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.

Gide Loyrette Nouel is representing many blue-chip French corporations facing domestic antitrust proceedings. The ‘technical and available’ team is involved in a number of cartel and other anti-competitive practice cases. It represented BPCE before the Court of Appeal in the cheque image clearing system case. The practice also handles distribution, private enforcement and merger control work. The team is led by Joëlle Salzmann, Emmanuel Reille, Dimitri Dimitrov and Antoine Choffel, ‘a smart lawyer who has in-depth theoretical and practical knowledge’.

Gide’s team ‘thinks outside the box’ across the competition law spectrum. Laurent Godfroid recently acted for Thales as a third party in the merger notification concerning the acquisition of Arianespace by Safran and Airbus. Benoît Le Bret is representing WESTBahn as the complainant in a case involving alleged Article 101 and 102 (cartel and abuse of dominance) breaches by ÖBB, and also as the complainant in a state aid matter involving the same railway operator. Stéphane Hautbourg and Olivier Prost are other names to note.
Legal 500 EMEA 2017

Offers specialist knowledge of competition issues, such as merger control, cartels, abuse of dominant position, private enforcement and vertical restraints. Lawyers also have economic skills highly valuable in the assessment of competition law matters. Links with the firm's international network allow the team to take a strongly integrated approach to its work across a range of industry sectors. Interviewees emphasise the team's capacity to think outside the box, and comment: 'Gide's competition team stands out from the other firms with its potential for innovation and its capacity to be creative and to provide tailor-made solutions for each legal issue.' They add: 'It also should be underlined that all the team members are very responsive; even at very short notice, they always find a solution to bring you a smart and pragmatic answer.'
Chambers Europe 2017