Dear clients and friends,
While the health crisis caused by the spread of the COVID-19 has led the French Government to take, on March 16, 2020, a decree which regulates movements, NFALAW intends more than ever to remain at your side to support you through this difficult time.
NFALAW thus wishes to inform you as follows :
- Continuity of the NFALAW services
Since Monday, March 16, 2020, the Firm ensures the continuity of its services through a secure teleworking system and thus daily continues the management of its clients’ matters; this dematerialisation allows all the members of NFALAW to handle the on-going matters with appropriate attention, with regard to the confidentiality rules and the concern of preserving public health ;
The members of NFALAW remain available during regular hours, in particular at their professional email address ;
- Suspension of non-essential proceedings by the French courts
Since March 16, 2020, all on-going proceedings before French courts (in particular civil, commercial, labour, and criminal proceedings) have been suspended, except for essential litigation; pursuant to the various business continuity plans implemented by the courts, deliberations have been extended until a later date and the hearings have been withdrawn, the cases concerned being subject to a referral on a waiting list; until further notice, save in the case of absolute urgency, no new proceedings may be started before the French courts ;
Further information may be found here ;
However, NFALAW is committed to complying with the procedural timetables which had been set out in each of the cases it handles; in order to avoid that its clients be prejudiced by this exceptional context and in accordance with them, it will make every effort to file its pleadings within the time initially allowed ;
- Adjustment of the timelines of procedures
Pursuant to the ordinary law on the emergency measures related to the crisis of Coronavirus-COVID19 adopted by the Parliament, the French Government has been authorised to take shortly, by ordinance, some exceptional measures, in particular in relation to statute of limitation;
In relation to intellectual property, the INPI, EUIPO, and EPO have announced some adjustments of the timelines of procedures (extensions); more precise information on the measures taken by the various national offices is also available on the WIPO’s internet website.
NFALAW is regularly informed of those exceptional measures in the interest of its clients and their respective matters.
Finally, on a more personal note, NFALAW expresses its full support to you in this particularly challenging period and hope that you, your associates, and loved ones are all doing well.
Yours sincerely,
The NFALAW team
