Marie-Agnès Nicolas is a member of Hughes Hubbard’s Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations Group and Litigation Department.

In connection with her anti-corruption work, Marie-Agnès Nicolas advises large multinational companies on a range of anti-corruption issues in connection with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the French anti-corruption agency (AFA). Among other things, she has assisted a variety of the firm’s clients in designing anti-corruption policies and programs, performing compliance audits, and conducting internal investigations and due diligence reviews on third party agents and joint venture or business partners around the world.

As part of her litigation practice, she has developed a particular expertise advising banks and other financial institutions on a wide range of contentious matters relating to a variety of investment products, including derivatives and structured products, as well as with respect to financial regulatory issues.

Professional Activities

European Law Network, editorial committee member (2007)
Sciences Po’s Jurists Association, member (2006 – 2007)

Highlighted Publications

"Responsabilité pénale des personnes morales: Le nouveau régime du «coupable mais pas responsable»" ("Corporate and Legal Entity Liability: The New "Guilty But No Liability" Regime"), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (November 2020) (article co-authored with Nicolas Brooke) [in French]
"Contrôles AFA: Le droit de dire non?" ("AFA Controls: The Right To Say No?"), Dalloz Avocats (May 2020) (article co-authored with Félix de Belloy) [In French]
“Première audience de la Commission des sanctions de l’AFA : Dans quelle mesure la Commission des sanctions va-t-elle sanctionner la loi ?” (“First Hearing of the Sanction Commission of the French Anticorruption Agency: To What Extent the Sanction Commission Will Sanction the Terms of the Law”), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (August 2019) [in French]
“Première audience de la Commission des sanctions de l’AFA : Récit d’une passe d’armes sur ce qu’il convient d’attendre d’un programme de conformité anticorruption” (“First Hearing of the Sanction Commission of the French Anticorruption Agency: Story of a Sparring Match Over What is to be Expected from a Compliance Program”), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (August 2019) (article co-authored with Nicolas Tollet) [in French]
“Les lignes directrices du PNF et de l’AFA sur la mise en œuvre de la CJIP” (“PNF and AFA Guidelines on the CJP, the French DPA)”, La Semaine Juridique – Entreprise et Affaires (August 2019) [in French]
“Conformité et assurabilité : rime suffisante mais rime hésitante,” (“Compliance and Insurance: An Approximate Rhyme”), Option Finance / Droit & Affaires (April 2019) [in French]
“Agence Française Anti-corruption (…) : Lumière sur ses premiers contrôles et réflexions sur sa mission préventive” (“French Anti-Corruption Agency (…): Light and Reflection on the AFA’s First Controls”), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (September 2018) (Also published in Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise in October-November 2018) [in French]
“Le déroulement des contrôles de l’AFA – Scénographie tirée des premiers contrôles” ("Operation of the AFA’s controls – Scenography Drawn for the AFA’s First Controls"), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (September 2018) (article co-authored with Nicolas Tollet) (Also published in Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise in October-November 2018) [in French]
"Opposabilité du secret professionnel aux agents de l’AFA dans le cadre de leurs contrôles – La méthode Coué de l’AFA : Percée stratégique ou Stratégie percée ?” ("Opposability of the Attorney Legal Privilege - The AFA’s Coué method on French Legal Privilege: Strategic Drilling or Drilled Strategy"), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (September 2018) (article co-authored with Ludmilla Balandine) (Also published in Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise in October-November 2018) [in French]
“Les premiers rapports de contrôle de l’AFA – La révolution préventive se confirme : Impossible ne saurait être français” ("Lessons Learned from the AFA’s First Controls: Nothing is Impossible for the French"), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (September 2018) (article co-authored with Anne Gaustad) (Also published in Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise in October-November 2018) [in French]
“France Issues Inaugural Convention Judiciaire d’Intérêt Public,” International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (March 2018) (article co-authored with Laura Perkins) [in English]
“How Far Do Your Arms Reach? A Brief Case Study on the Extraterritoriality of Anti-Bribery Laws,” International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (March 2018) (article co-authored with Bryan Sillaman, Leon Ioannou and Bernardo Viana) [in English]
“Lessons Learned from the First-Ever French Convention Judiciaire d’Intérêt Public Concluded with HSBC,” The Anti-Corruption Report, Vol. 7, No. 2 (January 2018) (article co-authored with Bryan Sillaman) [in English]
“Loi Sapin 2, FCPA, UKBA, CCA : Comment ne pas se perdre dans le dédale de la conformité?” (“Loi Sapin 2, FCPA, UKBA, CCA: How Do You Not Get Lost in the Maze of Compliance?”), Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise (March-April 2017) (article co-authored with Anne Hukkelaas Gaustad) [in French]
“La Convention Judiciaire d’Intérêt Public : Quelle compatibilité entre intérêt public de la Société et intérêt privé des sociétés ?” (“The Judicial Public Interest Agreement: Is the Public Interest Compatible with Companies’ Private Interest?”), Cahiers de Droit de l’Entreprise n° 2 (March-April 2017) (article co-authored with Anne Gaustad) [in French]
"L’Agence Française Anti-corruption et la corruption : Vaccin, antidote ou placebo ?" ("The French Anti-Corruption Agency: Vaccine, Antidote or Placebo?”), International Review of Compliance and Business Ethics (March 2017) (article co-authored with Anne Gaustad) [in French]

Highlighted Lectures

Speaker, "AFA Controls: The Right To Say No?" webinar, May 13, 2020
Speaker, “Update on U.S. Enforcement Policy,” 10th Annual Business Ethics Anti-Corruption Compliance & Fraud Prevention Strategies in CEE, SEE & CIS Conference, Czech Republic, March 22, 2019
Tutor, “No Bribes in your Electric Scooter: Fighting Corruption in DRC Through the Cobalt Supply Chain," Tutoring Program, Sciences-Po Paris Clinic, September 2018 – May 2019
Lecturer, “CSR and Preventing Corruption,” Academic Seminar, Ecole de droit Sciences-Po, Paris, France, March 2018 and February 2019
Speaker, "One Year of Controls by the French Anti-Corruption Agency: Appraisal and Perspectives," Conference, Cercle Montesquieu, Paris, France, September 19, 2018
Speaker, "Recent Developments in French Anti-Corruption Law," 9th Annual Business Ethics Anti-Corruption Compliance & Fraud Prevention Strategies in CEE, SEE & CIS Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, March 23, 2018
Speaker, “Lessons Learned from the First Round of Audits Conducted by the New French Anti-Corruption Agency,” Cercle France Amérique, Paris, France, January 25, 2018
Speaker, “The New French Settlement Tool: The Judicial Public Interest Agreement,” Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, Paris, France, November 22, 2017
Speaker, “The Right to be Free from Arbitrary Detention: Perspectives of the Victims and Their Representatives,” Commemorative Event for the 25th Anniversary of the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, U.N. Headquarters, Geneva, Switzerland, November 28, 2016

Quotes, Interviews and Contributions

Contributor, “Guide – L’avocat français et les enquêtes internes" (“Guidelines – French Attorneys and Internal Investigations"), Conseil National des Barreaux (France’s National Bar Council) (June 2020) [in French]
Quoted in “Les tables rondes d’Option Droit & Affaires – La souveraineté économique face à l’extraterritorialité du droit" (“Round Table – Economic Sovereignty vs. Jurisdictional Extraterritoriality"), Option Finance / Droit & Affaires (June 2020) [in French]
Quoted in “Loi Sapin II : Il est urgent de se mettre en conformité," (Loi Sapin II: Becoming Compliant is a Priority"), DAF magazine n° 39 (June 2019) [in French]
Quoted in “Les rencontres d’experts d’Option Droit & Affaires - Insuffler une culture éthique dans l’entreprise," (Meeting with Experts – Instilling an Integrity Culture Within the Company"), Option Finance / Droit & Affaires (April 2019) [in French]
Quoted in “Détenu pendant 17 ans au Cameroun, il réclame reparation," (“Detained for 17 Years in Cameroon, He Claims Compensation”), Le Point (November 30, 2016) [in French]
Quoted in “Emprisonné dix-sept ans sans motif valable, Michel Thierry Atangana attend réparation du Cameroun,” (“Imprisoned for Seventeen Years Without Valid Ground, Michel Thierry Atangana Seeks Redress from Cameroon”), Le Monde (November 29, 2016) [in French]

Professional Activities

Member, France’s National Bar Council Working Group on Internal Investigations (2019 – 2020)
Editorial Committee Member, European Law Network (2007)
Member, Sciences Po’s Jurists Association (2006 – 2007)

Highlighted Matters

Currently assisting a multinational “supermajor” oil and gas company in connection with a worldwide risk assessment and compliance review.
Advising French companies subject to the first controls by the French Anti-Corruption Agency.
Advising companies on the implementation of the requirements of various anti-corruption laws and standards (including the Loi Sapin II, the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act).
Assisted European institutions in connection with criminal proceedings involving charges of bribery, fraud, forgery and misuse of assets in connection with the financing of commercial operations in Africa.
Defended a leading French bank in a criminal fraud case brought by individuals having been defrauded by a former private banking advisor.
Defended former manager of a multinational company in French criminal proceedings for misuse of corporate assets.
Defended a leading French bank in criminal proceedings for false advertising.
Defended French bank against class suit involving more than in 500 claimants) in before civil and criminal courts and regulatory agencies, relating to the non-performance of financial products.
Assisted a leading international telecommunication company in connection with a worldwide expertise involving a 80 million euros claim.
Advised several prominent French banks and credit institution in connection with litigation relating to the performance of financial products.
Advised a leading French bank in multi-million euros dispute relating to financing of international oil trading.
Assisted French bank in connection with U.S. discovery proceedings.
Pro bono representation of victim of arbitrary detention before United Nations (including United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention) and French government bodies.

French Decision Enhances Need for Robust Pre-Acquisition Due Diligence

Client Advisories

Fusions-acquisitions : un revirement de jurisprudence qui renforce le besoin d'une due diligence sur les risques pénaux

Client Advisories