We help you make Products Law a pillar of business, you turn it into a competitive edge. Our clients face complex regulations and high societal expectations regarding products safety and compliance. On top of that is the profound transformation of the circular economy and sustainable development. To innovate and address these challenges, Qolumn works hand in hand with its clients. What’s our aim? To ensure you are well positioned in terms of Products Law.
Products Law is a rare area of legal expertise which combines a thorough understanding of complicated technical regulations with the fundamentals of Business Law (liability, contracts, free movement of goods, consumer law, criminal law, commercial litigation). Fifteen years ago, this area of law did not exist. Nowadays, it is taught at university. We were one of the pioneers. We are very familiar with our sector, administrations, and the industrial processes.
Qolumn is involved in all stages of the products life cycle. From the conception of products right through to market launch, we are the trusted partners of the various corporate departments. We work with senior management, legal departments, marketing, regulatory affairs and R&D to help them achieve their projects and overcome difficult situations with the best possible result.
Qolumn combines in-depth expertise in products regulation with a cross-cutting approach to business law. We are able to provide concrete legal solutions at every stage of the product life cycle. You will appreciate working with us as we are straightforward, efficient and committed.
Compliant companies gain easier access to the market and save time and money on enforcement actions. Qolumn has the necessary expertise to help its clients be proactive in complying with the French and European regulations applicable to their products.
Verification of products compliance, safety and fairness. Regulatory classification of products. Validation of labelling and advertising. Support with product declarations and authorisation processes. Coordination of multi-country projects. Legislative and regulatory monitoring. Training on products law in French and English.
Some traditional legal operations require a sound knowledge of products regulations, consumer law and business law. At Qolumn, this is our world.
Securing contracts and products data sheets. Examining sales promotion operations. Analysing the risk of misleading advertising. Compliance audits. Regulatory due diligence in merger and acquisition transactions. Confidentiality and protection of trade secrets.
No one likes to be let alone in the face of adversity. Enforcement actions and disputes with competitors are complex legal processes. Qolumn supports you through these difficult moments to achieve the best possible result.
Navigating regulator investigations. Implementing corrective action plans. Providing coaching ahead of audits and court hearing. Defending companies and directors in criminal courts. Representing clients in summary proceedings and unfair competition or product liability matters. Negotiating business transactions. Appeals on grounds of ultra vires against regulatory texts. Insurance surveys.
We act when a company’s reputation and strategy are at stake. Qolumn keeps a close eye on the latest news in Products Law. We have the expertise and experience needed to handle these complicated cases.
Crisis hotline. Assistance in managing products withdrawals/recalls. High level legal opinions on complex regulatory issues. Validation of national advertising campaigns. Compliance strategies for innovative products. Novel food authorisations and re-evaluation of additives. Liaising with French and European authorities.
We work exclusively for companies that manufacture and sell food and consumer products. Our expertise starts with raw materials and agricultural products. It ends with waste and recycling. In between, a product was produced and circulated in B2B and B2C.
Gilles receives regular acclaim in the Legal500 directory where he is described as “highly experienced” and known “for his expert advice and in-depth knowledge”. He specialises in French and European Products Law. Gilles advises large French and foreign groups on strategies for compliance with new regulations, enforcement actions, disputes with competitors and market access for innovative products. He is familiar with Government investigations and regularly appears in administrative and criminal courts. Gilles achieved the first acquittal in France in a CBD case for non-compliance of French law with European law before the Kanavape ruling.
Before creating Qolumn, Gilles co-founded Product Law Firm and practised at international law firms for more than 10 years (Keller & Heckman, Hogan Lovells, Simmons & Simmons).
Gilles provides regular professional training sessions. He has taught food litigation at the University of Paris I – Panthéon Sorbonne and AgroParisTech.
Languages: French, English
As a lawyer and then in-house counsel, Gaëlle Saint-Jalmes has developed significant expertise in food law and regulation (nutritional and health claims, labeling, food supplements, crisis management, etc.).
She also has solid experience in the regulation of cosmetic and health products (particularly medical devices), as well as in sustainable development issues applied to consumer products.
Her expertise in consumer law covers unfair commercial practices, e-commerce, sales promotion and advertising, in particular with respect to regulated products (alcohol and tobacco).
Gaëlle started her career at the DDG law firm before joining the international legal department of Danone for 4 years. She returned to the legal profession in 2018 as Counsel at Osborne Clarke, where she developed the consumer and product law practice, before co-founding Qolumn in 2021.
Language: French, English, German
Julie advises on a wide range of compliance and product safety issues, as well as on incorporating regulatory considerations into contractual arrangements. She assists several clients with annual advisory missions.
Julie holds a degree in Distribution and Business Contract Law (Montpellier I) and an LLM in International Business Law (Bond University, Queensland, Australia).
Languages: French, English
After gaining experience in the Life Sciences sector both in contentious and non-contentious matters, Anaïs now focuses her practice on consumer products, particularly in the food, cosmetic, and health sectors.
She assists clients in regulatory strategies and compliance matters, as well as trial and pre-trial proceedings and litigation.
Anaïs holds a double-degree in English and French law, a master’s degree in European Law and an LL.M in Medical Law (Queen Mary University London).
Languages: French, English
Laura advises French and foreign clients on issues relating to the conformity, safety and advertising of consumer products. She also assists clients during investigations conducted by authorities.
Prior to joining Qolumn, Laura worked at Osborne Clarke, where she advised clients on issues relating to product regulations, circular economy and more broadly, consumer law.
She holds a double Master 2/MBA degree in business law and management from Université Paris 2 Panthéon-Assas.
Languages: French, English.
Ludivine is responsible for the administrative management of Qolumn.
She is in charge of the administrative aspects of the firm and works alongside the partners in the management of the structure, particularly on the financial, accounting & HR aspects.
Ludivine is also in charge of firm life and team building.
Languages: French, English
We actively participate in the Products Law community in France and Europe. Our lawyers are members of the following associations and peer societies:
We know products lawyers in almost every country in the world. We have handled cases and built trust with them over the years. Do you have an overseas project but are unsure of the rules applicable to that country? We have the right partner (or we will find him/her!).
In Products Law, science is never far away. Managing a sanitary crisis or understanding the implications of products innovation often requires an expert’s eye. Depending on the case, we can call on scientific and technical partners to answer even the most complex questions (veterinarians, toxicologists, microbiologists, testing laboratories, etc.).
