You reside in Switzerland.
Your vessel, your Dispute, or your Contract is governed by French Law
A lawyer familiar with both sides
of LéMAN
Every year, hundreds of Swiss residents face legal issues governed by French maritime law: a sailing yacht registered in Marseille, a dispute with a shipyard in Brittany, a seafarer living in Switzerland but working under a French contract, or a precautionary arrest of a vessel in Toulon. Switzerland has no access to the sea—but French maritime law does not stop at the border.
Maître Dr. Loonis Quélen is a maritime lawyer admitted to the Paris Bar and registered with the Geneva Bar. From Geneva, he advises and represents clients in matters of French maritime law, allowing you to handle your case without having to travel to France to find competent legal counsel.
Maritime labour & French Law
Do you live in Switzerland but your seafarer’s employment contract is governed by French law or by the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006 (MLC, 2006)?
Disputes arising from such situations - unpaid wages, onboard accidents, or unfair dismissal - fall within the jurisdiction of the competent French courts. The firm assists you from Geneva without requiring you to retain a second lawyer in France.
Safety, Security & French Law
Has your vessel been detained in a French port following a Port State Control (PSC) inspection? A vessel detention in France is an urgent matter.
The firm can intervene immediately to identify compliance deficiencies, challenge the detention before the competent authorities, and arrange for the vessel’s release as quickly as possible.
Law of the Sea & French Jurisdiction
An incident occurring in French waters - collision, pollution, or flooding - may fall within the jurisdiction of the French courts, even if you reside in Switzerland, depending on the applicable international conventions and jurisdictional rules.
The firm identifies the competent court, secures the necessary evidence, and initiates or defends proceedings in France while remaining in close coordination with your Swiss base.
Yachting, Transport & Litigation in France
Is your yacht registered in Marseille, for sale in Antibes, involved in a dispute with a shipyard in La Ciotat, or implicated in a collision off the port of La Rochelle?
Whether it concerns the precautionary arrest of a vessel in France, the termination of a defective shipbuilding contract, or an unpaid balance following a sale, the firm coordinates and handles your case on the French side from Geneva.
Looking for legal support in maritime law?
LOONIS QUÉLEN Law Office provides rigorous advice and representation in France, Switzerland, and internationally.