FRANCE Trends and Developments Contributed by: Hugo Sanchez de la Espada, Robin Gaulier, Magalie Dansac Le Clerc and Aurore Cormary, Baker McKenzie Paris
and courts of appeal, with specialised chambers for complex commercial, financial and IP matters. French courts also benefit from a rich and well-established body of case law across most areas of business law, providing a high degree of legal certainty and predict - ability for companies operating in France. Paris also stands out as one of the world’s leading international arbitration hubs, hosting major institu - tions such as the International Chamber of Commerce and the Centre de Médiation et d ’ Arbitrage de Paris , and benefiting from a particularly favourable legal framework as well as the International Commercial Chamber of the Paris Court of Appeal, which hears international commercial and arbitration-related cases in English. Outlook for 2026 and Beyond In a complex and evolving global environment, France is entering a phase of cautious stabilisation rather than rapid expansion. While macroeconomic and political uncertainties may continue to weigh on short-term performance, the country’s core structural strengths remain firmly intact, particularly in strategic sectors such as defence, energy and artificial intelligence.
France also benefits from a well-established and sophisticated legal framework that is both flexible and robust. French law offers a wide range of efficient legal structures and transactional tools, providing for - eign investors with reliable and adaptable solutions. Fully embedded in the European legal and regulatory framework, French law offers investors a high degree of legal certainty and seamless access to cross-bor - der transactions. In the current environment, investors are expected to adopt a more selective and strategic approach, focus - ing on resilient sectors and innovation-driven oppor - tunities. The political calendar will remain a key factor, with the 2027 presidential election likely to influence investor confidence and the pace of reforms in the short term. Provided that political visibility improves and macroeconomic conditions stabilise, France should remain well positioned to consolidate its role as a leading European business and investment hub. Overall, 2026 and 2027 are expected to be transitional years, but France, despite its high public debt, retains strong structural fundamentals that continue to under - pin its attractiveness for international investors.
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