Nicolas Contis

Partner

Nicolas is one of the founding partners of Kalliopé. He co-manages the Litigation – Arbitration – Mediation and Contract drafting and negotiation teams, and is also part of the Energy and infrastructure team.

He has 20 years of experience in both advisory and litigation work.

He assists a large variety of companies of differing sizes: large groups, SMEs/mid-caps and start-ups, and represents them before civil, commercial and criminal courts, as well as in internal and international arbitration proceedings.

He also advises his clients in the negotiation and drafting of complex contracts.

Nicolas offers a full range of cross-functional services and a wealth of experience that enables him to provide pragmatic and efficient solutions.

Although he works in many sectors, Nicolas has particular expertise in the Energy and infrastructure sector.

Expertises

Litigation – Arbitration – Mediation

Contract drafting and negotiation

Energy and infrastructure

Legal experience

Business law litigation

unfair competition
sudden termination of established commercial relationships
tort and contractual liability
product liability
disputes between partners
post-acquisition disputes and implementation of asset and liability guarantees
industrial claims
legal expertise
debt recovery

Negotiation and drafting of commercial contracts

distribution contracts, franchise, commercial agency, exclusive and selective distribution
sale and service agreements
joint-ventures
contracts in the energy and infrastructure sector: EPC, O&M, industrial partnerships, etc.

Internal and international arbitration

drafting of arbitration clauses and arbitration agreements
ad hoc and institutional, internal and international arbitration
appointment of arbitrators
monitoring of the procedure (procedural documents, procedural issues, pleadings)
recourse against arbitral awards
enforcement of arbitral awards

Criminal Business Law

assistance with preliminary investigations
assistance with criminal investigations
assistance with judgment hearings

Sector experience

Renewable energies
Agri-food and distribution
Waste and circular economy

Membership bar

Paris

Languages

French, English

Professional background

Since 2008 Partner, founder of Kalliopé, Paris
2004-2007 Lawyer, Racine, Paris
2002-2004 Lawyer, Bredin Prat, Paris
2001-2002 Avocat, De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, Paris
1999-2000 Legal attaché of the French Embassy, Brussels

Academic background

2000 CAPA
1999 Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Magistère in Economic Activities Law, Valedictorian
1999 Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, Postgraduate degree (DEA) in Business Law
1999 Louvain-la-Neuve University, Specialised graduate degree (DES) in Economic Law
1995 Paris Business College (ESC) – Management and Finance

Individual distinctions

Nicolas Contis listed in the Chambers Global and Europe 2022 Guides in litigation (Band 5)
Nicolas Contis listed in The Best Lawyers in France™ in litigation since 2020

Commitment

Nicolas carries out numerous Pro Bono missions with the many individuals that are deprived of useful access to justice; particularly in rural areas : consultations, litigation follow-up and mediation.

References

Representing the eco-organisation, Eco-Mobilier, in litigation proceedings against the liquidators of its debtor and obtaining immediate payment of its debts which arose after the opening judgment of the collective proceedings.
Representation of an investment fund owning a biomass cogeneration plant, in the context of a legal expertise relating to the shutdown of the plant in relation to damage affecting the turbine producing the electricity.
Regular assistance on problems encountered by a RE developer, in the context of the development of its wind or photovoltaic projects and the management of its contracts with its suppliers.
Representation of a leading group in the energy sector in the context of its various business law disputes (industrial claims, conflicts between partners, breach of contract, contractual non-performance, post-acquisitions litigation, etc.).
Representation of a developer of renewable energy projects in a dispute initiated by a minority shareholder concerning the nullity of deeds concluded for the development of the project.
Representation of an eco-organism regarding all disputes against companies which have not honoured the payment of invoices issued by our client.
Representation of a leading group in the waste treatment sector in the general context of its various disputes in business law (industrial claims, conflicts between partners, breach of contract, contractual non-performance, etc.).
Representation of a leading French retailer (mass retail) in a post-cartel compensation dispute on the hygiene and cleaning products market.
Assistance to a natural person victim of a breach of trust.
Representation of a platform that connects young freelancers with companies in a criminal case (investigation) based on a complaint from a professional association, as well as in a dispute with a competitor accusing it of unfair competition and requesting the termination of its activities.

Training provided

• Training within EFE in business criminal law.

Academic/press publications

Nicolas Contis and Julie Gayrard, “Res judicata and occurrence of new facts”, ILO, 25 October 2016.
Nicolas Contis and Julie Gayrard, “The nullification of judicial expert reports”, ILO, 31 May 2016.
Nicolas Contis and Julie Gayrard, “Invoking the nullity of a court-appointed expert’s report”, JCP G, 1 February 2016.
Numerous articles published on the Lexology web media: Lexology