Latham & Watkins
Latham & Watkins houses a comprehensive EU and competition law practice, with a particularly strong offering in the field of merger control, where the team has extensive experience in EU phase II clearances; its impressive recent caseload includes working alongside the Brussels office to advise Orange on a pending phase II merger review. The team’s expertise also extends to high-profile abuse of dominance and cartel investigations and related litigation, frequently representing clients in cases at the national and European levels. Jacques-Philippe Gunther, the vice-chair of the global antitrust and competition practice, is widely regarded as a market leader in merger control and contentious antitrust matters. Adrien Giraud, who divides his time between Paris and Brussels, and Mathilde Saltiel are also standout names in the team.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The Latham & Watkins team delivers remarkable work: in-depth knowledge of the sector and its challenges, very good strategic sense and solid legal knowledge. The team is also very pleasant, which greatly facilitates interactions.’
‘Jacques-Philippe Gunther is a daring lawyer, a fine strategist who seeks (and finds!) the idea that no one had thought of.'
'Mathilde Saltiel is very good technically and knows her files perfectly. Her interpersonal skills are also exceptional and she manages to communicate well with our operational teams.’
'Mathilde Saltiel stands out for her understanding of our group's activities and her responsiveness.'
Key clients
- Orange
- GRAIL
- EssilorLuxottica
- Canal+
- Worldline
- PAI Partners
- SAUR
- TDF
- Ingram Micro
- L’Oréal
- Refresco
- Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
- CMA CGM
- Michelin
- Thales
Work highlights
- Advising Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. on its demerger with Renault and the setting up of a new collaboration scheme with Renault Group, as well as obtaining global merger control and FDI clearances in connection to its change of control within joint ventures with Renault Group.
- Obtained a fine reduction of more than €40 million for Ingram Micro in its appeal to the Paris Court of Appeal against the decision of the French Competition Authority to impose a fine on Apple and its wholesalers Ingram Micro and Tech Data for agreeing on the allocation of clients of the two wholesalers.
- Assisting Orange in the pending Phase II merger review in relation to the €18.6 billion JV with MásMóvil.
Lawyers
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.
Leading individuals
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.
Next Generation Partners
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.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jacques-Philippe Gunther