About

Joëlle Simon is the first non-American to receive the US Chamber of Commerce award, presented to her at the 16th Annual Legal Reform Summit for her dedication to the protection of business law in the French civil justice system. During her years with MEDEF, an organisation protecting the activities of French enterprises, she has assisted in the opposition of 10 official reports, 23 bills and for 30 years helped postpone the introduction of class actions (a major feature of the US litigation system) into French and European law. Simon joined in 1983 as the deputy to the general economic affairs manager. She was awarded the position of director of legal affairs in 1991 when the department was limited in its scope of intervention. Having carved her presence in the classical role of a lobbyist on European and national proposals for business law, Simon is now directing improvement on a legislative and regulatory level for businesses. The most notable evolution of business law for Simon, her team and for MEDEF, is the simplified joint stock exchange invented in 1990, enacted in 1994 and now the most popular form of businesses in France, namely la société par action simplifiée (SAS). Simon led her department to support MEDEF during their efforts to decriminalise company law by replacing criminal sanctions with civil ones and during efforts to promote good corporate governance. In conjunction with other business associations they have elaborated the code of corporate governance for French listed companies which has celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. Simon is held in high regard for her efforts to protect businesses and respected for her ability to influence policies and governance surrounding this topic.