Competition/European Law | Europe

Bredin Prat is widely recognised as a market-leading practice covering all areas of competition law, including antitrust litigation and investigations, phase II 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 practice that is skilled in all types of competition matters. The law firm is particularly active on high-profile merger clearance matters. The team also stands out for representing clients in antitrust investigations, including cartel, abuse of dominance and dawn raid proceedings. The lawyers are experienced in representing French and foreign clients, with particular expertise in the telecommunications, technology, healthcare and retail sectors. Clients also benefit from the 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 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, automotive and healthcare sectors.

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

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton displays a strong recent caseload, particularly for high-profile clients in the TMT sector. The 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 mandates.

Clifford Chance is a global 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 pharmaceutical, 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 team also represents clients in state aid and 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 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 retail, 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.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer 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, finance, energy and technology spaces.

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 automotive, food, TMT and retail industries.

The firm is particularly knowledgeable in anti-competitive and abuse of dominance matters, frequently assisting international clients with investigations and litigation before French and European authorities and courts. The law firm has solid expertise in merger control, offering further advice on general compliance. The lawyers often act on cross-border mandates in cooperation with the firm's global network. The team is active in various industry sectors, notably technology and automotive. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Baker McKenzie has experience in investigations before the FCA concerning allegations of abuse of dominance and cartel involvement, as well as other alleged anti-competitive agreements. It assists clients with initial dawn raids and subsequent follow-on damages proceedings. The law firm is also active on merger control matters. The law firm acts for a number of clients in the food, pharmaceutical and manufacturing sectors, who benefit from the firm's significant global reach.

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 assist clients from the retail, technology and transport sectors. The law firm is also active on regulatory, compliance and distribution matters.

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, cosmetics and agriculture.

Jones Day benefits from coordination between the firm's offices worldwide, boasting strong experience in cross-border mandates, with special links to the firm's 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 financial institutions, state-owned companies and multinational corporations.

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 TMT sectors.

White & Case has a notable team with a broad offering, including assisting with antitrust litigation and investigations, as well as dawn raids and cartel and abuse of dominance issues. The law firm is particularly active in merger control 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, TMT and automotive arenas.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has a significant track record across a range of competition matters, including phase II merger control investigations. 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 transport and finance, as well as the private equity field.

Ayache acts for international companies and smaller domestic businesses on a broad spectrum of French and European competition law matters. The law firm demonstrates particular strength in merger notifications, including acting for third-party interveners. It also offers further experience in cartel cases and distribution compliance matters. The lawyers assist clients from the media, automotive and medtech sectors.

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 telecoms and banking.

Hogan Lovells is particularly active in assisting domestic and international clients with merger control filings and related proceedings at the 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, private equity, energy and TMT sectors.

Magenta Société d'Avocats is a boutique firm with a focus on contentious competition mandates, advising clients on both public and private enforcement cases. The firm frequently represents clients before the FCA and the commercial courts. The lawyers have experience handling merger control, anti-competitive behaviour and cartel matters, and distribution law issues. The law firm is recognised for a particular know-how in the telecommunications sector, with further experience in the consumer goods industry.

Orrick Rambaud Martel provides advice on merger control, state aid, follow-on damages claims and compliance matters, with further experience assisting with investigations and cartel mandates. The law firm acts for clients from a variety of sectors, including the manufacturing, TMT and aerospace industries.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner debuts in the rankings this year with 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 contentious mandates relating to cartels and damages actions.

FREGET GLASER & ASSOCIES joins the rankings this year on the back of positive market feedback. The team is a favourite among clients from the TMT sector who turn to the firm for its longstanding expertise in both transactional and contentious competition mandates. The law firm advises on merger clearance mandates, follow-on actions and investigations into anti-competitive practices. The lawyers also leverage their experience to overturn FCA decisions and fines.

Racine storms into the rankings on the back of glowing market support. The law firm's practice covers both contentious and non-contentious competition mandates for large French corporates. It offers expertise in merger clearance mandates, antitrust investigations and litigation proceedings. The lawyers also provide a growing practice in state aid, advising on notifications and IPCEIs before the EC.

Tactics is a recently established firm that houses an experienced team of lawyers who are comfortable advising clients on damages actions and cross-border merger clearance mandates. The team regularly handles FCA investigations into anti-competitive issues, including in relation to distribution practices and cartels.

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 state aid mandates. The lawyers' varied clientele includes French and international companies, notably in the private equity field.

Wilhelm & Associés earns a position in the rankings this year with 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 and abuses of dominance, as well as on follow-on damages litigation.