Julien Martinet

Practice Areas

Complex and serial litigation

Fraud, vigilance, asset freezing, embargoes and blocking statutes, the right to an account, negative interest, regulatory and criminal sanctions, ESG standards, ethics, new forms of shareholder activism and cybercrime.

Career

Julien Martinet is a member of the Paris and Djibouti Bars, a member of the Board of Directors of the AEDBF (European Association of Banking and Financial Law) and a lecturer in Banking Litigation for the Master’s degree in Banking and Financial Law at the University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne.

He represents the main French banks in litigation involving their liability in the various aspects of their activities (loans, financial markets, payment transactions, asset management, enforcement measures, contracts/networks, collective proceedings, regulatory and criminal proceedings), as well as companies operating in the distribution sector and international entities with interests in France.

Publications

> Chapter authored with Marius Chapon “Climate Litigation and the Duty of Vigilance: What Role for the Judge?” in the volume ‘Banking and Finance Law’ – Mélanges AEDBF France IX, published by Revue Banque.

The contribution appears in the section devoted to compliance, criminal law, and competition law. It examines the evolving role of judges in climate-related litigation and in enforcing corporate vigilance obligations.

> Article authored with Sybille Ricard : “Blacklists and the Banker’s Duty of Vigilance: A Dead End” in the Revue de Droit bancaire et financier (September 2025).

The article examines whether banks should owe a general duty of vigilance regarding blacklists, arguing that such a duty is neither legally supported nor practical for payment service providers. It concludes that blacklists should remain informational tools for investors rather than a source of bank liability.

> Article authored with Marius Chapon: “Focus on Corporate Due Diligence and Climate Justice: Towards a Framed Judicial Review and Limited Injunctive Power” in Legal 500 (2025).

The article highlights emerging trends in climate litigation and corporate due diligence under the French duty of vigilance. It emphasizes the restrained role of judges and the limited scope of injunctive powers in climate‑related cases.

> Article authored with Guillaume Le Gall: “Analysis of Two Years of Swap Contract Case Law” in Revue Banque & Droit (29 May 2024).

The article reviews recent French case law on interest rate swap contracts, reaffirming established legal principles and clarifying how negative interest rates apply to these financial instruments. It provides practical insights into the evolving litigation landscape for swap contracts, particularly in the context of contractual interpretation and financial market practices.

> Presentation at the Chambers Forum: Paris May 2024 – An Evolving Regulatory Landscape in France: Focus on ESG‑Related Regulations (The Westin Paris – Vendôme).

The forum brought together legal experts, including Julien Martinet of Swift Litigation, to discuss key developments in ESG regulation and litigation, including climate change disputes and the implications of new EU corporate sustainability due diligence requirements. It highlighted emerging trends in corporate governance, disclosure obligations, and litigation risks tied to environmental and climate issues in France and beyond.

Personal

Master of Studies in Legal Research, Oxford University, 2001

Master of Advanced Studies in Fundamental Private Law, University of Lyon, 1998