White Collar Criminal Defense in France | Strategic Legal Representation Before the PNF 


⚖️ High-Stakes International Litigation. Paris-Based Criminal Counsel. Global White Collar Expertise. 

When global litigation intersects with French criminal justice — especially under the scrutiny of the Parquet National Financier (PNF) — choosing the right on-the-ground legal partner in Paris becomes more than a tactical move: it is a critical necessity. 

Me Nicolas PAGANELLI, a criminal defense attorney at the Paris Bar, provides elite legal representation for foreign law firms, multinational corporations, and financial institutions facing complex white-collar crime allegations in France. 

 

🌍 International Clients, French Legal Risks 

Today’s legal reality is transnational. A client under investigation by the DoJ, SFO, FINMA, or FATF may simultaneously be targeted by the French PNF. 

Common scenarios include : 

  • Dual proceedings in France and abroad (USA, UK, UAE, Switzerland)
  • Parallel investigations tied to fraud, public corruption, money laundering, tax evasion, or illicit financial flows
  • Cross-border asset seizures and mutual legal assistance requests (MLAT)
  • Sanctions breaches or Sapin II violations


In these contexts, reactivity, discretion, and procedural mastery are not optional — they are decisive. 

 

🛡️ Strategic Legal Representation in France: What We Deliver 

Me Nicolas PAGANELLI offers end-to-end representation before French criminal courts and investigative authorities, with a focus on the PNF, JIRS, and investigating magistrates ("juges d’instruction"). 

✅ Core Legal Services for Foreign Clients 

  • Full representation before the Parquet National Financier (PNF)


Defense in cases of :


  • Advisory on risk exposure in France for multinationals
  • Representation in urgent proceedings: custody hearings, asset freezing, or immediate summons
  • Assistance with compliance violations under Sapin II, FCPA, or UK Bribery Act
  • Response to international rogatory commissions and criminal cooperation treaties

 

💼 Why Foreign Law Firms and Corporate Clients Trust Me Nicolas PAGANELLI 

🎓 Expertise in Complex French Criminal Procedure 

Navigating a white-collar case in France involves : 

  • A civil-law system unfamiliar to most common-law lawyers
  • Strict procedural codes (Code de procédure pénale) with nullity risks at every stage
  • Language barriers, document secrecy, and procedural delays


Me PAGANELLI ensures : 

  • Real-time access to the procedural file (“dossier pénal”)
  • Strategic nullity arguments to exclude improperly gathered evidence
  • Clear English-language reporting to foreign counsel throughout

🕵️ Strong Litigation Network 

Working with a network of : 

  • Tax fraud specialists
  • Forensic accountants
  • Digital evidence analysts
  • Former investigative magistrates


... Me PAGANELLI builds powerful defenses grounded in legal and factual precision.

🧩 Cooperation with Foreign Counsel 

  • Seamless cooperation with international firms for joint strategy building
  • Coordination with compliance, regulatory and civil litigation teams
  • Respect of professional secrecy and confidentiality protocols
  • Rapid response in emergency asset seizure or freezing procedures

 

🚨 Urgent Investigations : Speed is Defense 

In cases involving : 

  • Urgent summons to the PNF
  • Surprise searches or seizures
  • Garde à vue (French police custody)
  • Arrests at French airports (on EAW or Interpol basis)

… immediate legal presence is critical. 


Me PAGANELLI provides : 

  • On-site intervention in Paris and throughout France
  • Protection of client rights during interrogations
  • Challenge of evidence collection procedures
  • Preparation for early-stage plea discussions with the parquet

 

🔎 French Financial Crime Prosecution: Know the Terrain 

Key Features of PNF Investigations: 

  • Investigative judges ("juges d’instruction") may be appointed early
  • Years-long procedures with regular hearings and formal charges ("mise en examen")
  • Pressure tactics (asset freezing, coercive interviews)
  • Multinational evidence coordination via EUROPOL, OLAF, and international tax networks

Understanding this landscape — and leveraging its flaws — is essential for any successful defense. 

 

🌐 Case Types Recently Handled 

  • Crypto asset fraud involving Dubai-based investors
  • Bribery case involving a European arms manufacturer
  • Money laundering accusations against executives of a listed tech firm
  • Tax optimization scheme under scrutiny by the French PNF & Bercy


(Details available upon confidential request for firms under NDA.) 

 

🧠 Need a Reliable Local Partner in France? 

If you're advising a client under scrutiny in France, don't wait for formal charges to engage experienced counsel. Early intervention often determines the outcome. 

Me Nicolas PAGANELLI is : 

  • A Paris-based criminal defense lawyer with a track record in sensitive and confidential white-collar litigation
  • Fluent in English and trained in international cooperation procedures
  • Fully operational for emergency interventions and long-term case building

 

📞 Contact – Immediate Confidential Review Available 

To discuss an urgent matter or schedule a strategic consultation, please use one of the following secure channels : 

📧 Email: [email protected]
 📞 Phone: +33 6 34 39 66 36
📍 Office: Paris 17 – Steps from the Palais de Justice
🔐 Encrypted communications available upon request 


Would you like to know more ?

Contact

Our privacy policy applies