Disputes and enforcement
Cross-border litigation & enforcement
Dispute strategy, interim protective measures, commercial litigation and recognition or enforcement of foreign judgments and arbitral awards, notably in Spain.
INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PRACTICE
International business law and cross-border disputes.
Specialist expertise assembled around your needs.
FIRION is an independent law practice based in Madrid. It advises international clients, including companies, investors, law firms, public-sector bodies and entities with public participation, on cross-border legal matters.
The practice advises on international contracts, litigation, arbitration and strategic legal matters, drawing on Spanish, French, European Union, international and OHADA law as appropriate to each engagement.
Each engagement is personally led by Anne-Sophie Firion, who assembles an ad hoc team of lawyers and independent specialists where additional expertise is required.
PERSONALLY LED INDEPENDENT PRACTICE
Dr Anne-Sophie Firion
A member of the Madrid Bar since 2007, having first been admitted to the Paris Bar in 2005 as an avocat à la Cour, Anne-Sophie Firion practises in international business law, commercial disputes and arbitration.
She holds a PhD in Public International Law and is a former Associate Professor at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. Her experience includes work with international law firms and university teaching in France and Spain.
She personally leads the engagements of the practice and brings together the complementary expertise required for their delivery.
Background: Madrid Bar since 2007 · first admission to Paris Bar in 2005 · PhD in Public International Law · international arbitration · eight years of university teaching.
01 - Expertise
Legal solutions for international matters.
International transactions
International contracts & legal advisory
Advice to companies, investors, public-sector bodies and entities with public participation on international contracts, negotiations and transactions, including matters requiring coordination between public and private law.
Complex legal decisions
Strategic Legal Counsel & ILS
Independent legal advice and opinions, comparison of legal options and the design of international legal architectures under the International Legal Strategy (ILS) approach. Where necessary, FIRION coordinates specialist contributions.
Dispute prevention and resolution
International arbitration
Advice on arbitration strategy and the selection of arbitrators; separate appointments of Anne-Sophie Firion as arbitrator.
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 Spanish law, international disputes, contractual matters 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 - Specialist expertise assembled for each matter
Personal leadership. A team shaped around the engagement.
Anne-Sophie Firion personally leads each engagement. Where required, FIRION assembles an ad hoc team of lawyers and independent specialists selected for their experience and expertise.
Expertise matched to the matter
Each team is assembled to address the legal and operational requirements, rather than drawn from a fixed departmental structure.
Clear leadership
Anne-Sophie Firion coordinates the agreed legal work while respecting the separate role and responsibilities of each professional.
Transparent arrangements
Scope, responsibilities, coordination and fees are defined at the outset.
04 - Experience
Selected experience and legal research.
A selection of engagements and legal work reflecting the experience on which FIRION draws, undertaken independently or in collaboration with international law firms.
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.
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
Professional foundations. International clients.
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, 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 International Legal Strategy initiative.
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 specifies how to implement it.
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 - Background
An international practice developed between Paris and Madrid.
International business law, disputes and arbitration, at the intersection of public and private law.
EUROPEAN LEGAL PRACTICE
Professional assignments and collaborations in Brussels and Luxembourg that enrich FIRION’s international practice.
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.
Briefly describe your legal matter and the countries concerned. FIRION will assess whether it may be able to assist.
Or contact the practice directly:
anne-sophie@firion.eu · +34 609 055 185
Calle Velázquez 15, 1.º DR · 28001 Madrid · Spain