Elias Boukachabine

Toxic Tort/Chemical Substances

• Representing a US tyre manufacturer in a precedent-setting claim filed by over 500 individuals concerning their anxiety to develop cancer from alleged exposure to chemical substances contained in the tyres and alleged lack of sufficient warning to the end-users of the risks. The total value of the claims is EUR 50m. More significantly, should this claim prevail, it would have enormous consequences for the manufacturing industry as this is a civil claim filed by non-employees and not related to asbestos (which to date is the only substance giving the right to the “anxiety damage”).

Toxic Tort/Asbestos Damage

• Representing leading manufacturers and large industrial groups in relation to more than 600 separate claims in different courts in France filed by former employees claiming to have developed asbestos-related diseases.

Industrial Risk/Fire Cases

• Representing a Korean company specializing in manufacturing batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles, in a number of claims brought by car manufacturers concerning fires/explosions of vehicles and premises where the batteries were stored. We are also handling related investigations by the French Bureau of Investigations.
• Representing a US compressor manufacturer following a fire at a supermarket.

Consumer Law/Misleading Commercial Practices

• Representing a leading mobile technology company in relation to an investigation by ANFR (French National Frequency Agency) concerning compliance with frequency regulations, threat of recall in France and Europe-wide and related consumer management issues. We have also represented the same client in relation to investigations by DGCCRF (French Market Surveillance Authority) and other consumer related government authorities in relation to allegations of planned obsolescence in relation to some of its product upgrades and statements regarding water-resistant qualities of its products.

Regulatory

• Advising a French car manufacturer on regulatory compliance issues concerning the homologation process, protection of commercial secrecy, document retention, marketing claims, sustainability issues.