Maître Gérald PANDELON
Attorney at the Paris Bar
Counsel before the International Criminal Court (The Hague)
PhD in Criminal Law
PhD in Public Law & Political Science
19 rue de Marignan – 4 ème étage
75008 Paris
Mobile: +33 6 22 75 97 98 (WhatsApp)
Secondary office: Aix-en-Provence
CURRICULUM VITAE
Profile
A leading international criminal defense attorney, Maître Gérald PANDELON is widely recognized for his expertise in complex, sensitive, and high-profile cases, both domestically and internationally. His outstanding academic background and extensive experience in strategically significant cases have earned him authoritative recognition among courts, institutions, and media alike.
Specializing in high-stakes international matters at the intersection of law and geopolitics, he is regarded as a reference figure in issues related to international criminal justice and politically sensitive cases.
He has been ranked among the Top 10 most influential lawyers in France by several specialized publications.
1. Academic Background
- Graduate of Sciences Po – Valedictorian (1993)
- PhD in Criminal Law – Highest honors (unanimous jury distinction)
- PhD in Political Science – Highest honors (unanimous jury distinction)
- Holder of three postgraduate degrees (DEA):
- Criminal Law
- Public Law & Political Science
- Philosophy
- Master’s Degree in Public Law
- Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Foreign Languages
- Consular diploma in foreign languages
Languages:
English, Spanish, Portuguese, Literary Arabic, Ancient and Modern Greek, Latin, Italian
2. Professional Activity
Criminal Defense Attorney
- Over 200 high-profile cases pleaded with national impact
- Regular involvement in highly mediatized proceedings
Areas of Expertise
- National and international political-judicial cases (defense of French and foreign political figures, senior public and private decision-makers)
- International arbitration
- Highly sensitive and strategic international cases
- INTERPOL and EUROPOL-related matters
- Litigation before European Union courts
- Proceedings before the International Criminal Court
- General and specialized criminal law, including business and financial crime
- Organized crime at a global level
- International narcotics trafficking networks
Maître Gérald PANDELON is widely recognized as a leading expert in matters related to the International Criminal Court, handling cases of exceptional complexity involving legal, political, and diplomatic dimensions.
Strategic Positioning
He operates at the core of highly complex international affairs where state interests, diplomatic stakes, and geopolitical considerations converge.
Clients and Cases
- French and foreign political leaders
- Senior military officials
- Institutional and state actors
- Major figures in organized crime
- Structured criminal networks
Known as the “lawyer of sensitive urban areas,” he has defended more than 30 influential figures from challenging urban environments.
3. International Reach
- Counsel before the International Criminal Court (The Hague), handling cases with significant strategic, diplomatic, and geopolitical implications
- Maintains direct relations with over 10 African Heads of State in the context of major international legal matters
- Director of Legal Affairs at the Francophone Business Confederation (CCI Paris), a structure bringing together influential economic and political stakeholders, particularly across Africa
A Unique International Background
Maître Gérald PANDELON spent the first 14 years of his life in Tunisia, within a deeply bicultural environment bridging European and Arab-Muslim worlds.
Raised within both French and Arab cultural spheres, he developed early fluency in Arabic and a nuanced understanding of the social, political, and cultural dynamics of the Middle East and the broader Arab-Mediterranean region.
Coming from a Christian background, he cultivated from a young age a rare ability to navigate and understand diverse cultural frameworks—an asset that strengthens his expertise in sensitive international cases involving complex geopolitical contexts.
Distinction
- “Lawyer of the Maghreb” (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria) – Dynamiques Review (2020)
4. Institutional Responsibilities
- President of the Association of Justice and Legal Professionals
5. Academic Activities
- Associate Professor for 15 years
Teaching Areas
- Judicial training institutes
- Preparation for ENM / ENA
- Bar School (CAPA) training
- Advanced training for lawyers and magistrates in complex strategic issues
6. Publications and Works
Books
- Inquisition française (2025)
- La France des caïds (Max Milo, 2020)
- Que sais-je? – The Legal Profession (PUF, 2019)
- The Hidden Face of Justice (2017)
- The Robin Hood of the Bar (2016)
- Confession in Criminal Law (2012 – doctoral thesis)
- The Question of Lying in Politics (1999 – doctoral thesis)
Articles
- Over 250 publications
- Regular contributor to Atlantico (criminal justice section)
- Interviews in major media outlets: Marianne, Le Parisien, Le Figaro, L’Express, Valeurs Actuelles
7. Media Presence and Public Profile
Television
- BFM TV
- France 24
- LCI
- CNews
- Participation in high-audience legal programs
- Ongoing project for a daily legal news show on LCI
Radio
- Sud Radio (André Bercoff)
- Radio Courtoisie
- Community radio stations
Media Expert
- Security and economic intelligence
- Evolution of judicial institutions
- International narcotics trafficking
- Sensitive urban areas
8. Distinctions and Recognition
- Ranked among the Top 10 most powerful lawyers in France
- Recognized specialist in the most sensitive criminal and international cases
- Strong institutional and media visibility
- Close relationships with key public and private decision-makers in France and abroad
(President of APJD – Association of Justice and Legal Professionals, bringing together lawyers, magistrates, and decision-makers)
9. Key Skills
- High-impact courtroom advocacy
- Management of complex judicial crises
- Defense in sensitive international cases
- International arbitration and litigation
- Expertise in organized crime
- Political, legal, and geopolitical analysis
10. Interests
- Certified Karate Instructor (DIF), 2nd Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate and Brown Belt in Judo
- Pianist (classical repertoire)
- Passionate about political philosophy and law, holding a postgraduate degree (Master’s level)
