About us Activities Judges The Public Prosecutor's Office to PCT Auxiliary legal services Historical summary Commercial litigation solving The Paris Commercial Court of Justice, or Paris Court of Trade - PCT ("Tribunal de Commerce de Paris" - TCP) – hears about disputes born between individual tradespeople and/or between companies, both domestic and international, as well as about litigations arising from trade dealings among private parties. Such litigations cover all commercial fields, including stocks and securities or financial matters, and anti-competitive and anti-trust practices. Since May 1st, 2004, the European Commission has transferred full competency regarding the last two fields to Member States national jurisdictions. Recognizing that out-of-court settlements may often be more effective than formal judgements, PCT's Judges turn to conciliatory approaches and resort to mediation whenever possible. Recognizing that out-of-court settlements may often be more effective than formal judgements, PCT's Judges turn to conciliatory approaches and resort to mediation whenever possible. Safeguarding companies experiencing difficulties PCT plays a key role in the safeguarding of companies experiencing difficulties, both in terms of anticipating problems faced and then solving them. At the earlier stage of problem anticipating, more than three thousand CEOs are heard each year by PCT's Judges and are pressed to take appropriate corrective measures. At the later stage of problem solving, ad hoc mandates and conciliatory proceedings allow for two thirds of companies thus heard to go back on the right track. Organization PCT counts 22 Chambers. Some are specializing into anti-competitive practices and corporate law, EU laws and regulations, international law, media and IT regulations. Other Chambers are dealing with corporate bankruptcy administration and liquidation cases, opposition to bankruptcy or liquidation rulings, or individual and patrimony sanctions against CEOs at the Public Prosecutor's request. All along the Judiciary Year, Chambers meet on a weekly basis either to hear cases or to debate draft judgements submitted in turn by each Justice to two other of his/her fellow Judges. Twenty Judges ensure a fast judiciary hearing process called "référé", by which according to evidence produced and the degree of urgency of cases heard, provisional rulings are passed in order to accelerate judiciary proceedings. Such "requests upon demand" thus allow for provisional judiciary decisions to be issued, taking into account evidences produced, the urgency of the matters at stake and the necessity to protect plaintiffs' rights. Judgments are usually issued within the following time frame : Within 4 months for full formal judgments passed by Chambers ; Within about a week for "référé" provisional rulings, Payment Injunctions (which are executory, unless opposed within one month of issue) or other rulings, e.g. toward appointing Assets Contributed Valuating Auditors ("Commisaires aux Apports").