Disputes and enforcement
Disputes & Enforcement
Cross-border commercial litigation, protective measures, and the recognition and enforcement of foreign court judgments and arbitral awards, particularly in Spain.
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRACTICE
Franco-Spanish law firm
Business law and international disputes
Specialist expertise, brought together for your matter.
Based in Madrid, FIRION advises businesses, in-house legal teams and law firms on matters between France and Spain, from French interests in Spain to Spanish projects requiring advice on French law.
The practice advises on international contracts, disputes, arbitration and legal strategy, drawing on French, Spanish, European Union and international law, and on OHADA law where relevant.
FIRION was founded and is personally led by Dr Anne-Sophie Firion, admitted to the Paris Bar as an avocat à la Cour in 2005 and a member of the Madrid Bar since 2007. Her international legal practice spans nearly two decades.
01 - Expertise
Legal solutions for international matters.
International contracts and compliance
International Contracts & Compliance
Drafting, negotiation and review of international contracts, transaction support, regulatory compliance and cross-border risk management for companies and public-sector entities.
Investing in Spain
Spain Investment Legal Strategy
Legal advice for foreign investors of any origin on investments and business establishment in Spain, including entry structures, regulatory requirements and implementation.
Entering European markets
European Market-Entry Legal Strategy
Legal market-entry strategies for businesses worldwide: comparison of European jurisdictions and selection of establishment, investment, partnership or regulated market-access routes.
Complex international decisions
Strategic Legal Counsel & ILS
International Legal Strategy (ILS) for complex cross-border matters: analysis of legal options, design of multi-jurisdictional structures and coordination of specialist input, using the method developed by Dr Anne-Sophie Firion.
International dispute resolution
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Advice on the choice of alternative dispute resolution methods, particularly international arbitration, as well as procedural strategy and the constitution of arbitral tribunals. Anne-Sophie Firion also accepts independent appointments as arbitrator in separate matters.
02 - For law firms and in-house legal teams
Independent legal support across borders.
Targeted assistance or a continuing collaboration, as the matter requires.
FIRION works with law firms and in-house legal teams in Spain, France, across Europe and beyond, particularly on French and Spanish law, European Union matters, international disputes, contracts and the coordination of multi-jurisdictional cases.
The scope, responsibilities, reporting arrangements and fees are agreed before work begins. FIRION respects the role of referring counsel in their client relationships.
Explore a collaboration03 - FIRION Circle
A team shaped around the engagement.
FIRION draws on trusted relationships with experienced independent professionals to assemble complementary expertise for each matter. The practice may coordinate a tailored team or contribute to engagements led by other counsel.
Expertise matched to the matter
Each team is assembled to address the legal and operational requirements, rather than drawn from a fixed departmental structure.
Defined responsibilities
Each collaboration has a clear scope and allocation of responsibilities, whether FIRION leads the work or contributes alongside other counsel.
Transparent arrangements
Scope, responsibilities, coordination and fees are defined at the outset.
FIRION CIRCLE
Law that connects.
Collaborate across borders.
Drawing on nearly two decades of international legal practice and professional relationships developed in France, Spain and beyond, FIRION Circle brings together highly experienced independent professionals with complementary expertise.
The network enables FIRION to assemble tailored teams for complex cross-border matters or contribute its expertise to engagements led by other professionals. Each collaboration is structured around the matter, with clearly defined roles, responsibilities and professional independence.
FIRION welcomes selective, reciprocal collaborations with highly experienced independent professionals.
Potential collaborations are considered individually, subject to professional independence, conflicts checks and confidentiality.
04 - Experience
Selected Experience
A selection of legal matters, arbitration appointments and research undertaken independently or in collaboration with international law firms, reflecting the experience on which FIRION draws.
Industrial sector
Enforcing EU Member State judgments in Spain
Advice and management of the matter
Advising on and conducting proceedings in Spain to enforce judgments issued in other EU Member States, including under Regulation (EU) No 1215/2012 (Brussels I Recast).
Aviation sector
Defending a company before the Spanish courts
Advice and representation
Protected a company’s interests in commercial proceedings before the Spanish courts, combining procedural strategy with legal representation.
Art
Representation before the European Commission
Advice and representation
Advised and represented complainants in art law matters involving complaints to the European Commission against two Member States concerning alleged breaches of EU law.
Business acquisition
Acquisition of a Spanish company by European investors
Legal advice and coordination
Advised investors based in several EU Member States on the acquisition of a Spanish company, coordinating a dedicated team, structuring the legal aspects of the transaction and drafting key agreements, including a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a share purchase agreement (SPA).
Compliance and anti-corruption
Cross-border compliance and anti-corruption obligations
Legal counsel
Advised on compliance and anti-corruption obligations requiring the combined application of French public law, Spanish private law, EU law and public international law.
Mining · OHADA
Corporate liability and governance
Contribution to a legal analysis
Working with an international law firm, contributed to an analysis of the liability of a company acting as both shareholder and board member of a mining company in an OHADA Member State.
Infrastructure · OHADA
Contractual provisions for a water infrastructure project
Support with contract drafting
Working with an international law firm, assisted with drafting contractual provisions for a water infrastructure project in an OHADA Member State.
Fintech · Payment services
Access to the EU market for money remittance services
Legal research
Work to identify legal routes into the European Union’s regulated market for money remittance services for operators and investors established in Africa: authorisation regimes, compliance requirements, legal structuring and partnerships.
Public-private partnerships
CCJA/OHADA arbitration in Africa
President of an arbitral tribunal
Presided over a tribunal constituted under the auspices of the OHADA Common Court of Justice and Arbitration (CCJA) in a dispute arising from a public-private partnership in Africa between a State and a business operator, involving an amount in dispute exceeding €100 million.
Telecommunications
International commercial dispute in Madrid
Sole arbitrator
Appointed by the Madrid Court of Arbitration as sole arbitrator in a dispute between two telecommunications companies.
Energy
Gas, electricity and hydrocarbons
Work as part of arbitration teams
As part of an international law firm, participated in ICC arbitrations in the gas sector, ICSID proceedings in the electricity sector and ad hoc UNCITRAL arbitration between oil and gas companies.
No matters in this category.
05 - Territories
European foundations. International reach.
These territories describe areas of legal expertise and professional collaboration. They neither limit where clients may come from nor imply a permanent FIRION office in every location.
Spain
Based in Madrid. Spanish law, Spain Investment Legal Strategy, litigation and arbitration; recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments and awards.
France
French law, international contracts and transactions involving companies, law firms, public-sector bodies and entities with public participation.
European Union
EU law and European professional engagements, including collaboration with Alphalex-Avocats GEIE in Brussels.
Discover Alphalex-Avocats GEIEAfrica
Experience of OHADA matters and Africa-related arbitration. RoAnn Africa is a separate initiative dedicated to international legal strategy.
Discover RoAnn Africa06 - International Legal Strategy
Compare the options. Design the legal architecture. Organise implementation.
Where a decision turns on multiple jurisdictions, rules or stakeholders, FIRION compares legal routes, develops a strategy and determines how to implement it, using the International Legal Strategy method developed by Dr Anne-Sophie Firion.
A decision-focused assessment
Objectives, constraints, comparison of options and a reasoned recommendation.
A legal structure
How the relevant jurisdictions, legal instruments and professional contributions fit together.
An implementation plan
Work stages, expected contributions, decision points and review arrangements.
Strategy design may be commissioned as a standalone engagement. If FIRION is also engaged to lead implementation, the roles, professionals involved and fees are agreed with the client. Each professional remains responsible for their own contribution.
Discuss your project07 - Our Founder
An independent practice. International experience.
International business law, disputes and arbitration, at the intersection of public and private law.
PERSONALLY LED INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Dr Anne-Sophie Firion
FIRION was established as an independent practice for international matters requiring both legal precision and an understanding of how different jurisdictions interact.
Anne-Sophie Firion combines experience in cross-border disputes, transactional advice and international arbitration with a strategic approach to complex legal decisions.
She advises clients directly and works alongside international law firms and foreign counsel, drawing on trusted professional relationships to bring together the expertise a matter requires.
EUROPEAN LEGAL PRACTICE
Professional engagements in Brussels and Luxembourg, presented separately from FIRION’s client mandates.
BRUSSELS
Alphalex-Avocats GEIE
Correspondent in Spain · Since 2021
Professional collaboration in international advisory work and litigation.
LUXEMBOURG
Court of Justice of the European Union
External collaborator · Assignments since 2013
Bar admissions
Madrid Bar · Member since 2007
Paris Bar · First admitted in 2005 as an avocat à la Cour
Qualifications
PhD in Public International Law (with highest honours and the examining board’s congratulations)Paris Descartes University (Paris V)
Master 2 in International Economic LawParis Descartes University (Paris V)
Master 1 in International Business LawPanthéon-Sorbonne University (Paris I)
University teaching
Eight years · Paris V / UC3M
Teaching in French, Spanish and English
CIES Sorbonne
Research & publications
Legal research in Paris, Madrid, Geneva and New York, including doctoral research at United Nations Headquarters.
Author of several published legal articles.
08 - Contact
Tell us about your matter.
For a Franco-Spanish or international matter, contact FIRION directly. Briefly indicate the countries involved and the nature of your enquiry.
Every enquiry is personally reviewed by Anne-Sophie Firion.
Please do not send confidential information or sensitive documents before conflict checks and acceptance of the engagement.