A business that is doing poorly is not necessarily a business that is going to die. The important thing is to first get to the front of the situation, according to Jerome Prince. Broker and wine expert in Beaune, the president of the Dijon commercial court speaks freely and discreetly with those concerned. Scoop: he loves it!
In fact, he wears the dress less and less. Not that he gets tired, quite the contrary. Jérôme Prince has simply reduced his presence in hearings to focus on important work to raise awareness of the Côte-d’Orien seraglio on the virtues of the commercial court. Employers’ unions, federations, Direccte, students: in an uninhibited “VRP” (minus the commercial act), the president of the TC since 2017 never refuses an opportunity to demonize a jurisdiction that scares people.
It is first of all a quasi-health necessity. “ Our function is all the more essential as the general situation is worrying, with margins being eroded on all sides, particularly in sectors such as construction and real estate. But fortunately I observe a lot of resilience, local businessesoire fight well. » Phew!
“ Not a confessional, but almost »
Ad hoc mandates and conciliation strategies are therefore possible paths for any manager, from small businesses to large groups, when difficulties do not yet exist but there is no doubt about their appearance. In Dijon, Jérôme Prince therefore took the reins of an “friendly service”, him and him alone, “ because it is the guarantee of total confidentiality » and the assurance that entrepreneurs in difficulty feel confident to freely express complex situations. The presidential office then becomes “ not a confessional, but almost “.
At the same time, a president must also “manage” 28 consular judges, also completely volunteers, from the economic world. Elected by their peers, they give two years of their time, possibly renewable for four years, within the limit of four mandates. “ You don’t need to be a doctor of law to be a good judge in matters of collective procedure, believes the president. The system is well designed, there are major rules and a well-oiled rhythm to concentrate on the essential: the life of the company. Hence the need to be open, quick, flexible in situations where, unfortunately too often, the urgency is great. »
From one court to another
President of a commercial court is not a profession. Beaunois pure Pinot Noir juice, vintage 62, Jérôme Prince grew up in a family of wine brokers. “ But I always felt free to resume or not », specifies the person concerned, who therefore took over the vines of Louis, Maurice and Jean Prince while specializing in the great wines of Côtes de Beaune and Nuits. He is also often called upon to appraise large bottles. He lives and works in his grandfather’s house in downtown Beaune, which requires him to navigate daily from one courtyard to another. The hiring of a young employee last year led him to reflect on medium-term transmission.
Very active president of the national federation of brokers’ unions, which brings together 300 professionals including 45 affiliates in Burgundy, Jérôme Prince has earned the respect of his corporation, in his own style, always “on the beast”, affable, with a a note of humor if necessary. As within the commercial court, it cultivates an approach “ very territorial », based on training and good practices in a profession in the grip of an existential crisis. We must therefore regularly defend steak at the highest level of the State. “ I could write a book about it… »
A Beaunois in Dijon
Consular judge since 2003 in Beaune, on the basis of a paternal commitment, the man discovered the addictive and formative nature of a “ small, very general commercial court » (closed since), still distinguished under the presidency of the late merchant Philippe Dufouleur by a resounding safeguard procedure – “ the very first in France » – from the Belvédère spirits group. “ An incredible file, we were overwhelmed by 350 or 400 requests from third parties to cancel the backup… »
In 2009, the young elected consular officer will go to Dijon to become vice-president of the court and president of the sanctions chamber. Which allows him today to pay little attention to “ of those who have acted badly and who must be punished “. This ability to decide is the corollary of resistance to small and large influences. “ Being a Beaunois in Dijon already allows me to evolve outside of all networks “, appreciates the person concerned, who claims a fundamental attachment to justice ” without any ambiguity “. As such, it does not hesitate to divest or relocate certain files in the face of obvious risks of conflicts of interest or variable impartiality. “ It is a healthy reflex, which must inhabit judges, because it contributes to the image of the court and the confidence placed in the jurisdiction. » The same goes for anything directly or indirectly related to wine.
At the same time, we must anticipate changes in the jurisdiction, which is subject to major movements. On a voluntary basis (for the moment), the Minister of Justice has launched a two to three-year national experiment of an “economic affairs court” with broader powers including farmers, associations and liberal professions. Not really a gift as there is already so much to do…
The clothes do not make the man !
The president of the TC, whose mandate will in principle end in 2025, is therefore active on all fronts. Its message of all-round openness helps make the machine more fluid. “ This side “welcome” still goes hand in hand with a certain prospecting, which is our original role: we will look for companies in difficulty using analytical software. But I have no binding nature, we discuss if they wish and the manager leaves as they came. » Some ignore the invitation. Others open the door of Jérôme Prince and come out freed from their preconceptions about the austerity of a dress. “ We can be friendly and understanding, because we are above all business leaders », insists the president-VRP. So, clothes don’t make a monk!
