De Pardieu has advised Sonepar, world leader in B-to-B distribution of electrical equipment, solutions and services, on the decision of the French Competition Authority having sanctioned several players active in the sector for the distribution of electrical equipment in France, including Sonepar, in connection with proceedings involving allegations of vertical price fixing between two manufacturers and two distributors.
Sonepar was fined 96 million euros for having allegedly allowed the manufacturer Schneider Electric to fix the resale prices of Sonepar to its clients. The Authority however dismissed the existence of any anti-competitive agreement between Sonepar and Legrand.
The Group has lodged an appeal before the Court of Appeal of Paris.