Expertise

Duncan Fairgrieve has a broad commercial practice, acting both in an advisory capacity for international companies in respect of French commercial law matters, as well as undertaking representation in commercial and civil litigation. In an advisory capacity, he has a particular expertise in accompanying foreign companies in inward investment projects in France, with advice covering corporate, commercial and contract law aspects of investing in France.

Recent Experience :

• Advising a UK healthcare company on its expansion into the French market ;
• Advising a Dutch technology company with international activities on its development in France of a regulated commercial activity ;
• Acting for a US IT company on the creation of a subsidiary in France, and subsequent related legal issues involved in expansion in France;
• Acting for a UK IT company in respect of the development of a corporate presence in France.

Duncan Fairgrieve advises on a wide range of contract law matters, often on behalf of foreign and international corporate clients. He has significant experience in drafting and negotiating the full range of commercial contracts, including distribution agreements, agency contracts, and sales agreements. 

Recent Experience :

• Advising a UK company on the drafting and negotiation of an agency agreement with a French counterpart ;
• Advising a US company on a raft of commercial contracts including non-disclosure agreements, and distribution agreements;
• Advising a French multinational on the negotiation of a commercial services contract with cross-border aspects.
• Advising a French design and advertising company on the drafting and negotiation of a design contract for an international project subject to English law.  

Duncan Fairgrieve has a broad commercial law practice in France, with significant experience of dispute resolution in an international and cross-border environment. As one of a small number of bilingual and dual-qualified litigators operating as both an English barrister and French Avocat, he frequently handles complex dispute resolution matters in both French and English. His in-depth experience of litigation in common law and civil law jurisdictions enables him to provide insight and reassurance for clients from common law backgrounds on dispute resolution in civil law fora. 

Duncan regularly provides expert evidence on French, English and Comparative Law issues in domestic and foreign proceedings, including before the French and English courts, as well as US and offshore jurisdictions. He has significant experience of dispute resolution in offshore jurisdictions, particular as an expert on the law of obligations in offshore jurisdictions.

Recent Experience :

• Advising on product liability in numerous cases in France and the UK.
• Representing a UK yacht manufacturer in litigation in France;
• Representing a UK healthcare products company in a litigation matter in France;
• Representing a South African company in a contractual dispute with a French pharmaceutical producer ;
• Acting as expert in the context of large-scale litigation in the US raising issues relating to French tort and contractual liability ;
• Expert retained by Jersey-based offshore law firm in litigation raising English, French and comparative law issues ;
• Expert on comparative law issues in the context of litigation in a Caribbean country, raising issues of French law.