| France
Founded in 1988 by Jean-Pierre Boivin, Boivin & Associés comprises five partners and fourteen associates and specialised jurists.
Boivin & Associés provides legal advice and assistance to major French and international groups (including notably Total, General Electric, Veolia, Colas, Suez Environnement) as well as public entities. The Law Firm offers its clients workable solutions to overcome the challenges arising out of environmental protection obligations.
Since its creation, the Law Firm has covered all aspects of Industrial Environmental Law and has provided assistance relating to the opening, operation and closure of industrial activities. The firm’s teams regularly carry out environmental audits and take part in negotiations concerning the acquisition and divestiture of industrial sites. Boivin & Associés offers advice and handles all types of litigation relating to Environmental Law before administrative, civil and criminal courts. The firm also deals with international disputes through arbitration. Boivin & Associés has also acquired a solid reputation in the market for its ability to provide advice on public law issues, especially related to industrial sites. The Law Firm covers a wide range of Public Law matters, including urban planning, expropriation, public property, public contract and administrative liability. A strong expertise has been especially developed in the areas of public services (e.g., water, waste, transport) and regulated industries (e.g., electricity, gas).
In addition, Boivin & Associés has developed a well-known scientific reputation with the publication of several reference books in the field of Industrial Environmental Law. Jean-Pierre Boivin’s authoritative books, entitled Les installations classées – Traité pratique de droit de l’environnement industriel and Carrières et granulats, are considered to be reference handbooks on law in relation to classified installations. Jean-Pierre Boivin also founded in 1995 the Bulletin du Droit de l’Environnement Industriel (BDEI), an Industrial Environmental Law journal which surpasses ten thousand readers. Lawyers of the Firm often write articles in the BDEI which is regularly quoted as reference before the higher courts.
Furthermore, partners of the Law Firm are frequently requested to hold seminars and conferences sponsored by publishing companies (Lamy, Editions législatives, Le Moniteur), foundations (Fondation pour le droit continental), universities (Paris XI University), professional organizations (Conseil Supérieur du Notariat, Conseil National du Barreau) as well as the Paris Bar School.
Last, Jean-Pierre Boivin has the privilege of sitting on the governmental advisory council (“Conseil Supérieur pour la Prévention des Risques technologiques”) entrusted with the task of discussing every draft regulation relating to this legislation. The Law Firm maintains close ties with the French Parliament commissions dedicated to the environment. As a result, the Firm is capable of giving advice on new legal issues and has a well established reputation for anticipating the emerging trends which will be decisive for the regulations to come.
