Competition/European Law | France

Bredin Prat is widely recognised as a market-leading practice covering all areas of competition law, including antitrust litigation and investigations, high-value merger control investigations and private damages claims. The law firm has a deep bench of practitioners boasting considerable expertise in high-value cartel cases, abuse of dominance complaints, appeals against fines and state aid notifications. The lawyers serve a prominent client base of leading French and international companies acting on both domestic and European cases in a range of industries, including TMT, transport, consumer goods and energy.

Latham & Watkins boasts a market-leading practice that is skilled in all types of competition matters. The law firm is particularly active in high-profile merger clearance matters, including Phase II investigations. The team also stands out for representing clients in antitrust investigations, including cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings, as well as appeals against fines. The lawyers are experienced in representing French and foreign clients, with particular expertise in the telecommunications, technology and retail sectors. Clients also benefit from the law firm's ability to collaborate with its other offices in the USA, the UK and Europe.

Linklaters has an excellent team with notable expertise in complex investigations into allegations of cartel involvement, vertical restraints and abuse of dominance, as well as representing clients in follow-on damages claims. The law firm stands out for its strong track record in multi-jurisdictional merger control matters. The lawyers represent a diverse clientele of major French companies and global giants, acting for clients in the banking, transport, energy, food and retail sectors.

BDGS Associés is a boutique law firm known for its strong track record in high-end merger control instructions, with further experience in state aid issues and antitrust litigation. The law firm offers advice on dawn raids and related cartel and anti-competitive behaviour investigations. Its varied client base includes retailers, TMT and transport sector companies.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton displays a strong recent caseload, particularly for high-profile clients in the TMT sector. The law firm handles all areas of competition law, assisting with merger control mandates, FCA investigations and follow-on damages claims. Clients also benefit from the team's close cooperation with the firm's market-leading Brussels office, including on state aid and Foreign Subsidies Regime mandates.

Clifford Chance is a global law firm with a team of notable competition experts who boast a solid track record in large-scale mandates. The law firm is experienced in advising clients from the IT, transport and retail sectors on the full gamut of competition law matters. The lawyers demonstrate skill in merger filings and behavioural investigations at French and European levels. The legal team also represents clients in foreign direct investment issues.

Darrois Villey Maillot Brochier has a strong practice with an impressive roster of clients comprising domestic companies and large multinationals. The law firm is active on large-scale merger control and Foreign Subsidy Regulation mandates, often advising on clearance at French and European levels. The team is also involved in contentious work, including cartel cases, as well as abuse of dominance investigations and related appeals and follow-on private damages actions. The firm is a popular choice with clients from the automotive, financial services and TMT sectors.

De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has a reputable team with solid expertise in dispute resolution regarding anti-competitive practices, including significant follow-on damages claims, as well as in investigations led by competition authorities into possible cartels or abuses of dominance. The lawyers also assist with merger control notifications. The law firm is active in a broad range of industry sectors, including TMT, transport and retail.

Dechert has broad competition experience covering antitrust investigations, merger control, leniency applications and follow-on damage claims. It additionally demonstrates strength in appealing FCA fines and decisions before the Court of Appeal. The law firm is recognised for its expertise in EU law and matters connected to the pharmaceutical sector. The lawyers additionally assist clients from the technology sector. The law firm is also active in regulatory, compliance and distribution matters.

Freshfields is active on significant merger control matters at national and European levels. The law firm boasts a fine competition litigation practice, including representing clients in abuse of dominance investigations and follow-on damages actions before the French courts. The team displays particular expertise acting for clients in the automotive, retail, energy and technology spaces. Additionally the team assists with state aid matters.

Vogel & Vogel is a dedicated practice with a strong reputation for its combined expertise in competition and distribution law. The law firm has impressive litigation capabilities and know-how in abuse of dominance and cartel cases. The lawyers also advise on merger control proceedings before the EC. The team represents leading companies in the food, TMT and retail industries. Additionally it assists with state aid mandates.

Gide Loyrette Nouel has solid experience in contentious matters, often advising clients on cartel and abuse of dominance investigations before the FCA and on litigation before national courts and European institutions, including private enforcement actions. The law firm also covers merger control mandates and distribution issues. The team's solid client base includes household names spanning a range of industry sectors such as energy, technology and agriculture.

Jones Day's clients benefit from coordination between the firm's offices worldwide, with the firm boasting strong experience in cross-border mandates, with special links to its Belgian office. The law firm has a notable track record in antitrust proceedings and investigations at national and EU levels. The team is particularly experienced in state aid issues and also handles merger control matters. Jones Day's key clients include state-owned companies and multinational corporations.

White & Case has a notable team with a broad offering, including assisting with antitrust litigation and cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, as well as dawn raids. The law firm is particularly active in merger control and Foreign Subsidy Regulation mandates. The lawyers work closely with the firm's international network on mandates with cross-border elements. White & Case's client base features several big names from the consumer goods, food and TMT arenas.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has a significant track record in merger control notifications. The law firm is also experienced in assisting public clients with state aid matters. The lawyers work closely with the Brussels office and have extensive experience in regulated sectors such as telecommunications, as well as the private equity field.

Ashurst advises clients from both the private and public sectors on all aspects of French and European competition law. The law firm covers merger filings and Foreign Subsidy Regulation mandates for both domestic and international transactions and boasts expertise in state aid issues and abuse of dominance matters. The team acts for a diverse client base, with particular strength in regulated sectors such as energy and transport. The team often collaborates with the firm's office in Brussels.

Herbert Smith Freehills covers contentious, transactional and advisory mandates. The law firm collaborates with the firm's energy, corporate and tax departments to advise on merger control mandates. In addition, it handles antitrust matters before the FCA. The team attracts a variety of both French and international clients operating in diverse industries, including automotive and luxury goods.

Hogan Lovells is particularly active in assisting domestic and international clients with merger control filings and related proceedings at the national and EU level. The law firm regularly acts on contentious matters involving antitrust investigations, providing support in unfair competition mandates. It represents clients from the transport, energy and TMT sectors.

Mayer Brown is noted for handling a range of competition and EU matters, including cartel investigations. The law firm regularly advises clients on merger control filings, as well as distribution mandates. The team additionally assists with challenges to FCA or EC decisions and state aid cases. Mayer Brown's clientele includes companies operating in the retail and infrastructure spaces.

Peltier Juvigny Marpeau & Associés has extensive expertise in merger control at national and European levels, including assisting with complex and high-value transactions. The law firm possesses additional skill in contentious matters, advising on investigations into anti-competitive practices and follow-on damages actions. The team is particularly active in the retail, infrastructure and transportation sectors.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner boasts an enviable list of clients from the TMT and manufacturing sectors. The team regularly represents corporates before the FCA in merger clearance mandates and antitrust investigations. The law firm additionally leverages its expertise to assist clients with state aid issues.

Fréget Glaser is a boutique firm and a favourite among clients from the TMT and luxury goods sectors who turn to the firm for its longstanding expertise in contentious competition mandates. The law firm frequently advises on follow-on actions and investigations into anti-competitive practices. The lawyers also leverage their experience to overturn FCA decisions and fines.

Racine's practice covers both contentious and non-contentious competition mandates for large French and multinational corporates. It offers expertise in merger clearance mandates, abuse of dominance investigations and dawn proceedings. The team is also praised for its ability to handle state aid mandates.

Tactics houses an experienced team of lawyers who are comfortable advising clients on private enforcement actions and cross-border merger clearance mandates. The team regularly handles FCA investigations into anti-competitive issues, including in relation to distribution practices and price fixing.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges handles a high volume of merger control mandates, advising on clearances at national and EU levels. The law firm is also active in contentious proceedings relating to abuses of dominance and other anti-competitive practices, with additional capability in handling private enforcement mandates. The lawyers' varied clientele includes French and international companies, notably in the private equity field.

Wilhelm & Associés has a solid team skilled in handling competition mandates related to the TMT and consumer goods sectors. It regularly represents purchasers and interested parties in merger control cases before the FCA and EC. The team is equally proficient in advising clients on antitrust investigations relating to anti-competitive practices, as well as assisting with distribution mandates.