Freshfields LLP has a strong reputation for handling international competition mandates, including multi-jurisdictional investigations, litigation and transactions. The team has significant strength in high-profile merger control cases before the FCA and European Commission – as well as related FDI and FSR filings – and also excels in antitrust investigations and litigation (including follow-on claims), and state aid matters. Jérôme Philippe, who has a wealth of experience in the field, and Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson lead the team, acting for a diverse client base that includes major players in the tech, pharma, defence and financial industries. Sara Gil Garcia is also noted.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Accolades
Client satisfaction: Lawyer & team quality
Client satisfaction: Billing & efficiency
Client satisfaction: Sector knowledge
Client satisfaction: NPS ®
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Hardworking, intelligent, well educated. A pleasure to work with throughout the project.'
- 'Charlotte Colin Dubuisson: highly technically skilled, available, pragmatic, business-oriented. All the qualities you need.'
- 'Very thorough advice. We always felt we were in the best hands. Full dedication and timely delivery of products. Superb knowledge and handling of the competition authority.'
- 'Beyond its technical expertise, it is the team's keen and rapid understanding of business issues and its ability to deliver high-quality work very efficiently that make it stand out.'
- 'Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson is an extremely efficient and pragmatic lawyer in high-stakes cases with complex legal issues. Beyond the ingenuity she demonstrates in unblocking sensitive situations, she has exceptional communication skills, which greatly facilitates working with her.'
- 'Sara Gil Garcia has extensive experience in merger law and a highly valued ability to resolve complex legal situations with great calm.'
Key clients
- ADIA
- ADNOC
- Ardagh
- AstraZeneca
- Bio-Rad Laboratories
- BNP Paribas
- Ericsson
- HSBC
- JD Sports
- JP Morgan
- La Poste
- Mediapro
Work highlights
Advised BNP Paribas on all merger control, foreign direct investment and Foreign Subsidies Regulation aspects of its €5.1bn acquisition of its direct competitor AXA Investment Managers, active in the asset management sector.
Advised Sanofi on the merger control, foreign direct investment and Foreign Subsidies Regulation aspects of Sanofi’s sale of a 50% controlling interest in its consumer healthcare business Opella by the investment firm CD&R, and a 1.8% non-controlling interest by Bpifrance.
Advising Sony in its defence against a claim lodged before the French Competition Authority for alleged abuse of dominance in relation to controllers for the PS4 console.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Jérôme Philippe; Charlotte Colin-Dubuisson
Other key lawyers
Petya Katsarska; Sofia Bekkali; Sara Gil Garcia; Laure de Chalendar; Anne Dos