European Union Law and Economic Law : Competition Law and Commercial Relations
Alinea, Avocats Associés has developed expertise in European Union law and in economic law.
Over time, our team has developed specific expertise in competition law, both in advisory work and in litigation: we assist our clients with questions regarding the legality of their practices, contracts and agreements within professional bodies, between competitors, or in their dealings with customers or suppliers. We also support them in the context of competition investigations and throughout all stages of the proceedings before the French Competition Authority (Autorité de la concurrence).
- Alinea, Avocats Associés regularly supports sectoral organisations seeking to rely on competition law exemptions by helping them to structure themselves as recognised producer organisations (POs) or recognised associations of producer organisations (APOs), or by carrying out notifications to the European Commission. By way of example, we have assisted, or are assisting, interbranch organisations (interprofessions) with the notification of their indicators, their marketing rules, or sustainability initiatives.
- As part of a preventive approach, Alinea’s team works alongside organisations to secure their operations. In this context, we conduct audits and implement compliance programmes which include a training component.
- Alinea, Avocats Associés advises collective organisations and economic operators in relation to State aid.
Alinea, Avocats Associés has appeared before the Court of Justice of the European Union in a case of major importance for clarifying the application of competition rules to producer organisations and associations of producer organisations.
- European Union law — particularly prevalent in the agricultural and agri-food sectors and in regulated professions — permeates the firm’s entire practice. Its application raises questions about its interaction with national law, leading to requests for preliminary rulings. The firm also practises institutional law through its lobbying activities.
- Being particularly involved in monitoring developments in national and European regulations on contractual relations, notably the EGalim laws, enables Alinea, Avocats Associés to support operators in drafting their contractual documentation (framework agreements or model contracts, general terms and conditions of sale), as well as in negotiations, and in the implementation of associated processes.
- The firm also assists its clients in combating unfair trading practices in the food supply chain.