Department profile
August Debouzy

Employment

France Guide 2026 : France


August Debouzy

Rankings

About

Provided by August Debouzy

Headed by Emmanuelle Barbara, the employment law team provides a full range of employment law expertise, including with regards to collective and individual industrial relations, executive management compensation schemes, employee health and safety in the workplace, civil liberties, employment litigation, employee savings and pension schemes, social benefits, and international mobility. The firm is also regularly retained to advise and represent employers of CAC 40 companies and major French and international industrial groups, in highly sensitive employment law matters, such as mass redundancies, restructuring transactions and high stakes negotiations with employee representative bodies.

The employment lawyers regularly team up with the firm’s lawyers specializing in restructuring, taxation or corporate law and, more recently, compliance experts to provide clients a comprehensive approach and effectively manage their overlapping issues involving various practice areas.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Employment - France

Band 1

Band 1


What the Team is Known For

August Debouzy has a market-leading team that covers a wide range of employment mandates. The firm is highly skilled in assisting both French and international clients, including CAC 40 companies, with employee litigation, company reorganisations and collective redundancy plans. The group demonstrates additional expertise in dealing with matters concerning workplace discrimination and assisting with inspections by French authorities. The department has further experience in whistle-blowing policies and issues surrounding foreign secondment.

À propos de l’équipe

August Debouzy a une équipe de premier plan sur le marché qui couvre un large éventail de mandats de droit social. Le cabinet est hautement qualifié dans l’assistance à des clients français et internationaux, dont des entreprises du CAC 40, dans le cadre de contentieux sociaux, de réorganisations d’entreprises et de plans collectifs de licenciements. Le cabinet a une expertise supplémentaire dans le traitement des dossiers de discrimination et dans l’assistance aux inspections des autorités françaises. Le département a aussi une expérience des pratiques de lanceur d'alerte et des dossiers liés au détachement à l’étranger.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • August Debouzy assisted Freenow with a high-stakes Urssaf audit and related criminal proceedings, quoted at around EUR100 million.

  • August Debouzy a assisté Freenow dans le cadre d'un audit Urssaf et sur les procédures pénales connexes, dont le montant est estimé à environ EUR100 millions.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The lawyers portray a very good knowledge of the sector of activity as well as the company's business model.

    Employment respondentFrance
  • The team is able to understand the political and strategic issues of the case for our company and quickly integrate our specificities.

    Employment respondentFrance
  • The team is highly responsive and always provides clear, practical advice that we can apply easily in situations. It takes time to understand our needs and consistently delivers excellent support.

    Employment respondentFrance
  • The team is always available and responsive to urgent questions.

    Employment respondentFrance
  • The law firm demonstrates a remarkable ability to handle complex and sophisticated cases, particularly in labour law and social security law.

    Employment respondentFrance
  • L'équipe est très réactive et fournit toujours des conseils clairs et pratiques que nous pouvons facilement appliquer dans différentes situations. Les avocats prennent le temps de comprendre nos besoins et nous apportent un soutien toujours excellent.

    Employment respondentFrance

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Emmanuelle Barbara
    Band 1Emmanuelle Barbara

    Emmanuelle Barbara

    Emmanuelle Barbara is highly sought after by leading French and international corporates from a range of sectors, including retail and hospitality. She assists with the negotiation of collective agreements, employee transfers and employment criminal law cases.

    Emmanuelle Barbara est très sollicitée par les plus grandes entreprises françaises et internationales de divers secteurs, notamment la grande distribution et l’hôtellerie. Elle conseille sur la négociation de conventions collectives, les mutations de salariés et les dossiers de droit pénal du travail.

    • She is present and involved from the launch of projects and provides innovative solutions by challenging options in order to propose the best possible solution.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • She is an outstanding partner who has a broad perspective on strategic issues.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Emmanuelle is very available and key in her interventions and follow-ups.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Elle est présente et intervient dès le lancement des projets et apporte des solutions innovantes en challengeant les options afin de proposer la meilleure solution possible.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • C'est une associée exceptionnelle qui a une hauteur de vue sur les sujets stratégiques.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Emmanuelle est très disponible et pertinente dans ses interventions et son suivi.

      Employment respondentFrance
  • Band 2Marie-Hélène Bensadoun
    Band 2Marie-Hélène Bensadoun

    Marie-Hélène Bensadoun

    Marie-Hélène Bensadoun maintains a solid employment practice advising on individual and collective terminations. She regularly handles mandates in the TMT, transportation and energy sectors.

    Marie-Hélène Bensadoun maintient une solide pratique en droit social, conseillant en matière de licenciements individuels et collectifs. Elle conseille régulièrement sur des dossiers dans les secteurs des TMT, du transport et de l’énergie.

    • She is very creative and very involved.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Elle est très créative et très impliquée.

      Employment respondentFrance
  • Band 3Fabienne Haas
    Band 3Fabienne Haas

    Fabienne Haas

    Fabienne Haas handles a range of employment issues, including employee benefits mandates. She frequently assists clients with multi-jurisdictional matters. She also advises on contentious matters, such as sexual harassment litigation and employee dismissals following misconduct.

    Fabienne Haas traite de nombreux dossiers de droit du travail, notamment en matière d’avantages sociaux. Elle assiste fréquemment des clients dans le cadre de dossiers transfrontaliers. Elle intervient également sur des contentieux, tels que les disputes en matière de harcèlement sexuel et les licenciements d’employés à la suite d’une faute grave.

    • Working with Fabienne is a pleasure, she consistently goes above and beyond in supporting our business.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne is exceptional. She stands out for her attentiveness and approachability.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne has extensive experience working for UK and US clients, and understands the Anglo-Saxon business model.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne always listens carefully, provides clear, practical advice and is incredibly responsive.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne a une vaste expérience auprès de clients britanniques et américains et comprend le modèle commercial anglo-saxon.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne est exceptionnelle. Elle se distingue par sa prévenance et sa disponibilité.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Fabienne est toujours à l'écoute, donne des conseils clairs et pratiques et est incroyablement réactive.
      Employment respondentFrance
    • Travailler avec Fabienne est un plaisir, elle se surpasse constamment pour aider notre entreprise.

      Employment respondentFrance
  • Band 3Virginie Devos
    Band 3Virginie Devos

    Virginie Devos

    Virginie Devos displays strong capabilities in high profile employment disputes and restructurings. She often advises international clients.

    Virginie Devos a de solides compétences en matière de litiges et de restructurations d'entreprises à fort enjeu. Elle conseille fréquemment des clients internationaux.

    • She is excellent.

      Employment respondentFrance
    • Elle est excellente.

      Employment respondentFrance

Ranked Individuals at August Debouzy (4)

France

Members

Provided by August Debouzy

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