The Legal 500

Named by many as the leading competition practice in France, Bredin Prat achieved impressive results handling landmark antitrust cases. The team is led by Robert Saint-Esteben and includes Hugues Calvet, Olivier Billard and Marie-Cécile Rameau, while Marc Pittie manages the Brussels practice. The group acted in several disputes in the telecoms and cable sectors, notably for France Telecom and Orange, which it successfully represented in a case regarding its exclusive TV football rights. The firm also obtained an 85% reduction of the highest fine ever awarded in a cartel case for ArcelorMittal.

Linklaters LLP has a strong 17-lawyer team led by Olivier d’Ormesson, and including Anne Wachsmann and the ‘technically very competent’ Pierre Zelenko, who makes his clients ‘feel very secure’. The practice stands out for its merger control and antitrust capabilities. It is handling one of the most high-profile cartel cases in Europe (which it also coordinates on five continents) through its assistance to Air France in the air freight sector cartel, and advised Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC) on the joint venture between Transdev and Veolia Transport.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP’s practice is led by competition master Antoine Winckler and François Brunet. The ‘very reactive and reliable’ seven-lawyer team advises on the market’s largest merger-control cases at French and European levels, recently advising Veolia Environnement on the merger of Veolia Transport with Transdev. The firm also handles a high amount of strategic antitrust work, recently obtaining the annulment of the fine imposed on Estée Lauder in the perfume and cosmetics sector.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier’s seven-lawyer team, led by Didier Théophile and Igor Simic, handles some of the market’s largest merger-control cases, recently assisting Qatari Diar on the sale of Cegelec to Vinci. The firm is also a great choice for cartel and litigation issues, the team being recently involved in strategic cases in the online-gaming, construction and banking sectors. It defended Caisse Nationale des Caisses d’Epargne in a high-profile dispute on interchange banking commissions.

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I. offers a ‘high-level network in both Brussels and Paris’ combined to a ‘high level of knowledge in European competition issues’. The ‘pragmatic and technical’ team, which includes the highly-regarded Antoine Choffel, Joëlle Salzmann and Yann Utzschneider, handles high-profile merger and antitrust cases at national and EU levels. It represented SNCF on its take-over offer for Keolis and Effia, won a major decision for Yves Saint Laurent and Beauté Prestige International in the perfume case, and is acting for SNCF in an alleged cartel case with Expedia.

JeantetAssociés AARPI has a solid ten-lawyer practice led by Loraine Donnedieu de Vabres-Tranié, and including Thomas Picot, Florent Prunet and Noëlle Lenoir. The team has a strong antitrust practice, handling high-profile cases such as representing several LVMH companies in a perfume case, and Decours and Cabaud in a steel cartel case for which it obtained a 95% reduction of the fine before the Court of Appeal. The firm was also involved in a major EU merger-control case through advising Veolia Environnement on its merger with Transdev.

France’s largest distribution and competition boutique, Vogel & Vogel has strong litigation expertise while also handling merger-control work. The 29-lawyer firm is led by Joseph Vogel and the president of the University of Paris II Louis Vogel. As long-term advisor to Bouygues, the boutique is involved in strategic work in the telecoms and audiovisual sectors, recently winning a case against Orange leading to the suspension of Orange’s exclusive rights to the iPhone in France. The firm also successfully represented Bouygues Telecom Caraïbes and Digicel against Orange Caraïbe and France Telecom before the Competition Authority.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP’s practice is led by the ‘flamboyant’ Jacques-Philippe Gunther, who is ‘never scared to try new things’. David Tayar is the other key element in a team that counts many blue-chip names such as GDF Suez and Thales as clients. The firm handles large merger-control cases and is involved in major cartel cases at EU and French levels. It won a major victory for the French Football League regarding Orange’s exclusive broadcasting rights.

Allen & Overy LLP’s ‘personalised’ and ‘business-oriented’ practice is led by ‘one of the very best lawyers in the field’, Olivier Fréget, a ‘fighter’ who has ‘excellent connections with the regulators’. The team also includes the ‘very commercially minded’ Florence Ninane, and was further enhanced on the cartel and EU litigation sides through the arrival of the ‘bright’ and ‘constructive’ Michel Struys, who was previously splitting his time between the London and Brussels offices. The firm attracts high-profile litigation work in the telecoms, energy, health and media sectors, winning a fine reduction for IMI in the copper-tube case.

Ashurst LLP expanded its practice by hiring Thierry Dahan, who was previously general ‘rapporteur’ to the French Competition Council. Led by Christophe Lemaire, a ‘straight to the point’ and ‘forward thinking’ partner, the team represents several French leading companies on major antitrust matters, acting for Total, Bolloré and Colgate Palmolive in cartel cases. The firm also advises on state aid issues, representing P&O before the French Supreme Administrative Court.

Clifford Chance’s practice is led by the ‘brilliant’ Patrick Hubert, who has ‘good contacts within the administration’. The seven-lawyer team also includes of counsel Michel Petite, counsel Emmanuel Durand and Christian Dargham. The practice handles merger-control work and is involved in several major antitrust cases at national and European levels, representing key client Carrefour in an alleged cartel case in the toy sector. The firm also acted for Shell in the jet-fuel case in La Réunion and for Saint Gobain on challenging the EU Commission’s largest fine ever handed to a cartel.

Laure Givry and the ‘clever, punchy and pleasant’ Philippe Guibert lead De Pardieu Brocas Maffei’s seven-lawyer team. The firm has a busy litigation practice, acting for Société Générale in a major case, and Solaire Direct regarding EDF’s alleged abuse of dominant position in the photovoltaic market. It was also hired to advise on French and European merger-control aspects, assisting Altarea Cogedim on its acquisition of commercial assets from Galeries Lafayette.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s growing 14-lawyer practice is led by the ‘really good’ Jérôme Philippe and Maria Trabucchi. The team has strong litigation and state-aid expertise, while also handling a fair amount of merger work. It is representing Laboratoires Pierre Fabre before the European Court of Justice in a landmark case regarding the sales of product on the internet through selective distribution networks. It also acts for Wendel in proceedings brought by Editions Odile Jacob against the EU Commission’s decision authorizing the acquisitions of Vivendi Universal Publishing by Lagardère and Editis by Wendel.

Co-headed by Jacques Buhart and Sergio Sorinas, Herbert Smith LLP was called upon to advise on merger-control and antitrust work. The eight-lawyer team, including consultant Dominique Brault, also gained further new major clients in Casino and Fast Retailing. It represented Lagardère in the pay-TV case, HSBC in a major case dealing with interbank fees on cheques and Mitsubishi Motor on its alliance project with Peugeot.

Howrey LLP has strong competition expertise in Claude Lazarus, ‘a reference and a leading French competition lawyer’ and the ‘bright and precise’ Audrey Amsellem who is ‘good on litigation’. The six-lawyer team advises large clients such as L’Oréal, Pitney Bowes and SFR. It is involved in key antitrust investigations and represented EDF regarding EU Commission investigations on its long-term contracts with industrial customers. The firm also assisted Macif, Maif and Matmut on the creation of a joint-venture in the insurance sector.

Jones Day’s five-lawyer practice is led by Eric Morgan de Rivery, a ‘great lawyer on both the technical and human aspects’ – of counsel Olivier Cavézian left the firm in 2010. The firm represents high-profile companies (Total) on cartel, merger-control and state aid matters.

Latham & Watkins’ practice numbers four partners including Alain Georges, Hugues Vallette Viallard, Frédéric Pradelles and Eric Barbier de La Serre – Christophe Clarenc joined August & Debouzy in 2011. The group has a strong antitrust practice, acting for Groupement des Cartes Bancaires in the payment card cartel investigations. On the merger side, the team assisted Presstalis on stage II proceedings under the new regime.

Viguié Schmidt Peltier Juvigny’s Olivier de Juvigny and Iñaki Saint-Esteben are highly regarded for their antitrust expertise. The team represents large companies (BNP Paribas, Coca-Cola) and is increasingly involved in European and merger cases. It assisted M6 on the merger project between TF1 and TMC.

Jean-Paul Tran Thiet manages White & Case LLP’s practice while of counsel Jean-Patrice de La Laurencie is a renowned expert for merger control work. The seven-lawyer team advised on major antitrust cases, representing L’Oréal in a perfume case. It also assisted BC Partners on the acquisition of Spotless and the French banking Association in relation to state-aids granted in the context of the banking crisis.

CMS Bureau Francis Lefebvre’s Bernard Geneste, Olivier Benoit, Nathalie Pétrignet and Denis Redon handle significant antitrust and cartel cases, with strong expertise in regulated sectors. The team obtained a major fine reduction for KDI in the high-profile steel cartel case. The 13-lawyer practice also handled merger-control work. Sony Computer and Johnson & Johnson are clients.

Coutrelis & Associés is a good choice for EU law matters, the firm combining expertise and experience before the European courts. The team, led by Nicole Coutrelis and André Coutrelis, has an office in Brussels and is also a specialist of the food sector.

Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP now has a seven-lawyer practice by combining Michel Debroux’s leading expertise on state-aids with Pierre de Montalembert and counsel Ombline Ancelin’s experience on cartels and EU freedom law. The firm is involved in major cases, representing Esso in the jet-fuel case in La Réunion and PMU on a freedom of services litigation before the Court of Appeal. It also advises on merger-control work, assisting Astorg Partners on the sale of Geoservices to Schlumberger.

At MG Avocats Grall & Associés, some ten lawyers handle key litigation matters for large companies. The firm was involved in perfume and toy cases, and recently assisted its clients on the setting up of compliance programmes and in the context of antitrust investigations. Jean-Christophe Grall, Nathalia Kouchnir-Cargill and Thomas Lamy are recommended.

Norton Rose LLP’s Mélanie Thill-Tayara continued to actively develop the firm’s practice, gaining new clients and handling high-profile work. Of counsel Marta Giner Asins also receives client praise. The practice advises prominent clients in the pharmaceutical, luxury and press distribution fields. It represented long-term client Les Messageries Lyonnaises de Presse as third party in the contemplated acquisition of Soprocom by Presstalis, and acted for Schering-Plough regarding the legality of a dawn raid.

Orrick Rambaud Martel’s practice is led by the ‘very good’ Philippe Rincazaux, who stands out for his ‘excellent écritures’. The seven-lawyer team handles major antitrust and merger-control cases. It represented Areva T&D on the sale of its transmission and distribution business to Alstom, and Schneider and Total in the jet-fuel cartel in La Reunion.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s counsel Jean-Mathieu Cot has a good reputation for merger-control and antitrust cases. The three-lawyer team assisted Société Générale on its joint venture with Crédit Agricole regarding the creation of Amundi, and was involved in several cartels cases at French and EU levels, including in the electricity, power transformer and princeps-drug markets.

Wilhelm & Associés is ‘more reactive, incisive and risk-taking’ than its competitors, its ‘responsiveness, business understanding and heavy workload management making the firm exceptional’. The six-lawyer team owes its reputation to Pascal Wilhelm who is ‘not afraid’ and is ‘really eager to fight institutions when needed’. The practice mainly takes on antitrust work, including for emblematic client Canal +.

Led by managing partner Régis Fabre and Alex Dowding, Baker & McKenzie SCP’s 12-lawyer group has strong capability in distribution law. The team also handles competition work, assisting Veolia Eau on the notification of its joint acquisition of Azalia in the Middle East and Africa.

Bersay & Associés’ Emmanuel Schulte handles competition and distribution work. In 2010, the five-lawyer team advised on distribution matters (Pernod Ricard Europe, Shoei), defending its clients during dawn raids and pleading cases before the Competition Authority for companies such as Cegelec.

Michel Roseau manages Bird & Bird AARPI’s four-lawyer practice – Romain Ferla joined Weil, Gotshal & Manges. The team has a busy antitrust practice, notably in the telecoms and energy sectors, while also handling merger-control work. The client base includes some major French companies.

DLA Piper’s three-lawyer practice, led by Marie Hindré-Guéguen, handles high-profile litigation cases in the construction and public procurement sectors. The team also assists its clients in the context of investigations by national authorities, and deals with distribution matters.

At DS Avocats, a pool of some ten lawyers handle competition and distribution matters under the leadership of Jean-Louis Lesquins and ‘rising star’ Xavier Lacaze. The firm deals with antitrust, merger-control and distribution work and also has expertise in custom law. The practice advises clients such as Antargaz, La Française des Jeux, Orange, France Telecom and Safran Sagem.

Deprez Dian Guignot is well versed in economic and distribution law, the firm advising large companies through Pierre Deprez. Jean-Christophe André is a specialist in product law, representing food and cosmetics groups, while Olivier Guidoux handles competition, consumption and product law work.

Fourgoux & Associés is a strong firm for distribution and litigation work, through Jean-Louis Fourgoux. The firm represented Autodistribution in a case against Citroën.

Fuchs Cohana Reboul & Béroard is a growing player through Frédéric Fuchs. The three-lawyer team represented Sogec in the e-coupon case.

Magenta’s antitrust practice continued to grow, the firm gaining several new instructions on cartel cases. The firm, led by Sylvain Justier and Vincent Jaunet, is a regular advisor to Afone and represented MLDC in a case versus HighCo and Sogec. The seven-lawyer team also strengthened its merger-control capabilities through hiring counsel Edouard Sarrazin, a former senior associate at Linklaters LLP.

Mayer Brown set up its competition department in 2010, pushed by the need to add support to its leading private equity practice. The firm hired a team, led by Nathalie Jalabert-Doury, from Carreras, Barsikian, Robertson & Associés, and also recruited senior associate Frédérick Amiel, who was previously permanent ‘rapporteur’ to the Competition Authority. The four-lawyer group has ‘in-depth knowledge of competition proceedings and investigation procedures’, ‘really good contacts with the French Competition Authority’ and strong antitrust and cartel experience. It represented Nocibé in a perfume case.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker (Europe) LLP’s Pierre Kirch leads the three-lawyer Paris practice. The group advises on large cross-border cases and has experience dealing with the EU Commission. It acted for UTI in a worldwide freight cartel case, and Disney-Marvel Entertainment on the merger aspects of its sale to Walt Disney.