As a qualified lawyer since 1998, Bénédicte BALLOUHEY-McQUEEN, has a PhD in Law from the prestigious Université Paris 1 – Panthéon Sorbonne.
She has lectured in Law at Paris7 RIVE GAUCHE University for 15 years and also lectures at UPPA University in Pau, France. She has extensive business experience with companies of various sizes, having worked for a multinational like GE Healthcare and with SMEs. The BALLOUHEY legal practice provides its clients with access to this wealth of experience.
Originally located in Paris and now in Biarritz, France, the BALLOUHEY legal practice looks after your interests everywhere in France and provides advice on the appropriate legal strategy for you without overlooking the cost or risk of lengthy litigation.
With formal training in mediation, the BALLOUHEY legal practice will always seek to find an out-of-court settlement.
The BALLOUHEY legal practice differs from others by its human-size and client-oriented sense of collaboration.
Its strengths are based on speed of response and attention to details.
LABOUR LAW – EXPATS
. Drafting and negotiation of employment contracts.
. Termination, out-of-court termination.
. Settlement agreement, Industrial Tribunal dispute.
. Expertise in legal arrangement for expats and professional sport.
Employees and employers alike are confronted with the complex world of employment law. Not only are the laws and regulations numerous, but they are also linked to collective agreements, company agreements and employment contracts, the clauses of which are open to interpretation.
The BALLOUHEY legal practice advises both employers and employees. Employer-related activities range from the drafting of the documents required to fulfill legal requirements to advising on the management of relations with personnel representative bodies. Employee-related activities include advising end-of-contract exits via terminations and negotiated agreements.
We will help you quantify the compensation to which you may be entitled and to negotiate on your behalf whilst considering factors such tax and future unemployment benefits.
« I had been a VP-level executive for 10-years or so for a large US corporation when I learnt out of the blue that I was being terminated. This came as a shock. As an experienced lawyer, Mrs McQueen is familiar with the modus operandi of this kind of company and was able to trigger negotiations on my behalf of first having initiated proceedings with the Versailles Industrial Tribunal. Contrary to her legal counterpart, she was authoritative and firm on the question of tax implications. I particularly remember the hearing and the way the judge who signed off on the agreement admonishing the lawyer representing the employer, despite the lawyer being part of a large Parisian top 5 practice. »
« I contacted Mrs. BALLOUHEY as soon as I realised my employer was looking to terminate my employment agreement. Bénédicte advised me and was a great moral support in the period preceding the termination, particularly as I was stuck in Africa at the time. She came to Aix on several occasions and secured the nullification of my termination from the Industrial Tribunal. Furthermore, she achieved a doubling of my compensation payout during the appeal process. What I appreciated was she made herself available and was responsive when I needed her despite the time difference between us.»
« Like many other professional rugby players, I encountered a conflict with my club. Bénédicte understood it was important to me to be respected and avoid tarnishing the end of my rugby career. She stood by me and showed courage in standing up for my interests. Bénédicte managed to win the case and at the same time restore a good relationship between myself and club. A win-win for both parties. »
CSR – COMPLIANCE
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a way to raise awareness and company reputation in the eyes of the public, customers and employees. CSR is also a means to improving a company’s rating with the banks and stock market value.
With its strong CSR culture, the BALLOUHEY Legal practice will provide legal counsel and practical advice to help develop an appropriate CSR policy in line with the values and financial means of your company.
After an in-depth analysis of your core business, taking into account the values and history of the company, Bénédicte BALLOUHEY will guide you through the appropriate course of action to highlight your core values. She will help identify the pillars of your CSR policy, according to the business segment, by building on one or more of the following themes: protection of the environment, commitment to society by contributing to the sustainable economic development within the community (eg through working with local leaders and local goods), human rights through support and action in favour of children, women and other minority groups.
The BALLOUHEY legal practice will help extract value from such initiatives in your annual non-financial reporting, irrespective of whether this is a legal requirement or not.
Compliance
Whilst more regulatory in nature, Compliance is linked to CSR. It deals with specific legal requirements which are punished by the law both criminally and financially. Having robust and effective compliance processes is important to safeguard the reputation of your company and to minimise the risk of loss in financial value.
Bénédicte BALLOUHEY can help you build the right compliance structure by putting in place the processes and training needed to comply with anti-corruption and data protection regulations.
The BALLOUHEY legal practice will help you:
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- Draft your annual non-financial, CSR-based report.
- Map out a compliance risk assessment.
- Carry out a risk assessment of 3rd parties such as suppliers, agents, sub-contractors etc.
- Set up an external, secure and confidential reporting system within the BALLOUHEY legal practice to handle various types of work-related compliance issues. This external reporting system is bound by client-lawyer privilege.
- Carry out internal investigations into such things as psychological or sexual harassment, corruption, unfair competition.
- Advise the leadership on the course of action in case of proven compliance violation.
