Established in 1997, the prestigious Cercle Montesquieu Award—supported by international law firm Ashurst—annually recognises an outstanding book published in the field of business law and the management of legal functions.
The Cercle Montesquieu is delighted to announce that the 2025 Prix du Cercle Montesquieu has been awarded by Sacha Houlié, Member of Parliament for Vienne, to Anne Danis-Fatôme, Professor at the University of Paris Nanterre, and Jérôme Huet, Professor Emeritus at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas, for their book "Les contrats électroniques", published by LexisNexis.
The award ceremony took place on 14 October at the Pavillons Étoile & Presbourg, overlooking the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, in the presence of numerous general counsel, editors and partners of the Cercle Montesquieu.
This book provides a comprehensive analysis of the contemporary challenges arising from the digitalisation of economic exchanges. The authors analyse the transformation of contract law in the digital era, addressing key issues such as evidentiary matters, formal requirements, consumer protection, and international regulation. Their work is fully in keeping with the values of responsible governance, innovation, and legal certainty championed by the Cercle Montesquieu.
The 2025 jury, chaired by Bénédicte Wautelet, comprised the following general counsel members of the Cercle: Simon Amselle, Nathalie Debeir, Sybil de Geoffroy, Jean-Charles Henry, Noria Hitache, Edouard de Kervénoaël, Edouard Maruani, and Béatrice Place-Faget.
'The Prix du Cercle Montesquieu embodies the Cercle's commitment to advancing legal and managerial thought, encouraging research with practical application in the business world, and fostering innovative approaches that enrich the work of legal departments. It also aims to provide the community of general counsel with a recommended reference work, recognised for the quality of its analysis and the relevance of its contributions,' emphasised Bénédicte Wautelet, President of the Jury.
"Ashurst is proud to have supported the Prix du Cercle Montesquieu for many years; this prestigious distinction is an exceptional contribution to the law and the legal profession. This commitment reflects our belief that research and doctrinal reflection directly inform legal practice in both companies and law firms and help to shape a legal framework capable of meeting future challenges", said Emmanuelle Cabrol, Partner at Ashurst.
The 2025 Prix du Cercle Montesquieu was made possible thanks to the steadfast support of Ashurst, a longstanding partner and Friend of the Cercle, who is honoured each year to participate in awarding this unique distinction within the legal community.
