Elisabeth Malafa
Biography
Elisabeth Malafa is an associate in the Dispute Resolution Group of Baker McKenzie in Paris, which she joined as a trainee in 2021. She advises domestic and international companies on a broad range of cross-border litigation matters in civil and commercial courts, including product liability, breach of contract, shareholders’ disputes and exequatur/enforcement proceedings.
Drawing on her experience as a former legal intern in the EMEA legal department of a French luxury fashion house, Elisabeth also advises clients in the retail industry on product recalls, distribution agreements and general consumer law issues.
Practice Focus
Elisabeth focuses her practice on complex, cross-border disputes in the industrial manufacturing, defense, oil and gas industries, which involve multiple parallel proceedings. She also has significant experience in risk management, advising C-suite executives with tailored strategies to identify, assess and mitigate litigation risks.
Representative Legal Matters
- Representing a French industrial group in court proceedings in relation to the enforcement of US judgments.
- Representing a US manufacturer against product liability claims relating to an accident in a petrochemical unit.
- Representing a consulting firm in first instance and appellate proceedings relating to the performance of a government contract.
- Representing a US transport company in appellate proceedings against claims alleging breaches of a distribution agreement and violations of French law provisions on commercial agents.
- Representing an internet service provider in serial court proceedings initiated by the French Financial Markets Authority pertaining to online financial services.
- Represented an investment firm in summary proceedings relating to the enforcement of a French security (pacte commissoire).
- Represented a real estate fund in ICC arbitration proceedings relating to the performance of a put option agreement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to joining Baker McKenzie:
- Advised a major French company in court proceedings relating to the acquisition of another French company valued at USD 15 billion.
Professional Associations and Memberships
- Association des Professionnels du Contentieux des Affaires
- American Bar Association - International Law Section
- French-American Foundation
Admissions
- Paris~France (2022)
- New York~United States (2021)
Education
- University of California, Los Angeles (LL.M.)
- University of Versailles (Licence, Master 1, Master 2 in Arbitration and International Commercial Law)
- Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas (Diploma in Technology and Digital Law)
Languages
- English
- French
Baker & McKenzie A.A.R.P.I. is a member of Baker and McKenzie International.