-Anne Frison-Roche, Professor of Regulatory and Compliance Law, Director of the Journal of Regulation & Compliance (JoRC) 🎤Arnaud Gossement, Attorney at the Paris Bar, Partner at Gossement Avocats 🎤Thibault Goujon-Bethan, Full Professor at Jean Moulin Lyon 3 University 🎤Christophe Ingrain, Attorney at the Paris Bar, Partner at Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier 🎤Isabelle Jegouzo, Director of the Agence française anticorruption – AFA (French Anti-Corruption Agency)  🎤Anne-Valérie Le Fur, Full Professor at Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines University 🎤Charlotte Michon, Attorney at the Paris Bar, partner at Charlotte Michon Avocat 🎤Jean-Baptiste Racine, Full Professor at Paris Panthéon-Assas University 🎤 Jean-Christophe Roda, Full Professor at Jean-Moulin Lyon 3 University 🎤Jérôme Simon, 1er Vice-Procureur Financier (First Financial Vice-Prosecutor) - 🧮read below the programme put together and organised by François Ancel and Marie-Anne Frison-Roche, as well as the reports of each presentation⤵️ - 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on LinkedIn 🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on Instagram 🌐subscribe to the Newsletter MAFR Regulation, Compliance, Law

Conferences

🎤Favoriser ou pas la « contractualisation » du Droit (“To favour or not the “contractualisation” of the Law”), in 🧮La contractualisation du droit. Acte II

🌐follow Marie-Anne Frison-Roche on LinkedIn 🌐subscribe to the Newsletter MAFR Regulation, Compliance, Law  - ► Full Reference: M.-A. Frison-Roche, "Favoriser ou pas la « contractualisation » du Droit" ("To favour or not the "contractualisation" of the Law"), final speech in Société de législation comparée (SLC) and Procuradoria Geral do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (PGE-RJ), La contractualisation du droit. Acte II, Paris, 21 June 2023. - 🧮See the full programme of this event (in French). The conference is held in French -