Legal

Terms of Use

Please read these terms carefully before using our services or accessing the site.

EN FR

Last updated: 28 October 2026

Terms of Use & Regulatory Compliance Notice

MAD MIDDLEMAN: Terms of Use (Convenience Translation: French version prevails) MAD MIDDLEMAN “Architects of Complexity” TERMS OF USE (ToU) & REGULATORY COMPLIANCE NOTICE Operator: MAD MIDDLEMAN SAS, RCS Nanterre 932 202 773, SIREN 932 202 773, operating this Site under the brand name “Mad Middleman” Domain: https://madmiddleman.com/ (the “Site”) Last updated: 28 October 2026 Governing law: French law exclusively CONVENIENCE TRANSLATION: FOR INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY.

This English translation is provided solely as a convenience. The French-language version of these Terms of Use ("CGU") is the sole legally binding version. In the event of any conflict, ambiguity or discrepancy between the French version and this translation, the French version shall prevail in all circumstances without exception.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: RESTRICTED TO QUALIFIED PROFESSIONALS.

THE CONTENT, STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE AND METHODOLOGIES PRESENTED ON THIS SITE ARE STRICTLY RESERVED FOR SOVEREIGN ENTITIES, GOVERNMENTAL BODIES, CORPORATE EXECUTIVES, INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS AND ULTRA-HIGH-NET-WORTH INDIVIDUALS (UHNWI) POSSESSING A LEVEL OF EXPERIENCE AND FINANCIAL SOPHISTICATION AT LEAST EQUIVALENT TO THAT OF “PROFESSIONAL CLIENTS” WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE MIFID II (2014/65/EU) OR “QUALIFIED INVESTORS” WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129, WITHOUT THE OPERATOR CONDUCTING ANY FORMAL MIFID CLASSIFICATION.

BY ACCESSING THIS SITE, YOU REPRESENT AND WARRANT THAT YOU ARE ACTING EXCLUSIVELY IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR PROFESSIONAL, COMMERCIAL OR COMPLEX WEALTH-MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. ACCESS BY NON-PROFESSIONAL CONSUMERS OR INDIVIDUALS IS STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS OF USE IN THEIR ENTIRETY, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CEASE ALL USE OF THE SITE.

PREAMBLE

These Terms of Use (hereinafter “ToU” or “Terms”) govern all access to and use of the website operated at https://madmiddleman.com/ (the “Site”), which presents the capabilities offered by MAD MIDDLEMAN SAS (the “Operator”) under the brand name “Mad Middleman”.

The Site constitutes an informational presentation interface, made available free of charge as a digital showcase of the Operator’s capabilities under this brand. It describes capabilities in Transactions & Operations for Principals operating in complex, cross-border and geopolitically sensitive environments. The Site does not constitute an offer of services, an invitation to contract, or the provision of regulated financial, investment or brokerage services. No information, advice or service is delivered through the Site.

Brand portfolio. The Operator (Mad Middleman SAS) operates three brands, each under a dedicated domain: Mad Middleman (transactional intermediation, https://madmiddleman.com/), Madier & Saillard (sovereign advisory cabinet, https://madiersaillard.com/) and Madier & Saillard Private (counsel on private affairs for Principals, families and family-office directions, https://madiersaillardprivate.com/). All three brands are operated by the same legal entity; the Operator has no parent, no subsidiary and no affiliated group. Any due diligence, contractual relationship, regulatory enquiry or claim, regardless of which brand site was used as a point of contact, resolves to Mad Middleman SAS exclusively.

By accessing any page of the Site, viewing Content, or submitting any consultation request, the User expressly acknowledges having read, understood and agreed to be bound by these Terms without reservation or restriction. These Terms establish that the Operator undertakes only a best-efforts obligation and expressly excludes any obligation of result, as defined in Article 4 hereof.

ARTICLE 1. DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of these Terms, capitalised terms shall have the meanings set out below. These definitions govern interpretation of these Terms.

  • “Services / Engagements”: Refers to the capabilities described on the Site under the brand “Mad Middleman”, namely Transactions & Operations. Descriptions on the Site do not constitute offers to contract.
  • “Best-Efforts Obligation”: Refers to the Operator’s commitment to deploy reasonable professional diligence without guaranteeing any specific outcome, in accordance with French law and these Terms. The Operator expressly excludes any obligation of result.
  • “Brand”: Refers to any commercial designation, including nom commercial (trade name within the meaning of French commercial law), enseigne (sign identifying a specific operating establishment), marque (registered trademark within the meaning of Articles L. 711-1 et seq. of the French Intellectual Property Code, where applicable) or unregistered trade name, under which the Operator presents its capabilities on a dedicated domain. The Brands operated by the Operator are: Mad Middleman, Madier & Saillard and Madier & Saillard Private. The present Terms govern use of the Site operated under the brand “Mad Middleman”. Any communication, contract, invoice or other instrument issued under a Brand name shall be deemed issued by Mad Middleman SAS, the Brand being a commercial designation of the same legal entity and not an autonomous legal person.
  • “Client”: Refers to a Principal who has entered into a separate Service Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with the Operator, following completion of due diligence and, where applicable, an In-Person Meeting.
  • “Confidential Information”: Refers to all information submitted via contact requests; the existence and content of any Consultation Request or Mandate; the Operator’s proprietary methodologies, Network contacts, counterparty relationships or operational protocols; and any information designated as confidential under an NDA. Excludes information legitimately in the public domain without breach of these Terms.
  • “Confidential Mandates / Private Mandates”: Refers to specialised capabilities, by invitation only or verified referral, reserved for Principals requiring operational confidentiality and counsel outside standard advisory channels. Delivered exclusively in person following due diligence, Operational Risk Assessment and execution of an NDA. The Operator delivers Confidential Mandates exclusively under the brand “Madier & Saillard Private” (https://madiersaillardprivate.com/).
  • “Consultation Request”: Refers to any act of contact made via at least one of the email addresses available on the Site. Submission constitutes acceptance of these Terms but creates no contractual obligation on the Operator to respond, provide services or continue discussions.
  • “Content”: Refers to all information, texts, graphics, logos, methodologies, operational know-how (Tradecraft) descriptions, data compilations and other materials constituting or accessible via the Site. Protected by the Intellectual Property Rights defined herein.
  • “Operational Risk Assessment”: Refers to the Operator’s internal due-diligence procedure, conducted at its sole discretion and according to its proprietary criteria and methodologies, aimed at evaluating the operational, reputational and security risks associated with a Principal or potential mandate. This assessment is a private-law process conducted within the Operator’s contractual freedom; it does not confer, presuppose or simulate any governmental or state authorisation.
  • “Force Majeure”: Refers to any unforeseeable, irresistible event beyond the Operator’s control within the meaning of Article 1218 of the French Civil Code, including without limitation: natural disasters, pandemics, wars, armed conflicts, terrorist acts, coups d’état, civil unrest, governmental decisions, sanctions regimes, trade embargoes, cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, market collapses, sovereign decisions affecting mandate execution.
  • “NDA”: Refers to a separate, bilateral Non-Disclosure, Non-Circumvention and Confidentiality Agreement entered into between the Operator and a Principal prior to any substantive exchange. Mandatory for access to Private Mandates and sensitive engagements.
  • “In-Person Meeting”: Refers to a physical meeting between the Operator and a Principal, held where and when the Operator considers it necessary and under the Operator’s security protocols, as a possible preliminary step prior to the execution of a Service Agreement. An In-Person Meeting creates no obligation on the Operator and confers no right on any User.
  • “Service Agreement”: Refers to the separate, written and definitive agreement signed by the authorised representatives of both the Operator and a Client, which alone creates a contractual advisory or service relationship and governs the Services actually rendered. No Service Agreement results from access to or use of the Site (see Article 10).
  • “Operator”: Refers to MAD MIDDLEMAN SAS, a simplified joint-stock company (société par actions simplifiée) incorporated in France (RCS Nanterre 932 202 773, SIREN 932 202 773), which operates this Site under the brand name “Mad Middleman”. The term also includes the Operator’s officers, agents and representatives. The Operator has no parent, no subsidiary and no affiliated group.
  • “Personal Data”: Refers to any information relating to an identified or identifiable natural person within the meaning of Article 4(1) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR) and the French Data Protection Act (Loi n° 78-17 of 6 January 1978), as amended.
  • “Principal”: Refers to any ultra-high-net-worth individual (UHNWI), family office, Fortune 500 or equivalent-scale company, sovereign entity, governmental body, sovereign wealth fund, or other qualified party requiring the specialised services described on the Site.
  • “Investment Service Provider / Financial Investment Adviser (PSI/CIF)”: Refers to a regulated investment service provider or financial investment adviser within the meaning of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II) and Article L. 321-1 of the French Monetary and Financial Code. The Operator does not carry out these regulated activities unless explicitly and specifically stipulated in a specific written mandate for a given transaction.
  • “Network”: Refers to the Operator’s operational network of relationships, contacts, institutional access points and counterparties across more than 90 jurisdictions on six continents. The Network is a single asset of the Operator, accessible across all Brands operated by it, and constitutes a core proprietary asset protected by these Terms and any applicable NDA.
  • “Site”: Refers to the website operated at https://madmiddleman.com/, including all pages, sub-pages, Content and associated subdomains.
  • “UHNWI”: Refers to an ultra-high-net-worth individual, a natural person with a net worth exceeding USD 30 million (excluding primary residence) or comparable financial sophistication.
  • “User”: Refers to any person, natural or legal, or representative of an entity, accessing, viewing or using the Site in any manner whatsoever, whether or not they subsequently become a Principal or Client.

ARTICLE 2. SCOPE AND ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS

2.1. Applicability

These Terms govern all access to and use of the Site by any User, regardless of their geographical location, means of access or device used. They apply in addition to, and not in substitution for, any Service Agreement or Non-Disclosure Agreement concluded separately. The Terms of Use of each Brand operated by the Operator are issued separately for each Site; the present Terms govern the Site operated under the brand “Mad Middleman” at https://madmiddleman.com/.

2.2. Acceptance through access and contact submissions

By accessing any page of the Site, viewing Content or using any feature thereof, the User expressly agrees to be bound by these Terms. Submission of any Consultation Request, in particular via at least one of the email addresses provided, constitutes express, affirmative and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and authorises the Operator to process submitted Personal Data in accordance with Article 13.

2.3. Capacity and status

By using the Site or submitting a Consultation Request, the User represents and warrants that they:

  • have reached the legal age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence (minimum 18 years);
  • if acting on behalf of an entity, hold the requisite authority and capacity to bind that entity under these Terms;
  • are not subject, under applicable law, to any prohibition preventing them from accessing the Site or using the Services;
  • are not subject to sanctions, embargoes or restrictions incompatible with engagement with the Operator;
  • are acting exclusively in the context of their professional, commercial or complex wealth-management activities, and expressly waive any right to invoke consumer protection provisions inapplicable to relations between sophisticated professionals.

2.4. Professional and sophisticated users

The Site is designed exclusively for professional and sophisticated Users, including Principals, corporate executives, sovereign representatives, institutional officers, legal and financial advisers, and other qualified parties familiar with complex cross-border transactions, strategic advisory engagements, governmental relations and confidential mandates. The Operator presumes that every User has the appropriate expertise to evaluate the information presented and assess the suitability of the Services for their specific needs. In no event does the Operator conduct any formal classification of Users as professional clients within the regulated meaning of Directive 2014/65/EU (MiFID II), such classification being the exclusive prerogative of licensed investment service providers.

2.5. Amendment of Terms

The Operator reserves the right to amend these Terms at any time, at its sole discretion, in accordance with Article 19. Continued use of the Site following any amendment constitutes acceptance of the amended Terms.

ARTICLE 3. NATURE OF THE SITE: ABSENCE OF REGULATED ADVICE OR BROKERAGE

3.1. Informational showcase exclusively

The Site constitutes strictly a digital interface presenting the Operator’s capabilities under the brand “Mad Middleman” in opaque, complex and geopolitically sensitive ecosystems.

THE CONTENT OF THE SITE SHALL NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BE INTERPRETED AS: (a) A FIRM COMMERCIAL OFFER, SOLICITATION OR PUBLIC OFFERING OF SECURITIES WITHIN THE MEANING OF DIRECTIVE 2014/65/EU (MIFID II) OR ARTICLE L. 321-1 OF THE FRENCH MONETARY AND FINANCIAL CODE; (b) LEGAL, TAX, FINANCIAL OR INVESTMENT ADVICE OF ANY KIND; (c) A GUARANTEE OF RESULTS, TRANSACTION CLOSING, COUNTERPARTY AVAILABILITY OR REGULATORY OUTCOME; (d) A PROSPECTUS WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION (EU) 2017/1129.

3.2. Distinction: Strategic Advisory vs. Regulated Intermediation

Although the Site references the Operator’s capability to connect buyers and sellers of raw materials, energy resources, agricultural products, minerals and industrial assets, and to coordinate the execution of complex cross-border transactions, the Operator does not and has never acted as:

  • a regulated Broker-Dealer or Futures Commission Merchant within the meaning of the U.S. Commodity Exchange Act;
  • an Investment Service Provider (PSI) or Financial Investment Adviser (CIF) within the meaning of the French Monetary and Financial Code;
  • a regulated commodities broker within the meaning of applicable EU or UK legislation;

unless such status is explicitly, specifically and separately stipulated in a signed written mandate for a specific transaction.

The Operator provides strategic intelligence, relational architecture and operational coordination, not regulated investment or brokerage services. Users are encouraged to seek regulated financial advice from duly licensed professionals.

3.3. No offer of financial instruments

Nothing on the Site constitutes a prospectus, offer to sell or solicitation to buy securities, derivatives or financial instruments in any jurisdiction. All transaction proposals are made exclusively through private placement memoranda (PPM) addressed to qualified counterparties outside the Site, following execution of a Service Agreement.

3.4. Information “as is”: geopolitical and market volatility

Information relating to commodity sourcing, industrial-asset transactions, market access and related infrastructure is provided for purely illustrative purposes. The Operator does not warrant the feasibility of any transaction under current or future geopolitical or market conditions. The sectors referenced (energy, mining, agriculture and industrial assets) are subject to extreme price volatility and rapid regulatory change.

3.5. No advisory relationship created by use of the Site

Merely visiting the Site, browsing Content or submitting a Consultation Request creates no advisory relationship, fiduciary duty, contractual relationship or service obligation between the User and the Operator. A formal relationship arises only upon signature of a written Service Agreement, following completion of due diligence, execution of an NDA and, where applicable, holding of an In-Person Meeting.

ARTICLE 4. BEST-EFFORTS OBLIGATION: EXCLUSION OF ANY OBLIGATION OF RESULT

4.1. Exclusive best-efforts standard

The Operator undertakes only a best-efforts obligation in respect of all aspects of the Site and any preliminary interaction, including: the accuracy and completeness of Content; the functionality and availability of the Site; the processing of and response to Consultation Requests; the conduct of due diligence; and any information or preliminary service provided prior to the execution of a Service Agreement. The Operator expressly excludes any obligation of result under these Terms.

4.2. Legal basis: French law and case law

This best-efforts obligation is governed by French law and by the established case law of the Court of Cassation (Commercial Chamber), which recognises that professional advisory, consulting and intermediation services (including transaction advisory, strategic consulting, commodities intermediation and governmental relations) are subject to a best-efforts obligation rather than an obligation of result, given the inherent uncertainties and external dependencies involved.

4.3. Factors beyond the Operator’s control

The outcomes of any advisory engagement depend on numerous factors entirely or partially beyond the Operator’s control, including:

  • Economic and market factors: commodity price volatility and market fluctuations; financial market conditions and liquidity; foreign exchange movements; economic cycles; inflation; interest rate changes; supply chain disruptions;
  • Geopolitical and sovereign factors: political instability, regime change, elections; international diplomatic developments; armed conflicts, wars, civil unrest; coups d’état; sanctions regimes, trade embargoes, export controls; sovereign decisions affecting foreign investment; nationalisation or expropriation risks;
  • Regulatory and legal factors: legislative or regulatory changes; regulatory interpretations; licensing and permit procedures; AML/CFT and anti-corruption obligations; tax reforms; judicial decisions;
  • Counterparty and third-party factors: counterparties’ willingness to complete a transaction; third-party solvency; decision-making processes and timelines; cooperation or obstruction by officials; integrity of intelligence sources;
  • Client-related factors: Client decisions and strategic changes; Client responsiveness; accuracy and completeness of information provided; internal approval processes.

4.4. No warranty of results

The Operator does not warrant, certify or represent that any mandate, if accepted, will result in any specific outcome, including transaction closing, counterparty identification, obtaining regulatory approval, a favourable government position, sufficiency of intelligence, project completion or any other specified result.

ARTICLE 5. ACCESS TO THE SITE

5.1. Free access and technical conditions

Access to the Site is provided free of charge to any User with an internet connection. Users bear sole responsibility for all costs related to Site access, including hardware, software, internet service subscription and telecommunications costs.

5.2. Availability on a best-efforts basis

The Operator undertakes to make reasonable efforts to ensure Site accessibility 24/7, subject to maintenance and interruptions. The Operator does not guarantee uninterrupted, error-free access and shall not be liable for consequences arising from unavailability, suspension or discontinuation of the Site. The Operator reserves the right to temporarily or permanently suspend all or part of the Site without notice, for any reason, including maintenance, security incidents, technical necessity or strategic decisions.

5.3. Geographical access and local law compliance

The Site is accessible worldwide. Users accessing from jurisdictions outside France are solely responsible for compliance with applicable local laws and regulations. If local law prohibits access to the Site, Users must not access it. The Operator accepts no liability for Users’ compliance with the laws of their respective jurisdictions.

ARTICLE 6. CONTACT AND MANDATE INQUIRIES

6.1. Purpose and legal effects

The information available on the Site is intended solely to serve as an initial screening and contact mechanism. By submitting any Consultation Request by email, the User:

  • (a) accepts these Terms in an express, affirmative and unconditional manner;
  • (b) authorises the Operator to collect and process submitted Personal Data in accordance with Article 13;
  • (c) acknowledges that submitted information constitutes Confidential Information treated as such by the Operator;
  • (d) acknowledges and accepts that submission creates NO obligation on the Operator to respond, engage, provide advice or enter into any agreement;
  • (e) represents that all information provided is accurate, complete and truthful; providing false or misleading information may result in permanent exclusion.

6.2. Absolute discretion of the Operator

Following receipt of a Consultation Request, the Operator may, at its sole and absolute discretion: respond and initiate discussions; request additional documents; propose execution of an NDA; propose an In-Person Meeting; decline without reason or justification; or take no action. The Operator reserves the right to reject any request for any reason, including: failed due diligence, reputational concerns, conflicts of interest or strategic considerations.

6.3. Preliminary nature of all interactions

All communications following a Consultation Request remain preliminary and non-binding until: due diligence has been completed to the Operator’s satisfaction; an NDA has been executed; an In-Person Meeting has taken place, where required; and a definitive Service Agreement has been signed by authorised representatives of both parties.

ARTICLE 7. DESCRIPTION OF SERVICES

7.1. Practice areas described on this Site

The Site describes the Operator’s practice under the brand “Mad Middleman”, comprising:

  • Transactions & Operations

Strategic intermediation between buyers and sellers of commodities (energy resources, agricultural products, minerals) and industrial assets (mines, plants, processing facilities, fields and heavy infrastructure). The Operator coordinates sourcing, execution, due diligence and counterparty alignment. This activity does not constitute regulated brokerage (see Article 3.2).

7.2. Special mandates and sensitive operations

Special mandates and sensitive operations are handled exclusively through the Private Mandates channel operated under the sister brand “Madier & Saillard Private” (https://madiersaillardprivate.com/) and require execution of a separate NDA, an Operational Risk Assessment, an In-Person Meeting and a bespoke Service Agreement. The description of these capabilities on the Site is purely informational and confers no right of access to any User.

7.3. Informational descriptions only

All descriptions of practice areas, methodologies, geographical reach (operations across six continents and more than 90 jurisdictions) and Client profiles are purely informational. They do not constitute offers, solicitations or warranties of service availability, and may be amended at any time without notice.

ARTICLE 8. PRIVATE MANDATES AND CONFIDENTIAL MANDATES

This Site does not present Private Mandates capabilities. The Operator delivers Private Mandates exclusively under the sister brand “Madier & Saillard Private” at https://madiersaillardprivate.com/, governed by the Terms of Use issued for that Site. Principals interested in a Private Mandate are directed to that domain.

ARTICLE 9. INTERNATIONAL COMPLIANCE: SANCTIONS, AML/CFT AND ANTI-CORRUPTION

9.1. Sanctions and embargoes: user representations

By accessing the Site, the User expressly represents and warrants that:

  • (a) neither they, the entity they represent, nor any of their Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) appear on any active sanctions list, including the OFAC SDN list, the EU Consolidated Financial Sanctions List, the UN Security Council Consolidated List, or the UK HM Treasury Consolidated List, as published and periodically updated by the relevant authorities at the date of access;
  • (b) they are not located in, incorporated in or operating from a jurisdiction subject to a comprehensive embargo, as defined by applicable global sanctions lists at the date of access;
  • (c) they are not involved in the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, terrorist financing or related activities;
  • (d) they will not use the Site or the Operator’s Services to circumvent international sanctions, embargoes or export controls.

The Operator reserves the right to block any IP address, decline any request and report any suspicious activity to the relevant authorities (including TRACFIN in France) in cases provided for by applicable law.

9.2. Anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF)

The Operator applies a zero-tolerance policy towards financial crime. Any future business relationship will be conditional upon full compliance with Directive (EU) 2015/849 (4th AML Directive) as amended by Directive (EU) 2018/843 (5th AML Directive), as well as Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 on the prevention of the use of the financial system for money laundering or terrorist financing, as amended or replaced, Articles L. 561-1 et seq. of the French Monetary and Financial Code, and Order n° 2009-104 of 30 January 2009. The User acknowledges that the Operator is subject to reporting obligations to TRACFIN in respect of suspicious transactions.

9.3. Anti-corruption and Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)

The Operator strictly adheres to the principles of the French Sapin II Act (Law n° 2016-1691 of 9 December 2016), the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act 2010. If the User is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP) or a representative of a sovereign state, ministry or governmental body, they acknowledge that any engagement will be subject to Enhanced Due Diligence in compliance with the aforementioned anti-corruption frameworks. The User certifies that their interest in the Operator’s Services is strictly legitimate and lawful. Any attempt to use the Site to solicit illegal influence-peddling, corrupt practices or sanctions circumvention will be immediately reported to the relevant authorities.

9.4. Know Your Customer (KYC) and due diligence

Any future business relationship is subject to rigorous KYC procedures, including: identity and legitimacy verification; financial capacity assessment; UBO verification; needs and objectives review; reputational risk assessment; conflicts-of-interest analysis; AML/CFT screening; and any other investigative measures deemed necessary by the Operator. The Operator reserves absolute discretion to decline any mandate following due diligence, without obligation to provide reasons. All due diligence and KYC procedures resolve to the Operator (Mad Middleman SAS), regardless of the Brand under which initial contact was made.

ARTICLE 10. NO CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP WITHOUT A SEPARATE WRITTEN AGREEMENT

10.1. Preliminary nature of all Site interactions

Users expressly acknowledge that none of the following actions, individually or collectively, creates a contractual relationship, advisory relationship, fiduciary duty, agency, partnership or legal obligation on the part of the Operator:

  • (a) accessing the Site;
  • (b) browsing or reading Content;
  • (c) submitting a Consultation Request via any email address provided on the Site;
  • (d) receiving a response from the Operator;
  • (e) preliminary discussions, telephone calls or email exchanges;
  • (f) the conduct of preliminary due diligence;
  • (g) execution of a Non-Disclosure Agreement;
  • (h) participation in an In-Person Meeting.

10.2. Requirement for a Service Agreement

The provision of Services and the creation of a contractual advisory relationship require the execution and delivery of a written and definitive Service Agreement, signed by the authorised representatives of both parties. A contractual relationship arises only upon the effective date of signature, governed exclusively by the terms of that Service Agreement.

10.3. Non-binding nature of pre-contractual discussions

All discussions, proposals, indicative terms, scope descriptions, fee estimates or other communications prior to the execution of a Service Agreement are preliminary, non-binding, subject to change or withdrawal at any time, and not enforceable as contracts or obligations.

10.4. Right to terminate discussions

The Operator may terminate pre-contractual discussions at any time, for any reason or no reason, subject only to the duty of good faith under Article 1104 of the French Civil Code and to the case law of the Cour de cassation on abusive termination of pre-contractual negotiations. Subject to this floor, the Operator is not liable for costs incurred, missed opportunities, reliance placed or expectations created by the User in the course of preliminary discussions.

ARTICLE 11. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, TRADECRAFT PROTECTION AND SCRAPING LIMITS

11.1. Exclusive ownership

The Site in its entirety, including its architecture, source code, texts, Tradecraft descriptions, methodologies, frameworks, logos, graphic charters and software, is the exclusive property of the Operator or its licensors, protected by:

  • (a) the French Intellectual Property Code (CPI, Articles L. 111-1 et seq.): copyright and related rights;
  • (b) Articles L. 713-1 et seq. of the CPI: trade mark rights;
  • (c) Articles L. 151-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code (Law n° 2018-670 of 30 July 2018): trade secrets;
  • (d) Directive 96/9/EC and its French implementing legislation: database rights;
  • (e) applicable international conventions (Berne Convention, WIPO Copyright Treaty, Paris Convention).

11.2. Protection of names, distinctive signs and signature lines

The names “Mad Middleman”, “Madier & Saillard” and “Madier & Saillard Private”, the signature lines “Architects of Complexity”, “Sculpting negative space” and “Pentimento”, and the associated logos, graphic charters, symbolic marks and design elements appearing on this Site or on any other Site operated by the Operator, are the Operator’s distinctive signs, protected as corporate name, trade name, trade marks where applicable, copyright and unfair competition. The three Brands and their associated signs are owned by the same legal entity (Mad Middleman SAS). Any reproduction or use without prior written authorisation, except as permitted by Articles 11.3 or 11.4, constitutes infringement and/or unfair competition, giving rise to civil and criminal liability under the French Intellectual Property Code and general tort law.

11.3. Access by AI, search and text-and-data-mining systems

The Operator permits robots, spiders, crawlers and other automated systems, whatever their operator or provider, to access, retrieve, index, analyse and use the publicly accessible Content of this Site for search, retrieval, answer generation, text and data mining, model training and related research purposes. This permission applies to public Site Content only and does not grant access to private areas, restricted systems, confidential information or non-public data.

This permission is limited to the public Content made available on the Site. It does not transfer or waive any ownership or other right in the Operator’s names, distinctive signs, logos, graphic charters, Tradecraft, methodologies, confidential information or trade secrets, and does not authorise security circumvention, unauthorised access, harmful activity or the extraction of non-public information.

Any operator or provider may use the public Content under this permission without a separate agreement solely for those purposes. Any use outside this permission remains subject to these Terms and applicable law.

11.4. Limited licence for personal professional use

The Operator grants Users a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable and revocable licence to access and view Content solely for personal, private, informational and non-commercial purposes, in accordance with these Terms. This licence permits only on-screen viewing and temporary caching necessary for such viewing, and the printing of a single page for personal reference. It does not authorise commercial use, reproduction for distribution, modification, public display or any competitive use.

This licence restriction does not limit the permission for publicly accessible Content under Article 11.3.

11.5. Sanctions for breach

Any reproduction, extraction, AI training, modification or distribution of Site Content that is not permitted by Article 11.3 or Article 11.4 constitutes:

  • (a) criminal infringement under Articles L. 335-2 et seq. of the CPI (up to 3 years’ imprisonment and €300,000 fine);
  • (b) a breach of trade secrets under Articles L. 151-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code;
  • (c) an act of unfair competition under general tort law (Articles 1240 et seq. of the French Civil Code);
  • (d) a breach of database rights under Articles L. 341-1 et seq. of the CPI.

The Operator reserves all civil and criminal remedies, including injunctive relief, damages and legal fees.

ARTICLE 12. LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

12.1. “As is” provision: no warranty The Site and all Content are provided “as is” and “as available”, without warranty of any kind, express or implied. The Operator endeavours to ensure the accuracy of Content but does not warrant its accuracy, completeness, currency or freedom from error; uninterrupted and secure Site accessibility; or correction of defects. All implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement are excluded to the fullest extent permitted by law.

12.2. Exclusion of liability: geopolitical and market risks

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THE OPERATOR DISCLAIMS ALL LIABILITY FOR: (a) COMMODITY PRICE OR ENERGY MARKET FLUCTUATIONS; (b) SUDDEN REGULATORY CHANGES, LEGISLATIVE REFORMS OR POLICY REVERSALS IN ANY JURISDICTION; (c) SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS, LOGISTICAL FAILURES OR FORCE MAJEURE EVENTS INCLUDING WAR, COUP D’ÉTAT, ARMED CONFLICT, PANDEMIC OR NATURAL DISASTER; (d) SOVEREIGN DECISIONS, EXPROPRIATION, NATIONALISATION OR EMBARGO AFFECTING TRANSACTIONS; (e) A COUNTERPARTY’S FAILURE, INSOLVENCY OR REFUSAL TO COMPLETE A TRANSACTION; (f) LOSS OF PROFITS, REVENUE, BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES, DATA OR REPUTATIONAL HARM; (g) DECISIONS MADE ON THE BASIS OF INFORMATION ON THE SITE; (h) INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, PUNITIVE OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES.

12.3. Decision-making authority: “we advise, you decide”

Consistent with the cabinet’s posture, the Operator advises; the Client decides. The final decision to complete any transaction, investment or strategic initiative rests exclusively with the User or Client. The Operator shall not be liable for the financial, legal or operational outcome of decisions made by the User, regardless of any advice provided by the Operator.

12.4. Liability cap for direct damages: site consultation only

To the fullest extent permitted by French law, the Operator’s total liability towards any User under these Terms or arising from use of the Site, under any contractual, tortious or other basis, is limited to ZERO (€0). This cap applies exclusively to consultation of the Site as a free informational showcase and does not in any way govern the Operator’s liability under a Service Agreement or any other separately concluded contractual arrangement, which are subject to their own specific liability provisions.

This zero cap, limited to use of the Site, rests on three legally coherent and inseparable grounds: first, access to the Site is provided entirely free of charge, so that no economic consideration is received by the Operator in connection with making the Site available, rendering any claim causally disconnected from any onerous act by the Operator; second, the Site is a pure informational showcase that delivers no professional advice, no services and creates no obligation on the Operator, so that the Operator assumes no obligation whose non-performance could give rise to liability under Articles 1231-1 and 1240 of the French Civil Code; third, any decision taken by the User on the basis of information viewed on the Site falls exclusively within their own expert professional judgement, the User having declared and warranted that they are acting in a professional and sophisticated capacity pursuant to Article 2.4 hereof, which breaks any causal link between the Site’s content and any alleged loss.

For the avoidance of doubt: Service Agreements separately concluded with Clients autonomously determine the terms, limits and exclusions of liability applicable to Services actually rendered, and these Terms shall not affect the same.

12.5. Cyber risk

The Operator implements security standards appropriate to the risk but does not warrant that the Site is free from viruses, malware or vulnerabilities. The Operator disclaims all liability for any damage to the User’s computer systems, software or data resulting from access to or use of the Site, cyberattacks targeting the Site’s infrastructure, or interception of data transmitted via email addresses prior to their receipt by the Operator’s secure servers.

12.6. Non-excludable liabilities

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits the Operator’s liability for: death or personal injury resulting from its fraud or gross negligence; fraudulent misrepresentation; or any other liability that cannot be excluded under mandatory French law.

ARTICLE 13. PERSONAL DATA PROTECTION (GDPR)

13.1. Data controller

The Operator acts as data controller for all Personal Data collected via the Site, in strict compliance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 (General Data Protection Regulation, GDPR) and the French Data Protection Act (Loi n° 78-17 of 6 January 1978), as amended. Contact for all data protection queries: office@madmiddleman.com.

13.2. Personal Data collected

The Operator collects the following categories of Personal Data:

  • (a) Automatically collected data: IP address; browser type and version; operating system; device type; pages viewed and navigation paths; date, time and duration of visit; referring URL; geographical location inferred from IP address.
  • (b) Data collected via email contact: first and last name; title; email address; telephone number (if provided); professional affiliation and role; nature of request; free-text message content; any other information voluntarily provided.
  • (c) Data collected via strictly necessary and security cookies: see Article 14.

13.3. Legal bases and purposes of processing

Personal Data is processed on the following legal bases and for the following purposes:

  • (a) Legitimate interest (Article 6(1)(f) GDPR): security monitoring, fraud prevention, protection of the Operator’s IT infrastructure, and aggregate audience measurement to understand and improve Site usage (Google Analytics 4, see Articles 13.4, 13.5 and 14);
  • (b) Contractual necessity (Article 6(1)(b) GDPR): processing Consultation Requests and managing pre-contractual communications;
  • (c) Legal obligation (Article 6(1)(c) GDPR): AML/CFT compliance, reporting obligations to TRACFIN, responding to judicial or regulatory requests.

13.4. Recipients of Personal Data

Personal Data may be shared with the following recipients:

  • (a) Authorised Operator staff and service providers on a strict need-to-know basis;
  • (b) Host provider: Hostinger International Ltd., 61 Lordou Vironos Street, 6023 Larnaca, Cyprus, bound by data processing agreements compliant with Article 28 GDPR;
  • (c) Professional advisers (lawyers, accountants, auditors) subject to professional secrecy obligations;
  • (d) Counterparties and partners, only as necessary for mandate execution and with the Client’s prior written consent, under NDA cover;
  • (e) Public authorities (TRACFIN, law enforcement, tax administration, courts) where disclosure is required by applicable law;
  • (f) Audience-measurement provider: Google (Google Ireland Limited, with processing by Google LLC, United States), acting as a third-party processor for aggregate traffic statistics via Google Analytics 4 (see Articles 13.5 and 14).

The Operator does not sell, rent or otherwise transfer Personal Data to third parties for commercial prospecting purposes, and builds no personalised profile from audience-measurement data.

13.5. International transfers

Personal Data submitted to the Operator (via email, see Article 13.2 (b)) is hosted and processed within the European Union (Hostinger, Cyprus, EU Member State). The Site uses Cloudflare’s security network for DDoS mitigation and infrastructure protection; connection metadata (IP addresses, request headers) may transit Cloudflare’s globally distributed infrastructure, including non-EU points of presence, under Standard Contractual Clauses approved by European Commission Decision 2021/914/EU of 4 June 2021 and Cloudflare’s published Data Processing Addendum, ensuring an adequate level of protection consistent with the requirements of Chapter V of the GDPR following Schrems II (CJEU C-311/18). The Operator does not transfer Personal Data outside the European Union or the European Economic Area without such appropriate safeguards. Aggregate audience-measurement data collected through Google Analytics 4 is processed by Google and may be transferred to the United States; such transfers are governed by Google’s data processing terms, the European Commission’s Standard Contractual Clauses (Decision 2021/914/EU) and, in respect of Google LLC, the EU-US Data Privacy Framework. The User may prevent this measurement at any time as described in Article 14.

13.6. Retention periods

Personal Data is retained for the minimum period necessary:

  • (a) Consultation Requests (without contractual follow-up): 2 years from last contact, then deletion;
  • (b) Client Data (contractual relationship): duration of the Service Agreement + 5 years (French civil limitation period), then deletion;
  • (c) Due diligence files: duration of the assessment + 2 years (or Client relationship duration if longer);
  • (d) Security logs: 12 months (LCEN compliance), then deletion;
  • (e) Accounting and legal records: period required by French law (5 to 10 years);
  • (f) Anonymised analytical data: up to 13 months, then irreversible anonymisation.

13.7. Rights of data subjects

In accordance with the GDPR and the French Data Protection Act, data subjects have the following rights, exercisable by written request to office@madmiddleman.com. The Operator will verify the requester’s identity through reasonable means (including request of a copy of an identity document or other evidence of the requester’s capacity) before processing the request, in accordance with CNIL guidance on identity verification (article 12 GDPR and CNIL FAQ on rights of access).

  • (a) Right of access (Article 15 GDPR);
  • (b) Right to rectification (Article 16 GDPR);
  • (c) Right to erasure (Article 17 GDPR);
  • (d) Right to restriction of processing (Article 18 GDPR);
  • (e) Right to data portability (Article 20 GDPR);
  • (f) Right to object (Article 21 GDPR);
  • (g) Right to withdraw consent (Article 7(3) GDPR);
  • (h) Right to lodge a complaint with the CNIL (Article 77 GDPR), 3 Place de Fontenoy, TSA 80715, 75334 Paris Cedex 07, https://www.cnil.fr/fr/plaintes;
  • (i) Post-mortem directives (Article 85 of the French Data Protection Act);
  • (j) Right not to be subject to a decision based solely on automated processing producing legal or significant effects (Article 22 GDPR). For the avoidance of doubt, the Operator does not undertake any automated decision-making producing legal or significant effects on data subjects in the context of the Site.

The Operator will respond to requests within one (1) month, extendable by two (2) months for complex requests.

13.8. Security measures

The Operator implements appropriate technical and organisational measures in accordance with Article 32 GDPR, including: HTTPS/TLS encryption for all data transmissions; firewalls and intrusion detection; regular security updates; access controls and authentication; secure backup procedures; data minimisation; need-to-know access restrictions; staff training; and incident response procedures.

13.9. Data breach notification

In the event of a data breach likely to result in a risk to the rights and freedoms of data subjects, the Operator will: notify the CNIL within 72 hours where feasible (Article 33 GDPR); notify affected individuals if the breach is likely to result in a high risk (Article 34 GDPR); and document the breach, its effects and the corrective measures taken.

ARTICLE 14. COOKIES AND TRACKING TECHNOLOGIES

14.1. Operator’s restrictive cookie policy

The Site keeps cookies and tracking to the strict minimum. Three categories only are used: technically necessary cookies, security cookies, and a single audience-measurement tool (Google Analytics 4) used solely to produce aggregate traffic statistics. The Site places no advertising, retargeting, cross-site tracking, data-broking or behavioural-profiling cookies of any kind, and builds no personalised profile of any User. The audience-measurement cookies may be refused or deleted by the User at any time through browser settings or the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout); the Site remains fully functional without them. These audience-measurement cookies fall within the scope of Article 82 of the French Data Protection Act and the CNIL Recommendation of 17 September 2020; the Operator deploys them on a measurement-only basis and provides the foregoing opt-out, rather than a consent banner.

14.2. Categories of cookies used

  • (a) Strictly necessary cookies (consent-exempt): essential to the operation of the Site (session management, security, load balancing). They cannot be disabled without impairing Site functionality. Retention: session only (deleted when the browser is closed), or up to 13 months for cookies maintaining a stable security context, in accordance with the CNIL Recommendation of 17 September 2020.
  • (b) Security cookies (e.g. Cloudflare): network protection and DDoS mitigation, placed on the basis of the Operator’s legitimate interest in protecting the Site’s infrastructure. These cookies are exempt from the consent requirement in accordance with the CNIL Recommendation. Retention: up to 30 days for the Cloudflare `__cf_bm` bot-management cookie, up to 1 year for related security tokens, per Cloudflare’s published cookie inventory.
  • (c) Audience-measurement cookies (Google Analytics 4): used solely to produce aggregate traffic statistics (pages viewed, approximate geographic origin inferred from IP, device and browser type), set by Google as a third party. No advertising or cross-site profiling is performed. The User may refuse or delete them at any time via browser settings or the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on (https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout), without affecting Site functionality. Retention: as set by Google for the `_ga` identifier (up to 24 months by default); the User may delete it at any time via the opt-out above.

14.3. Browser management

Users may manage and disable cookies via their browser settings. Disabling strictly necessary cookies may impair Site functionality or security.

14.4. Third-party cookies

Cloudflare security cookies are placed by a third party. The Operator does not control the internal settings of such cookies. Users are encouraged to consult Cloudflare’s privacy policy (https://www.cloudflare.com/privacypolicy/) for information on their data practices.

ARTICLE 15. CONFIDENTIALITY AND OPERATIONAL SECURITY

15.1. Operator’s confidentiality commitment

Given the highly sensitive nature of the services described on this Site (commodities and industrial-asset intermediation), the Operator commits to the strictest confidentiality regarding: the identity of all Users and Clients; the content of all communications and email contacts; the existence of mandates; operational methods; Network contacts; counterparty identities; and intelligence sources.

15.2. Operational security measures

The Operator implements comprehensive security measures, including: use of end-to-end encrypted communications (encrypted messaging, secure messaging); physical security for In-Person Meetings (secure venues, identity verification, controlled access); information compartmentalisation on a strict need-to-know basis; personnel background checks; secure document handling and destruction protocols; and Enhanced Security Protocols for Private Mandates.

15.3. User and Client obligations

Users and Clients undertake to maintain strict reciprocal confidentiality regarding: the Operator’s identity and Network contacts; methodologies and Tradecraft; the existence and nature of mandates; and all Confidential Information. These confidentiality obligations constitute autonomous and directly enforceable commitments, irrespective of whether a separate NDA is concluded. They take effect from first access to the Site or from the first communication of Confidential Information, and shall continue for five (5) years from the end of exchanges in respect of information not constituting a Trade Secret, and in respect of information constituting a Trade Secret within the meaning of Law n° 2018-670 of 30 July 2018, for as long as the information retains the qualifying features of a Trade Secret (secrecy, commercial value, reasonable steps to keep it secret) under Article L. 151-1 of the French Commercial Code.

Any breach of these obligations may result in: (a) immediate termination of Site access and all relations with the Operator; (b) the breaching party’s civil liability for all resulting loss, including lost profits, loss of opportunity and reputational harm; (c) urgent judicial proceedings (interim injunction) to halt disclosure and obtain any interim measures; (d) criminal proceedings where applicable, in particular under trade secret provisions (Articles L. 151-1 et seq. of the French Commercial Code) and unfair competition law.

15.4. Duration of confidentiality obligations

The Operator’s confidentiality obligations take effect upon receipt of any Confidential Information and continue indefinitely, unless the information enters the public domain without breach of these Terms by the Operator. Where a Service Agreement or NDA provides for a longer duration, the longer duration shall apply.

ARTICLE 16. FORCE MAJEURE

16.1. Definition

Force Majeure, as defined in Article 1 and within the meaning of Article 1218 of the French Civil Code, covers any unforeseeable, irresistible event beyond the Operator’s control, including without limitation: natural disasters, pandemics, wars, armed conflicts, terrorist acts, coups d’état, civil unrest, governmental decisions, sanctions regimes, trade embargoes, export control measures, sovereign decisions, market collapses, cyberattacks, infrastructure failures, or any other event rendering performance impossible or economically unreasonable.

16.2. Effects

Upon occurrence of a Force Majeure event: the Operator’s obligations under these Terms are suspended for the duration of the event; the Operator is discharged from all liability; performance timescales are extended accordingly. If the Force Majeure event continues beyond sixty (60) days, either party may terminate the affected obligations without liability.

ARTICLE 17. PROHIBITED CONDUCT

17.1. General prohibition

Users may not use the Site for unlawful purposes or in any manner that violates these Terms, infringes the rights of the Operator or third parties, is fraudulent or deceptive, or contravenes any applicable law or regulation.

17.2. Specifically prohibited activities

Without limitation, Users MAY NOT:

  • (a) Unauthorised access: attempt to gain unauthorised access to the Site, servers, databases or networks; disrupt the integrity or performance of the Site; introduce viruses, malware, Trojan horses or other harmful code; launch denial-of-service attacks; probe or test system vulnerabilities;
  • (b) Automated extraction: use robots, spiders, scrapers, crawlers or any other automated means to extract data, or engage in text and data mining, except as expressly permitted for publicly accessible Content by Article 11.3; compile databases from Site Content outside that permission;
  • (c) Intellectual property infringement: reproduce, modify, distribute or create derivative works from Content except as permitted under Article 11.3 or Article 11.4; remove rights notices or proprietary legends; frame, embed or mirror the Site;
  • (d) Fraud and impersonation: provide false information; impersonate any person or entity; falsify credentials; engage in fraudulent activities;
  • (e) Sanctions circumvention: use the Site to circumvent international sanctions, embargoes or export controls; facilitate money laundering, terrorist financing or other illicit financial activities;
  • (f) Security circumvention: attempt to bypass security measures or access controls; reverse-engineer or decompile Site software; use the Site to develop competing services or for benchmarking purposes.

17.3. Consequences

Any breach may result in: immediate termination of access without notice; permanent exclusion from Services; reporting to law enforcement and regulatory authorities; civil and/or criminal proceedings including claims for damages, injunctions and legal fees.

ARTICLE 18. HYPERLINKS

18.1. Outbound links

The Site may contain links to third-party websites not owned or controlled by the Operator. The Operator does not endorse such sites and accepts no responsibility for their content, privacy practices, availability or any harm resulting from their access. Users access third-party sites at their own risk.

18.2. Inbound links

Links and citations generated within the uses permitted by Article 11.3 are authorised without a separate agreement. Other hyperlinks to the Site require prior written authorisation from the Operator. Unauthorised links are prohibited, in particular from sites containing unlawful, defamatory or objectionable content or links creating a false association with the Operator. The Operator may revoke any authorisation at any time and require removal of unauthorised links.

18.3. Cross-links between Operator Brands

Each Brand operated by the Operator (Mad Middleman, Madier & Saillard, Madier & Saillard Private) maintains links to the sister Brands’ Sites, in order to disclose the publisher’s full brand portfolio to readers. These cross-links do not constitute endorsements between separate legal entities: all three Brands are operated by the same legal entity (Mad Middleman SAS), consistent with the disclosures in Article 1 (definition of “Brand”) and Annex A.7.

ARTICLE 19. AMENDMENT OF TERMS

The Operator reserves the right to amend, supplement or replace these Terms at any time, at its sole discretion, including in the event of legislative or regulatory changes, Site or Service developments, or for any operational, legal or strategic reason. Amendments take effect upon publication, unless otherwise stated. The “Last updated” date at the top of these Terms indicates the date of the most recent amendment. Continued use of the Site following any amendment constitutes acceptance of the amended Terms. It is the User’s responsibility to review these Terms regularly.

ARTICLE 20. SEVERABILITY

If any provision of these Terms is held invalid, unlawful or unenforceable by a competent court, arbitrator or regulatory authority, that provision shall be amended and interpreted so as to achieve its objectives to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, with the remaining provisions continuing in full force and effect. If a provision cannot be amended to be made enforceable, it shall be severed from these Terms, and the parties agree to negotiate in good faith a replacement provision that most nearly reflects the original intent and desired economic effect.

ARTICLE 21. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

These Terms constitute the entire agreement between the User and the Operator with respect to access to and use of the Site, and supersede all prior agreements, representations or communications, written or oral, relating to that subject matter. These Terms govern only use of the Site operated under the brand “Mad Middleman” and do not govern Service Agreements, NDAs, the Terms of Use of sister Brands, or any other separately concluded agreements. In the event of any conflict between these Terms and a separately concluded agreement, that agreement shall prevail for the matters it covers.

ARTICLE 22. DISPUTE RESOLUTION

22.1. Mandatory prior amicable resolution

Prior to commencing any legal proceedings, the parties undertake to attempt to resolve any dispute amicably through good-faith negotiation. The party wishing to initiate amicable resolution must notify the other party by recorded delivery letter or email to office@madmiddleman.com (for the Operator), precisely describing the dispute and the proposed resolution. The parties shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of that notice to attempt to reach an amicable agreement. If direct negotiation fails, the parties may, by mutual written agreement, submit the dispute to conventional mediation in accordance with Articles 1530 et seq. of the French Code of Civil Procedure, in particular before the Paris Mediation and Arbitration Centre (CMAP). Mediation costs shall be shared equally.

Exception: the prior amicable resolution procedure does not apply to applications for urgent interim or conservatory measures (référé proceedings), for which each party retains the right to apply directly to the competent court without delay or prior notice.

22.2. Governing law

These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with them, their subject matter or formation (including non-contractual disputes or claims) shall be governed by and construed in accordance with French law, to the exclusion of any conflict-of-laws rules.

22.3. Jurisdiction (inter-professional relations)

As the Site and Services are intended exclusively for professional and sophisticated Users, the parties confer exclusive jurisdiction on the courts of the jurisdiction of the Paris Court of Appeal (in particular the Paris Commercial Court or the President of that Court sitting in summary proceedings), for any dispute arising out of these Terms or in connection with the use of the Site or the relationship between the User and the Operator, notwithstanding any general or special jurisdictional rules, including in summary proceedings, third-party proceedings or multi-defendant cases. The jurisdiction of the President of the Paris Commercial Court sitting in summary proceedings is expressly reserved for any application for urgent interim or conservatory measures. Both parties expressly waive any right to challenge that jurisdictional attribution.

22.4. International arbitration option (ICC Paris)

By way of derogation from Article 22.3, for any dispute involving a party not resident in France or connected to a cross-border mandate, the parties may agree in writing, after the dispute has arisen and before commencing any judicial proceedings, to submit the dispute to arbitration before the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Paris, in accordance with the ICC Rules of Arbitration in force at the date of the arbitration request, on the following terms:

  • (i) the arbitral tribunal shall consist of one (1) sole arbitrator, appointed in accordance with the ICC Rules;
  • (ii) the seat of arbitration shall be Paris, France;
  • (iii) the language of the proceedings shall be French, without prejudice to the right to produce documents in foreign languages;
  • (iv) the substantive law applicable shall be French law;
  • (v) the arbitral award shall be final and binding on the parties and enforceable in any jurisdiction signatory to the New York Convention of 10 June 1958 on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards.

The arbitration agreement referred to in this article is autonomous from these Terms and survives their termination for any dispute relating to their performance or interpretation. The choice of arbitration is subject to the express written agreement of both parties made after the dispute has arisen and is not automatic.

22.5. No class actions

To the fullest extent permitted by law, any dispute must be brought by the parties in their individual capacity, and not as a claimant or member of any class, representative or group action. The parties expressly waive any right to bring or participate in a class action.

ARTICLE 23. CONTACT

For any question, comment or complaint relating to these Terms, the Site or the Services described, Users may contact the Operator:

  • By email: office@madmiddleman.com
  • For Personal Data queries: office@madmiddleman.com
  • For formal legal notices: office@madmiddleman.com

The Operator will endeavour to respond to requests within a reasonable time. For requests relating to the exercise of Personal Data rights under Article 13.7, the Operator will respond within the GDPR timeframe (one month, extendable by two months if necessary).

ACCEPTANCE AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

BY ACCESSING THE SITE, VIEWING CONTENT OR SUBMITTING ANY CONTACT REQUEST INCLUDING BY EMAIL, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE: HAVING READ AND UNDERSTOOD THESE TERMS IN THEIR ENTIRETY; AGREEING TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS WITHOUT MODIFICATION OR RESERVATION; UNDERSTANDING THAT THE OPERATOR UNDERTAKES ONLY A BEST-EFFORTS OBLIGATION AND NOT AN OBLIGATION OF RESULT (ARTICLE 4); UNDERSTANDING THAT ACCESS TO THE SITE CREATES NO CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP AND NO OBLIGATION ON THE OPERATOR (ARTICLE 10); THAT THE ZERO LIABILITY CAP APPLIES EXCLUSIVELY TO CONSULTATION OF THE SITE AND NOT TO SERVICE AGREEMENTS SEPARATELY CONCLUDED (ARTICLE 12.4); CONSENTING TO THE PROCESSING OF YOUR PERSONAL DATA IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 13; ACCEPTING THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE PARIS COURTS AND THE APPLICATION OF FRENCH LAW (ARTICLE 22).

IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY CEASE ALL USE OF THE SITE.

END OF TERMS OF USE

Final version dated 28 October 2026. MAD MIDDLEMAN SAS, operating under the brand “Mad Middleman”.

Contact: office@madmiddleman.com. Site: https://madmiddleman.com/