Nova Legal

Law firm specializing in labor law and business transformation.

We support you with innovation, integrity and expertise.

Founded by Deborah David

Attorney at the Paris Bar

Founder of Nova Legal, I am passionate about labor law and supporting businesses through their transformation and growth challenges.

After more than 22 years in prestigious business law firms, I decided to establish Nova Legal to offer my clients personalized support tailored to their specific needs at every stage of their journey.

My mission is to provide innovative solutions by positioning myself as your Business Partner.

My approach is based on listening, expertise, and transparency, with a strong commitment to building long-term, trust-based relationships with each of my clients.

I firmly believe that for every change a business faces, regardless of its size, there is a tailored solution—often rooted in social dialogue.

My role is to help you design and implement a business strategy that enables you to achieve your goals while preserving your values and human capital.

About Deborah

Deborah has been a member of the Paris Bar since 2003 and holds a DEA in Business Law from the University of Paris XII.

She is a member of the American Bar Association (ABA), the Association for Business Recovery (ARE), and the think tank Women in Restructuring (WIR).

Deborah has been recognized for several years in the Best Lawyers rankings in the categories of Labor and Employment Law and Insolvency and Reorganization Law, as well as in Lexology (formerly Who’s Who Legal) in the categories Thought Leaders – France and Thought Leaders – Labor, Employment & Benefits.

Listen to the Anomia podcast to learn more about Deborah’s journey. (In French)

Our Values

Nova Legal and the Tree of Life

The Tree of Life is a powerful symbol, rich in universal meaning. It represents growth, resilience, and the connection between different life cycles.

Nova Legal embodies a set of values deeply rooted in the practice of labor law:

Innovation

The world of work is constantly evolving. Nova Legal’s mission is to continuously seek innovative, creative, and tailored legal solutions to help businesses navigate contemporary challenges, ensuring both growth and legal security.

Resilience and Protection

Labor law can be complex and sometimes contentious. Nova Legal serves as a strategic ally, helping businesses defend their economic interests with determination while striving for balanced, sustainable solutions that protect employees’ rights and workplace well-being.

Human-Centered Support

At Nova Legal, businesses are at the heart of our approach. Our role is not just to apply rigid legal rules but to listen and understand the specific needs of each client, providing personalized, pragmatic, and context-aware legal advice.

Transparency and Integrity

Trust is the foundation of the attorney-client relationship. Nova Legal is committed to complete transparency in its actions and to upholding the highest ethical standards in all circumstances. Likewise, our goal is to collaborate with responsible businesses that engage with their social partners in a respectful and transparent manner.

Expertise

Collective Labor Relations

Preparation and support in negotiating collective agreements (Job and Career Management, Working Hours, Establishment and Functioning of the Works Council (CSE), Social Dialogue Agreements, Workplace Quality of Life, etc.)
Assistance with consultation procedures involving the Works Council (CSE) and unions on collective and corporate matters
Drafting and support in the implementation of internal policies (Internal Regulations, Workplace Violence and Harassment Charter, Ethics Code, Remote Work Agreements, Right to Disconnect, on-call duty setup, night or Sunday work, commission plans, etc.)
Support in implementing profit-sharing agreements, employee participation plans, PERECO, Time Savings Accounts, etc.
Prevention of occupational and psychosocial risks, adaptation of the Single Occupational Risk Assessment Document

Individual Labor Relations

Drafting employment contracts and managing sensitive clauses (executive contracts, combination of employment contracts with corporate mandates, golden parachute clauses, retention clauses, non-compete clauses, intellectual property clauses, GDPR compliance, etc.)
Employee performance management (performance improvement plans, incentive clauses, annual or ad-hoc evaluation procedures)
Disciplinary procedures
Termination of employment contracts (individual dismissals, mutual termination agreements, incapacity-based termination, etc.)
International employee mobility (secondments, expatriation)

Corporate Restructuring and Transformation

Advising management on corporate strategy implementation
Social management within preventive procedures (ad hoc mandate and conciliation) or bankruptcy proceedings (safeguard, administration, and judicial liquidation)
Preparation and implementation of mass lay-off procedures
Support for companies in site closures (Florange Law, communication with local and national authorities, confidentiality management, etc.)
Preparation of documentation and guidance in implementation
Strategic consulting and drafting of agreements for business transformation solutions without restructuring (Collective Mutual Termination, Collective Performance Agreements, Voluntary Departure Plans, all-in-one Job and Career Management, Collective Transitions, etc.)

Social Aspects of Mergers & Acquisitions

(In bonis, Distressed M&A, and Bankruptcy Proceedings)

Assistance for prospective buyers in preparing takeover bids
Support for judicial administrators and debtors in sale plans
Social audits and red-flag reports for social documentation in ongoing business operations, distress situations, or bankruptcy proceedings
Review of social aspects in contractual documentation
Transfer (automatic or contractual) of employment contracts
Renegotiation of collective status in mergers or acquisitions (anticipation and transition agreements, harmonization agreements)
Management of employee representation transitions

Pre-Litigation and Litigation

Negotiation of key employee departures and drafting settlement agreements
Collective litigation before administrative and civil courts (challenging employment protection plans, professional elections, dismissal of protected employees)
Individual litigation before Labor Courts and Courts of Appeal (dismissals, disciplinary sanctions, harassment, discrimination, salary and bonus claims, contract requalification requests)
Social security litigation