Founded in Paris in 1920, Gide is a leading international law firm with 12 offices spread throughout the world.
Gide is physically present in six regions of the world, with 11 offices, enabling it to act on cases globally.
21 March 2014
News | London & Paris - Dispute Resolution
Gide was again delighted to sponsor the Oxford French Law Moot, which was held on Monday, 17 March 2014. The event, now in its seventh year, brings together teams of “mooters” from some of Europe’s leading universities to debate a question of French law. The competition is organised by the university’s Institute of European and Comparative Law and the Institute’s Director, Stefan Vogenauer, acknowledged that the Oxford French Law Moot “has now established itself as a fixture on the international ‘French law calendar’”.
Since its inception at Oxford University in 2008, the Oxford French Law Moot (Concours de plaidoiries en droit français) has developed from a national competition to a European event, made possible through the financial support of Gide, the first international law firm to originate in France, and the involvement of the Association Henri Capitant des amis de la culture juridique française. "Participants from all walks of life have impressed the jury by the quality of their arguments and their detailed knowledge of French law. A wonderful meeting in Oxford for Gide and the Henri Capitant Association", said Philippe Dupichot, Secretary General to the Association, and Senior Counsel at Gide and member of its Scientific Council.
This year, teams entered from the Universities of Cambridge, Cologne, Essex, Oxford and Warwick, University College London, King’s College London and the University of Complutense Madrid.
The participants argued a point of French private law which centred on a contract between a “marriage agent” and her client. The finalists from the University of Cambridge and the University of Complutense Madrid battled it out in front of a judging panel chaired by Alain Lacabarats, President of the 3rd Division of the Court of Cassation, France’s highest court for private disputes. Mr Lacabarats was joined by Marie Goré, Professor of Law at the University of Panthéon-Assas (Paris 2), and Bruno Quentin, a partner from Gide’s Paris-based International Dispute Resolution practice group.
The judges commended both teams for their legal knowledge and quick responses. In the end, Bruno Gekinas-Faucher and Francis Legault-Mayrand, representing the University of Cambridge, emerged triumphant. They were mentored by Matthew Dyson.
Partner in charge of Gide’s London office and semi-final judge, Rupert Reece, said of the day: "It was a most enjoyable day and very impressive to see students from such a wide variety of cultural backgrounds battling it out, in French, in the hallowed halls of the Oxford law faculty. A real credit to all the universities involved."
