Drawing on long-standing, solid and renowned experience of antitrust procedures (restrictive trade practices, cartels and abuse of dominant position), Gide assists companies in disputes and in implementing business practices and strategies that are in line with competition rules.
We assist our clients in identifying and controlling their exposure to risks. Building on their experience and expertise in antitrust law, our specialists help our clients in conducting audits to assess the vertical and horizontal agreements and practices at stake, and in drafting and/or reviewing them in the light of competition law. Our teams also advise market leaders on the specific constraints they may face with regard to the rules prohibiting abuses of dominant position and economic dependency.
In addition to its work in an advisory capacity, Gide’s lawyers draw on their recognised skill in competition litigation either to represent plaintiffs in direct referrals to the competition authorities, or to assist the defendants before the same authorities. We are on-hand throughout all stages of a dispute, from dawn raids through to actions before the competition authorities and European and national courts.
Our teams also demonstrate extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution methods, such as leniency, no-contest pleas, and settlements.
Gide regularly pools its skills by forming, as necessary, cross-disciplinary teams that include specialists from other practice groups (Intellectual Property, Real Estate, Public & Administrative Law, Banking and Finance, etc.). Thanks to its network of international offices and its partner firms, Gide can additionally rely on international teams that are used to working together on concerted practice or abuse of dominant position cases covering several countries.
Our teams work regularly with economists on issues such as the assessment of anti-competitive effects or relating to the calculation of fines.
Our firm has an impressive track record in recent years in handling a great number of major litigations before national and EU competition authorities and courts. Cases cover areas as diverse as transportation, banking, agro-foods, telecommunications, retailing, energy, consumer electronics, and luxury goods.
Gide has also anticipated the internationalisation of competition rules in the context of bilateral European agreements that progressively offer a new legal basis to companies as regards respecting competition law in a great number of export markets.