EIRL vs SARL: Complete Comparison of Legal Statuses in 2026
Choosing between EIRL and SARL is a strategic decision that affects your assets, tax position, and professional future. Discover the complete comparative guide for 2026.
8 min
Lawyers & Legal Firms
Electronic signature for lawyers and legal firms
Fee agreements, power of attorney, settlement protocols, settlement agreements, notice of appearance, electronic legal documents: dematerialise the entire lawyer-client relationship and agreements between peers with enhanced probative value. Compliant with CNB ethical rules, the eIDAS regulation and article 1366 of the Civil Code.
Use cases in a law firm
All private documents in the firm's operations can be signed electronically, from the initial client meeting to the final settlement agreement.
Fee agreement
Mandatory since the Macron law (article 10 of the law of 6 August 2015), the fee agreement must be signed by the client before any service provision. Remote signature in 2 minutes, compliance with prior information obligations.
Power of attorney
Mandate by which the client authorises the lawyer to represent them in court. Advanced electronic signature to formally identify the principal and document the scope of the mandate.
Settlement protocol & settlement agreement
Mediation protocols, settlement agreements, private documents: multiple coordinated signatures by respective lawyers, common audit trail archived for 10 years.
Notice of appearance
Document by which a lawyer enters an appearance for a client in proceedings: electronic signature for client notification and probative archival.
Electronic legal document
Document countersigned by a lawyer (articles 66-3-1 to 66-3-3 of the law of 31 December 1971): enhanced probative force, exemption from handwritten notation. Certyneo enables electronic countersignature by the lawyer and electronic signature by the client.
Confidentiality agreement & engagement letter
Confidentiality agreements between lawyer and client, engagement letters for services outside fee agreements, wealth management mandates: the entire scope of client relations is covered.
Why Certyneo for lawyers
Six guarantees specifically tailored to the probative and ethical requirements of the legal profession.
Strong signatory identification
SMS OTP on a channel separate from the signing link, document fingerprint verification and RFC 3161 timestamping. The signer's identity and intent are recorded with a level of assurance compatible with the highest evidentiary requirements.
Legally admissible audit trail
Each envelope produces a detailed signature certificate: timestamps, IP address, coarse geolocation, SHA-256 hashes, OTP identity, all embedded in the signed PDF. Admissible before all French and European courts.
Confidentiality & professional privilege
TLS 1.3 encryption in transit, AES-256 encryption at rest, strict data isolation by firm. Standard DPA available, no transfers outside the EU, compliant with lawyer professional privilege requirements (article 66-5 of the law of 31 December 1971).
Probative archival for 10 years
Duration compliant with civil action limitation periods and most contractual disputes. Export the complete file at any time with its audit trail for transmission to a colleague or to a court.
eIDAS Compliant — Advanced Level (AES)
Signatures compliant with Regulation (EU) No 910/2014, with all three levels available: simple (SES), advanced (AES) and qualified (QES). QES — the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature throughout the EU — is billed per act (€14.90/signature) for notarial deeds, public procurement and authenticated instruments.
Legally-Binding Audit Trail
In case of dispute, the Certyneo audit trail provides a coherent and timestamped body of evidence that facilitates demonstration of informed consent and document integrity, in compliance with Article 1366 of the Civil Code.
Enhanced Probative Value
The probative value of an electronic signature depends on the ability to demonstrate to a judge two elements: certain identification of the signatory and document integrity (Article 1366 of the Civil Code).
Certyneo delivers for each signature an audit certificate embedded in the PDF, which collects all technical evidence:
- Signer identity (email address, phone number verified through an SMS OTP code)
- RFC 3161 timestamp of each action (viewing, signature, refusal)
- SHA-256 cryptographic hash of the document, which demonstrates that it has not been modified since signing
- IP address and approximate geolocation of the signatory at the time of signature
- Detailed log of viewings, reminders, and actions on the envelope
This body of evidence falls within the framework of Articles 1366 and 1367 of the French Civil Code and the eIDAS Regulation; the French Court of Cassation (Cour de cassation) has thus accepted an electronic signature whose identification process, certified by the contracting platform, was reliable (Cass. civ. 1re, 6 April 2016, No. 15-10.732). For deeds benefiting from a lawyer's countersignature (electronic lawyer's deed), the probative force is strengthened further — the client is exempt from any handwritten statement.
Compliance with CNB Rules, Civil Code and eIDAS
Certyneo operates within the legal and ethical framework applicable to the legal profession.
CNB Rules (Conseil National des Barreaux)
The CNB ethical rules (RIN, National Internal Regulations) govern in particular the retention of files and confidentiality of client communications. Certyneo applies end-to-end encryption, strict data isolation by law firm, and archiving with probative value compatible with these obligations.
RPVA & e-Barreau
Certyneo is not a substitute for the Attorneys' Private Virtual Network (RPVA), which remains the tool for exchanges with the courts. Certyneo electronic signature is complementary: it covers the lawyer-client relationship and agreements between colleagues, whereas the RPVA covers court proceedings.
Articles 1366 & 1367 of the Civil Code
Electronic writing has the same probative force as paper writing provided that the signatory's identity can be duly established and the document's integrity is guaranteed. Certyneo's advanced signature (AES) satisfies both requirements.
Law of 31 December 1971 — Legal Act
Articles 66-3-1 to 66-3-3 define the private deed countersigned by a lawyer, which enjoys enhanced probative force. Electronic countersigning by the lawyer is permitted provided the process used guarantees identification and integrity — which Certyneo ensures.
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Frequently Asked Questions from Lawyers
Can a lawyer's fee agreement be signed electronically?
Yes, without difficulty. Article 10 of the law of 31 December 1971 as amended by the Macron law requires a written agreement, but prescribes no particular form. Certyneo's advanced electronic signature (AES) fully satisfies the probative requirement, with the advantage of precisely timestamping the conclusion of the agreement before the service begins.
What is an electronic legal act and does Certyneo enable it?
A legal act (Articles 66-3-1 to 66-3-3 of the law of 31 December 1971) is a private deed countersigned by one or more lawyers, which enjoys enhanced probative force and relieves the need for handwritten notation. Certyneo allows the client to sign electronically (AES), then the lawyer to countersign electronically — all archived with shared audit trail.
What is the difference between advanced signature (AES) and qualified signature (QES) for a lawyer?
The advanced signature (AES), which Certyneo delivers natively, covers the vast majority of a firm's documents: fee agreements, engagement letters, protocols and incorporations. The qualified signature (QES) is reserved for documents where the law explicitly requires it (electronic authenticated instruments, certain notarial deeds) — the legal equivalent of a handwritten signature throughout the EU. Certyneo integrates it natively through a qualified QTSP from the EU trust list: billed per act (€14.90/signature without a subscription, €9.90 with one, no commitment), available on every plan including Free, and triggered in one click from the sending wizard.
Is the Certyneo audit trail admissible before a French court?
Yes. The audit trail embeds in the signed PDF every element required by Article 1366 of the Civil Code: signer identification (SMS OTP code), RFC 3161 timestamp when obtained, cryptographic fingerprint of the document, IP and geolocation. It forms a coherent body of evidence admissible before civil, commercial and industrial tribunals.
Are law firm data protected by legal privilege?
Yes. Certyneo applies TLS 1.3 encryption in transit and AES-256 at rest, strict data isolation per firm, and fully EU-based hosting (IONOS) with no subprocessing outside the EU. A standard DPA is available at signup and meets GDPR requirements — it includes the confidentiality clauses specific to the legal professions.
Can a settlement agreement be signed by multiple parties each represented by a lawyer?
Yes. Certyneo natively handles sequential or parallel signatures between multiple parties and allows each lawyer to countersign the agreement on behalf of their client. The unified audit trail gathers all signatures and timestamps, facilitating archival to each law firm's file.
How long are signed documents retained?
Our plans include 10-year archiving with probative value, which corresponds to the general civil statute of limitations (Article 2224 of the Civil Code). For documents requiring longer retention (estate, succession matters), extended archiving is available on request. Documents remain downloadable at any time by the law firm.
Does Certyneo interfere with the RPVA or e-Barreau?
No, Certyneo is complementary: the RPVA covers exchanges with the courts (procedural acts), while Certyneo covers the lawyer-client relationship and exchanges between lawyers (fee agreements, protocols, settlement agreements). Both coexist without conflict and Certyneo stores no RPVA data.
