EU, competition and distribution
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameLinklaters LLP
Anne is a Partner in our Paris office, widely acknowledged for her leading expertise in competition law. She advises on cartels, abuse of dominant position, vertical restraints and merger control, from the administrative investigation stage to the procedure before domestic and EU jurisdictions, as well as antitrust follow-on actions. Anne’s experience spans many sectors, notably the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors. Anne co-leads the firm’s consumer sector. She is a member of the Corporate Responsibility Commitee. Earlier in her career, Anne was based in Brussels, where she gained significant insight into the operation of the European Commission and developed extensive contacts with competition regulators.
Rising stars
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.
Admitted to the Paris Bar in 2006, Laura Castex specialises in European and French competition law as well as distribution law (distribution networks, commercial agreements, etc.) and consumer law, both in an advisory capacity and as a litigator. As regards merger control, Laura advises major French and foreign firms for their investments and divestments, including in non-EU jurisdictions. As regards anticompetitive practices, Laura has extensive experience in investigation proceedings and the design of bespoke compliance programs (private enforcement). She also assists our clients in private enforcement litigation. Lastly, as regards distribution and consumer law, Laura regularly advises our clients in the formalisation of their commercial relations and in litigation arising from them, as well as in the context of investigations carried out by the Directorate-General for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Prevention of Fraud (DGCCRF) and its local branches.
De Pardieu Brocas Maffei
Alexandre Eberhardt intervient en droit français et communautaire de la concurrence et intervient plus particulièrement en contrôle des concentrations, pratiques anticoncurrentielles et pratiques restrictives.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Mathilde Saltiel advises clients on all aspects of EU and French competition law. Ms. Saltiel leverages extensive experience to represent international and French companies across a broad range of industries in: Merger control proceedings before the European Commission (EC) and the French Competition Authority (FCA) Coordination of merger filings for global transactions Cartel and abuse of dominant position investigations by both EU and French competitions authorities Antitrust litigation Private damages actions A recognized thought leader, Ms. Saltiel frequently speaks at industry conferences on EU and French competition.
De Pardieu Brocas Maffei
Laëtitia Gavoty Tolot, associée, intervient régulièrement auprès d’entreprises françaises et internationales devant les autorités de régulation et juridictions françaises et européennes, plus particulièrement en matière de contrôle des concentrations, de contentieux relatifs à des pratiques anticoncurrentielles (cartels, abus de position dominante), d’actions en réparation du préjudice concurrentiel, et d’aides d’Etat. Elle dispose également d’une expertise en matière de pratiques restrictives de concurrence et de droit de la distribution.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Charlotte specialises in EU and French competition law, advising on the full range of competition-related issues with a specific focus on vertical restraints and cartels. She also has significant experience in advising clients on pivotal merger control aspects of M&A transactions, both at French and global levels. Charlotte has been involved in major antitrust cases before the French Competition Authority and Paris Court of Appeal (including in the petfood, optical retail, yoghurt, poultry and IT distribution) and before the European Commission (in the auto parts sector). She has in-depth knowledge of vertical restraints, with specific experience in advising clients from the setting-up of a distribution network to assisting them in the framework of antitrust investigations by antitrust authorities. She co-leads the firm’s Vertical Steering Committee, which is dedicated to vertical restraints questions within Linklaters’ Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group. On a standalone basis or in the context of antitrust investigations, Charlotte also regularly assists clients with their compliance programmes, including conducting compliance audits and making full use of eDiscovery and other legal tech tools to expedite processes. She has advised clients in the FMCG, optical retail, automotive, luxury and transport sectors. Before joining Linklaters in 2011, Charlotte intervened in emblematic resale price maintenance cases before the French Competition Authority and the Paris Court of Appeal in the perfumes and toy sectors as well as French cartel cases in the construction and road signalling sectors.
Paul Hastings LLP
Leading individuals
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.
Franck Audran is a Partner within Gide's Competition & International Trade practice group. He joined the firm in 2007, and began his career in Gide's Bucharest office before integrating the Paris office European and Economic Law team. Franck was also seconded to the firm's Budapest office, which he co-headed over the 2014-2015 period. He specialises in French and European law on competition (cartels, dominant position, merger control), and works with our clients on litigation proceedings, both before supervisory bodies (cartel and abuse of dominant position) and commercial courts (compensatory remedies, restrictive competition practices, etc.). Franck has also acted on complex merger operations, some of which required commitments and/or the initiation of an in-depth investigation phase before the French Competition Authority, the European Commission, the national competition authorities of both EU member states (Romania, Greece, Poland, etc.) and non-EU countries (China, Korea, Brazil, Serbia, Bosnia, Turkey, etc.). Franck has also acquired significant experience in providing assistance to our clients in the solving of issues pertaining to the management of their distribution and franchise networks, both in France and in an international context. Franck has gained particular expertise in the digital economy sector, working with major digital industry players in their development phase, and institutional clients in the adaptation of their activities to new online consumption methods (luxury goods industry, hotel industry, etc.). Lastly, when working in our Bucharest and Budapest offices, Franck advised clients on conducting their investments through the implementation of cooperation contracts, joint ventures or acquisition operations. Franck is a member of the Desk in charge of our firm's activities in Central and Eastern Europe.
Linklaters LLP
Thomas is a partner in Linklaters’ Antitrust and Foreign Investment Group. He has expertise in all aspects of competition law, including merger control (before the European Commission and the French Competition Authority as well as coordinating multi-jurisdictional clearances), behavioural practices (cartel and abuse of dominance cases) and private damages claims. Thomas is a longstanding advisor to clients in the automotive, healthcare, tech and retail sectors.
Latham & Watkins LLP
Adrien Giraud is a partner in Latham & Watkins’ Paris and Brussels offices and a member of the firm’s Global Antitrust & Competition Practice. He specializes in French and European competition law and has significant experience in merger control, behavioral antitrust matters (including damages claims), and State aid. Mr. Giraud has 18+ years of experience advising French and international clients in complex EU and French merger cases and in some of the most significant antitrust investigations of recent years. His experience also encompasses civil antitrust damages litigation, an area in which he has represented clients in proceedings before the French courts. Furthermore, Mr. Giraud advises companies and public authorities on state aid compliance and assists them with European Commission state aid investigations and related litigation before the European courts. Mr. Giraud is a member of the board of directors and general secretary of the Association des avocats pratiquant le droit de la concurrence. (APDC). He is also founder and president of l’Entente, a Brussels-based association of French-speaking antitrust professionals. A recognized thought leader, Mr. Giraud frequently contributes to publications on EU and French competition law.
Vogel & Vogel
Founding Partner specialized in Economic Law (French and European Competition, Distribution and Consumer Law). Joseph Vogel advises undertakings in the field of Economic law at both the European and French levels. Joseph Vogel handles actions based on article 101 or 102 of the Treaty, merger notifications to the Merger Task Force, competition cases before the Commission, the General Court of the European Union and the Court of Justice of the European Union and advises on all issues linked to the validity and performance of exclusive distribution agreements, franchise or agency contracts including where necessary subsequent litigation.
Linklaters LLP
Pierre advises on complex competition issues, including merger control, cartels, vertical restraints, abuses of dominant position, damage claims and State aid. Pierre’s experience spans many industry and business sectors, in particular the, energy, banking and food & beverage sectors. As a former top civil servant and administrative judge, Pierre has a good understanding of the way regulators (particularly the French Competition Authority) work and enjoys good relationships with them. Holding a PhD in Economics, Pierre also has in-depth understanding of competition economics. Pierre worked in the firm’s Brussels office and continues to have in-depth knowledge of the European Commission (EC) as well as longstanding relationships with key DG Comp members to assist clients in their representations in competition matters.
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Mayer Brown
Ashurst
Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner
A&O Shearman
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
Baker McKenzie LLP