About

Provided by Bredin Prat

Based both in Paris and Brussels, the Competition team of Bredin Prat comprises 6 partners, 3 counsel and around 20 associates who work together as a single integrated team which has developed an outstanding practice in:

  • Antitrust litigation (both at European and national levels)

- Cartels and anticompetitive agreements,

- abuses of a dominant position, 

- private damages actions before French Courts.

Clients include a number of French and international blue-chip companies in various sectors such as telecommunications, energy, transport and postal services transport, media and entertainment, luxury, food and beverages, consumer electronics, etc.

  • Merger control​

- Merger control before the French Competition Authority on major transactions

- merger control before the European Commission on major transactions,

- management of multi-filings in numerous jurisdictions worldwide,

The team works closely with the firm’s M&A team on large transactions requiring pre-merger clearance and is one of the teams with the most extensive experience of large industrial and/or financial mergers.

  • State aid

The team regularly advises a number of state-owned or private companies before the European Commission and / or the European Courts on high-profile State aid matters, including public authorities and, in particular, the French State in a number of occasions.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers
Competition/European Law - France
1
Band 1
What the Team is Known For

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.

Work Highlights

Provided by Bredin Prat
  • Bredin Prat represented Euralis in a phase II merger investigation before the FCA in connection with the company's proposed joint venture with Maïsadour.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers
Igor Simic
1
Igor Simic
1
Band 1

Igor Simic has extensive expertise in handling investigations into alleged anti-competitive practices, often involving potential cartels. He also acts in merger control cases and on the competition law clearance of proposed joint ventures. He leverages his experience to assist large French multinationals in varied sectors such as consumer goods, aerospace and energy.

"Igor Simic is really a great lawyer. He is super dedicated, he pleads very well and he has an extensive network with the authorities. I would rate his expertise highly. In my view, in France he is clearly among the best."

"He tells you clearly what he thinks and the way the matter is going to evolve. He is very hard-working and available."

"Igor Simic's main qualities are his intimate knowledge of and interest in our activities, responsiveness, legal expertise, quality of communication with internal and external stakeholders and extreme rigour. He is a truly remarkable partner."

"Igor Simic provides analysis in record time that is rigorous, clear and pragmatic, helping us to make decisions."

Olivier Billard
1
Olivier Billard
1
Band 1

Olivier Billard is one of the foremost specialists in merger control filings in the market, frequently representing major national and multinational clients. He also acts on state aid notifications and antitrust proceedings, with particular experience in cartel investigations.

"I really like Olivier Billard - he is straight to the point, very clear in his advice and really gives you his opinion on what you should do. He is clearly one of the big names in Paris."

"I think he is a rainmaker with a very business-oriented and pragmatic approach."

"He brought in the right level of seniority, knowledge and experience. It was helpful to have him in the negotiations with the authorities."

Marie-Cécile Rameau
2
Marie-Cécile Rameau
2
Band 2

Marie-Cécile Rameau frequently handles appeals against FCA decisions for major domestic clients, with further activity in FCA investigations into cartels and other anti-competitive practices, as well as defending clients in private damages actions.

"I work with Marie-Cécile Rameau mostly and she has a very sharp mind. She knows the rules and procedural aspects perfectly."

"The topics were not easy to understand and I was surprised to see how quickly Marie-Cécile Rameau understood them and adjusted to every piece of information we gave to her. She absorbed the initial information and then adjusted."

"Her advice was very much on time and when we had questions, she would immediately reply. It was really a great help in a time when there were lots of nerves."

"She is a very hard-working lawyer who is extremely precise, very responsive and liked by the clients."

Yelena Trifounovitch
3
Yelena Trifounovitch
3
Band 3

Yelena Trifounovitch assists high-profile clients with antitrust investigations and merger control filings, including phase II proceedings. She also acts in appeals against FCA decisions.

"She is bright so she understands quickly. She is responsive, available and timely, and she explains things."

"Yelena Trifounovitch is hard-working and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law."

"She is nice and knows competition law very well. She delivers excellent advice."

"We have always been impressed by her skills."

Pierre Honoré
5
Pierre Honoré
5
Band 5

Pierre Honoré has a strong focus on advising clients on cartel and abuse of dominance investigations by the FCA and EC, as well as representing them in follow-on damages claims. His practice also encapsulates merger clearance mandates.

"He has strong expertise and client relationship skills."

"He is a nice lawyer and knows his practice well."

"Pierre Honoré is simply brilliant."

Ranked Lawyers at
Bredin Prat

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

France

Competition/European Law

Igor Simic
1
Igor Simic
1
Band 1
Olivier Billard
1
Olivier Billard
1
Band 1
Marie-Cécile Rameau
2
Marie-Cécile Rameau
2
Band 2
Yelena Trifounovitch
3
Yelena Trifounovitch
3
Band 3
Pierre Honoré
5
Pierre Honoré
5
Band 5

Members

Provided by Bredin Prat

Arthur Helfer

Pierre Honoré

Sophie Troussard-Fauré

Valérie Landes

Yohann Chevalier