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Competition and antitrust

We support our clients (large industrial groups, SMEs, and public institutions) across various sectors (insurance, healthcare, agri-food, energy, chemicals, media, sports, transportation, leisure, defense, construction, or mass retail) in managing complex issues, ensuring compliance with national and European regulations.

 

Areas of intervention in competition and antitrust

Dawn raids (OVS)

We assist companies during dawn raids (OVS), also known as competition inspections or dawn raids, conducted by authorities such as the Competition Authority, the DGCCRF, or the European Commission. We ensure that our clients’ rights are protected during these competition investigations.

Anti-competitive practices

We advise on anti-competitive practices, including cartels and abuse of dominant positions. We help our clients identify and prevent these behaviors by implementing compliance programs to avoid sanctions.

State aid

We support our clients in analyzing and managing state aid, ensuring that subsidies and benefits granted by public authorities comply with the rules established by the European Commission. We help structure aid to meet legal requirements.

Follow-on damages actions

We represent companies in follow-on damages actions aimed at obtaining compensation for harm suffered due to anti-competitive practices sanctioned by competent authorities.

National and european merger control

We assist our clients in merger control procedures, preparing the necessary notifications to the Competition Authority and the European Commission. We ensure that merger and acquisition operations comply with regulatory requirements to avoid any risk of blockage.

Restrictive practices

We advise on restrictive practices as defined by the Commercial Practices Review Commission. We help companies prevent behaviors such as significant imbalances, ensuring compliance with commercial negotiation rules.

Examples of support in Competition and Antitrust

We represented an investment company before a competition authority for the merger notification related to the acquisition of joint control of companies in the renewable energy sector. The operation was carefully analyzed under competition regulations to ensure it did not harm market competition. This approach aims to ensure full compliance with competition standards and allow the joint venture to establish itself as a key player while preserving a healthy competitive environment.

We advised a multinational leader in the seafood marketing sector in drafting its general terms and conditions and negotiating its 2023 annual agreements with the distribution sector in France, taking into account the new provisions of the Egalim 3 laws and uncertainties related to competition. This support aims to ensure legal compliance and ensure that agreements respect competition rules while optimizing commercial relationships in an evolving regulatory environment.

We assisted a sportswear company in a dispute concerning unfair commercial practices by a competitor during a sales period (price reduction announcements/amounts of reductions offered). Our intervention focused on preparing requests to the Nanterre Commercial Court for the cessation and withdrawal of all unfair and misleading commercial practices committed by the competitor, subject to a fine for each infraction and each day of delay, and the publication of the forthcoming decision on the competitor’s website.

We assisted a press group in implementing the European directive on neighboring rights and the corresponding French law, and in its negotiations with large companies. One of them refused to apply this directive, leading to a decision by the Competition Authority requiring it to enter negotiations under specific conditions. The press group was involved in this procedure through a media alliance, and our firm supported it in developing a competitive strategy within this alliance.

We advised a commercial company in a dispute concerning the termination of a commercial relationship with one of its major suppliers. The supplier contested the termination and initiated two legal actions for restrictive competition practices.

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Awards

Awards Competition & Distribution
Décideurs
De Gaulle Fleurance recognized in the Décideurs – Leaders League 2024 ranking, category: Competition & Distribution
Best Lawyer-Caroline Ruiz Palmer.jpg
Awards Competition & Distribution
Best Lawyers
Caroline Ruiz Palmer recognized as Ones to Watch in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers France
Best Lawyer-Thibaut Brenot.jpg
Awards Competition & Distribution
Best Lawyers
Thibaut Brenot recognized as Ones to Watch in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers France
Awards Competition & Distribution
Legal 500
De Gaulle Fleurance ranked in the Legal 500 Paris – EU Law, Competition & Distribution

Our professionals

Aurélien
Chardeau
Partner
Caroline
Ruiz Palmer
Lawyer - Senior Manager
Louisa
Imatte
Lawyer
Thierry
Titone
Partner

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    News

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