French lawyer for startup formation

French lawyer for startup formation

French lawyer for startup formation: structure your French entity with expert legal support

The law firm of Maître Jonathan POUGET, Doctor of Law and French lawyer for startup formation, provides dedicated legal advice and defense of your interests, wherever you are located.

Our firm acts with commitment and expertise, taking all necessary measures to protect, enhance, and preserve your rights and financial interests.
📧 Email: jonathan@pouget-avocat.fr / 📞 Phone: +33 6 07 62 55 74

We assist founders and entrepreneurs from all industries, including particularly advanced technology sectors, in setting up and growing their businesses in France.

As your trusted legal partner, your French lawyer for foreign companies allows you to focus on creating and developing your project, while ensuring the legal security of your operations at every key stage.

Our missions are multiple and detailed below. Here is a summary:

Company incorporation and legal structure selection;
Tax regime analysis and optimization;
Drafting of shareholders’ agreements;
Legal support for fundraising;
Protection of intellectual property rights;
Legal framework for the sale of goods and services;
Risk analysis and tax optimization;
Various other legal actions and contracts.

I. Company Incorporation in France – French lawyer for startup formation

Establishing a legal structure is a crucial first step for any entrepreneurial project.

Failure to incorporate properly exposes entrepreneurs to several risks, such as:

Being requalified as a de facto company;
Facing tax and social security penalties;
Having no protection for personal assets of the founders.

For startups, the SAS (Simplified Joint Stock Company) is often the preferred structure.

Like the SARL, the SAS has no minimum share capital requirement (although a minimum of €1,000 is recommended to appear more credible to partners and investors).

However, unlike the SARL, the SAS offers much greater flexibility in its organization, through both its articles of association and shareholders’ agreement.

II. Drafting a Shareholders’ Agreement

The shareholders’ agreement is a private contract that aims to:

Govern relations among shareholders;
Define key aspects of the management team’s remuneration;
Sanction misconduct by shareholders;
Set the terms for acquiring and transferring shares.

A well-drafted shareholders’ agreement helps prevent internal disputes and clarifies expected conduct between partners.

III. Fundraising Support – French lawyer for startup formation

A lthough many startups launch without raising capital initially, fundraising can be essential to finance marketing campaigns or tech developments (e.g., smart contracts).

There are several ways to raise funds:

Direct issuance of shares to investors when creating the SAS, making them founding shareholders;
Capital increase after company formation to add new shareholders;
Issuance of BSA AIR (Warrants for Shares – Rapid Investment Agreement): allowing companies to quickly secure funding while deferring the integration of investors as shareholders;
Alternative funding options, such as promising a financial reward linked to a product’s success.

Your French lawyer will guide you through the best fundraising method for your business.

IV. Protecting Your Brand, Invention, or Artistic Works

If your business involves the creation of trademarks, artistic works, or inventions, protecting your intellectual property is essential.

Your French lawyer for foreign companies ensures:

Proper protection and registration of your rights;
Drafting of contracts for acquiring or transferring intellectual property rights;
Full compliance with the French Intellectual Property Code.

V. Legal Framework for Your Physical and Online Business

Whether you operate a physical store, an e-commerce platform, or a mobile app, structuring your operations legally is vital to protect your consumers and limit your liability.

We draft all key legal documents in both French and English, including:

Legal notices (identification of your company);
Privacy policies (GDPR-compliant data protection);
Terms and Conditions of Sale/Service (clarifying the rights and obligations of buyers and sellers);
Terms of Use (for websites, platforms, and apps).

VI. Tax Analysis and Optimization – French lawyer for startup formation

Our law firm identifies the most favorable tax regimes for your business in France.

We support you in applying for advantageous statuses such as the Jeune Entreprise Innovante (Young Innovative Company) label, which offers significant tax and social contribution reductions.