EU Lawyers

European law has now become an integral part of business life. It takes precedence over national law and can be enforced in European Union jurisdictions in exactly the same way as national law. Europe can therefore provide a powerful leverage for businesses, as national laws can be rendered unenforceable if they conflict with the relevant European law.

Our Practice Areas

We advise our clients on all matters of European law :

  • Free circulation of goods: restrictions, fiscal and non-fiscal discriminatory practices, technical standards
  • Free movement of people: employees, self-employed professionals and companies
  • Cross-border provision of services: financial services, telecoms and TV & radio Free circulation of capital, particularly as regards direct taxation
  • Enforcing "derived" European Union law (EU regulations and directives, European Commission rulings)
  • Compliance with rights guaranteed by the European Convention on Human Rights
  • Lobbying and voicing the views of business leaders to European institutions and jurisdictions 
  • Pre-litigation and litigation assistance in national jurisdictions (enforcement of European Union law, issues prejudicial to the European Union jurisdiction) and the European institutions (European Commission, European Court of First Instance, European Court of Justice, European Court of Human Rights)  
Our Approach
  • Global understanding of the client's needs, with the aim of providing customised, original and innovative solutions. 
  • Ability to handle complex matters through our team of multi-lingual lawyers specialising in European law and concepts. Several of our specialists have acquired experience within the European institutions themselves (European Commission, European Court of Justice in Luxembourg, European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg).
  • Meeting the client's expectations and anticipating those by listening to the client's needs. 
  • Drawing in other legal and tax experts in the firm, to provide a truly multi-disciplinary approach. 
  • Methodological rigour : evaluating needs, strategy, focus on anticipating potential problems before the litigation stage.  
Our Clients

Major international groups as well as SMEs and professional associations in a broad range of sectors including telecoms, energy, transport, financial services and pharmaceuticals.

 
Nathalie Pétrignet
Nathalie Petrignet
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Nathalie joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1989 and became a partner in 2009. She is actively involved in national and European competition law, restrictive practices, commercial negotiations and distribution...
Denis Redon
Denis Redon
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Denis joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 1990 and became a partner in 2004. His practice encompasses all areas of EU and French competition law. He frequently oversees merger notification procedures and advises...
Claire Vannini
Claire Vannini
Partner
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Claire joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 2002. She focuses on competition law, European law and the regulation of network industries (postal services, transport, energy, electronic communications). In competition...
Vincent Lorieul
Vincent Lorieul
Counsel
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Vincent Lorieul is a lawyer in the Competition and European Law Department. He is mainly involved in competition law (antitrust, merger control, unfair competition, restrictive practices), distribution...
Myriam El Andaloussi
Myriam El Andaloussi
Associate
France, Neuilly-sur-Seine
Myriam El Andaloussi joined CMS Francis Lefebvre in 2022. She is involved in technology, media and communications law, and notably on privacy and data protection, consumer law and digital rights. She...