Structure of a French Contract

Anatomy of the French Contract

PRÉAMBULE / RECITALS (Preamble)

Declarative part describing the context:

• “Attendu que / Considérant que...” — Considering that...
• “Vu la loi du... / Vu l'accord du...” — Taking into account the law of... / considering the agreement of...

PARTIES (Parties)

• “Entre les soussignés:” — “Between the undersigned:”
• “La Société X, société anonyme... ci-après dénommée 'le Prestataire'” → “Company X, public limited company..., hereinafter referred to as 'the Provider'”
• “d'une part,” / “d'autre part,” — “of the one part,” / “of the other part,”

OBJET DU CONTRAT (Subject of the Contract)

Article 1 — Object: “The present contract has as its object...” — “This contract governs...” “By virtue of the present agreement, the Provider undertakes to...” — “In execution of this agreement the Provider is obliged to...”

CONDITIONS GÉNÉRALES (General Conditions)

Article 2 — Duration: Term of validity

• “The present contract is concluded for a term of [X] months/years starting from...”
• “It will come into force on the date of signing.” — “Effective from the date of signing.”

Article 3 — Price and payment terms: Price and payment conditions

• “The service is remunerated in the amount of [X] euros excluding tax.”
• “Payment will be made within a period of [30/60/90] days.”

Article 4 — Obligations of the parties: Obligations of the parties

Article 5 — Guarantees: Guarantees

Article 6 — Confidentiality: Confidentiality

• “The parties undertake to keep confidential all information...”
• “This confidentiality obligation shall survive the termination of the contract.”

CLAUSE DE RÉSILIATION (Termination Clause)

• “Each party may terminate the present contract...”
• “...subject to advance notice of [X] days/months.”
• “In the event of serious breach...” — “In the case of material violation...”

LOI APPLICABLE ET TRIBUNAL COMPÉTENT (Applicable Law and Competent Court)

• “The present contract is subject to French law.” — “This contract is governed by French law.”
• “Any dispute will be submitted to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Paris.”

SIGNATURES (Signatures)

“Done at [place], on [date], in two original copies.” — “Drawn up in [place], [date], in two original copies.”