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.

The Warsaw-based Gide Loyrette Nouel team operates as an integrated part of the firm's multi-jurisdictional network, and is consequently particularly well placed to handle competition law mandates with complex cross-border elements. As well as advising on the gamut of consumer protections issues, the group regularly assists with matters relating to commercial agreements, including distribution systems. Dariusz Tokarczuk heads up the practice, with Szymon Chwaliński also playing a key role.

Legal 500 EMEA 2023 - Poland - Competition / Antitrust

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.'s competition team advises on both transactional and compliance matters, including notifications to SAMR and PRC anti-monopoly law-related compliance issues. Counsel and China competition practice head Xi Chen is a merger notification and compliance specialist. Partner-level support is provided by David Boitout and Jiannian Fan in Shanghai, along with Beijing-based Min Guo.

Legal 500 Asia 2022 

Gide Loyrette Nouel advises clients on domestic and European legal issues regarding competition, consumer protection law, commercial agreements and distribution systems. The team also represents clients before competition protection authorities, bodies and courts, as well as cooperating with the firm’s M&A practice. The department is chaired by Dariusz Tokarczuk and includes Szymon Chwaliński, who is notable for competition, consumer law issues and distribution law.

Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - Poland

Gide Loyrette Nouel A.A.R.P.I.‘s active mainland China competition team assists with issues that are crucial to clients’ business and market positions in China, including notifications to the Chinese competition authority; compliance issues concerning the PRC Anti-Monopoly Law; reviewing corporate and commercial policies and contracts for non-compliance risks; and competition and antitrust law training for clients’ employees. Beijing-based counsel and merger notification and compliance expert Xi Chen leads the practice, which is able to leverage partner-level support from Shanghai’s David Boitout and Jiannian Fan, and Min Guo in Beijing.

Legal 500 EMEA 2022 - China