Cross-Border Legal Counsel from Paris
Independent legal advice for businesses and individuals facing disputes, transactions and regulatory questions involving France and multiple jurisdictions.
Based in Paris and working in English and French, I provide direct, practical and carefully tailored advice on cross-border matters.
International matters require clear strategy
Cross-border legal problems rarely fit neatly within one legal system. Jurisdiction, applicable law, regulatory obligations and enforcement risks must be considered together from the outset.
I advise clients on matters involving France and other jurisdictions, either directly or in coordination with trusted local counsel where advice on foreign law is required.
My objective is straightforward: to identify the legal issues that matter, explain the available options clearly and develop a strategy aligned with the client’s commercial or personal priorities.
Cross-Border Disputes
Advice and representation in disputes involving multiple jurisdictions, including questions of jurisdiction, applicable law, procedural strategy and the recognition or enforcement of foreign decisions.
Services include:
Early case assessment and dispute strategy.
Pre-litigation correspondence and negotiation.
French court proceedings.
Jurisdiction and choice-of-law analysis.
Coordination with foreign lawyers and experts.
Recognition and enforcement issues.
International Contracts
Drafting, review and negotiation of agreements involving French and international parties.
Services include:
Commercial and service agreements.
International terms and conditions.
Governing-law and jurisdiction clauses.
Distribution and cross-border cooperation agreements.
Contractual risk allocation.
Dispute-resolution provisions.
AI and Digital Regulation
Legal guidance for organisations adopting artificial intelligence and operating across evolving digital regulatory frameworks.
Services include:
EU AI Act readiness and legal risk assessment.
Governance of AI-assisted decision-making.
Contractual allocation of AI-related risks.
Cross-border regulatory compliance.
Human oversight, transparency and accountability.
Coordination with data-protection and technical specialists where required.
Private International Law
Advice on situations in which several national legal systems may apply to the same relationship or dispute.
Services include:
Determination of the applicable law.
International jurisdiction.
Recognition of foreign legal situations.
Cross-border civil and commercial matters.
Coordination of proceedings in multiple countries.
International Private Clients
Practical guidance for individuals whose personal, professional or property interests extend across borders.
Services may include:
International mobility and residence-related matters.
Cross-border property issues.
International civil disputes.
Coordination with immigration, tax, family-law or estate-planning specialists when required.
A direct and independent approach
Personal responsibility
I remain directly involved throughout the matter. Clients receive advice from the lawyer responsible for their case, without unnecessary layers of delegation.
Cross-border perspective
My work combines practical experience in international matters with an academic background in private international law, business law and regulatory governance.
Clear communication
Complex legal analysis should lead to understandable decisions. Advice is presented in clear language, with the risks, options and recommended next steps identified.
Appropriate collaboration
When a matter requires advice on foreign law or another specialist discipline, I coordinate with suitably qualified lawyers and professionals in the relevant jurisdiction.
Profile
Bamdad Shams is an international lawyer registered with the Paris Bar and admitted to practise in Luxembourg. His work focuses on cross-border disputes, international business law and regulatory compliance.
Alongside his legal practice, he is Professor of Practice in Business Law at ESSEC Business School. He previously taught law at Sciences Po Paris and CY Cergy Paris University.
He holds a PhD in Law from Sciences Po Law School and a research master’s degree in Private International Law and International Trade Law from Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University.
His current research examines the legal governance of artificial intelligence in corporate decision-making and public administration, with particular attention to fiduciary duties, legality, human oversight, transparency and procedural redress.
Working languages: English and French.
How an engagement begins
1. Initial information
Provide a concise description of the matter, the jurisdictions concerned, the parties involved and any urgent deadline.
2. Conflict and scope review
Before receiving detailed confidential information, the firm will determine whether it can act and clarify the proposed scope of work.
3. Engagement terms
You will receive written information about the services, fees, responsibilities and applicable terms before substantive work begins.
4. Strategy and execution
Once instructed, I assess the relevant legal and practical considerations, recommend a strategy and keep you informed as the matter progresses.
Contact
Discuss a cross-border legal matter
To request an initial consultation, please provide:
Your name and contact details.
The parties involved.
The countries or jurisdictions concerned.
A brief description of the matter.
Any relevant deadline.
Please do not send sensitive documents or extensive confidential information until the firm has confirmed that it can consider the matter.
Contact the firm at bamdadshams.avocat@gmail.com
Bamdad Shams
Attorney-at-Law, Paris Bar
5 place du 18 juin 1940
75006 Paris, France
Services available in English and French, by appointment.
Legal information
Bamdad Shams operates as a sole practitioner registered in France under SIRET no. 899 271 209 00012. The practice is regulated by the Paris Bar and subject to the professional rules applicable to French lawyers.
The information on this website is provided for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. Accessing the website or contacting the firm does not, by itself, create a lawyer-client relationship. The firm only acts after completing the necessary checks and confirming the engagement in writing.
© 2026 Bamdad Shams. All rights reserved.