Consumer Products
Cross-border mergers advised on by CMS France Consumer Products group –N issan France: merger of Nissan Belgium and Nissan Netherlands by their parent company – P icard Surgelés creation of joint ventures in Sweden and Belgium – F uji Film: merger of French and Dutch arms
– Media Saturn (Group Metro): disposal of 34 stores by Media Saturn in France to HTM/Boulanger – Alkor, Venilia: merger of the French subsidiary with its German parent company
30 seconds with: Nathalie Pétrignet Partner, CMS Paris Consumer Products
What has been your most memorable matter? An experience I had with the new EU settlement procedure in cartel cases which took effect in July 2008. I was fortunate enough to experience the first application of this procedure with the Commission team (the Head Director of Cartel and the case team). As it was the first time this procedure was implemented, it gave us the opportunity to build a relationship with a team who made great efforts to work constructively with us. What do you think the next big development in your practice/sector area will be? The French government has announced its intention to introduce collective redress into national law. The draft bill has not yet been publicly disclosed, but according to reliable sources, it would aim to permit a large number of individuals who have
suffered similar material losses to band together in an attempt to recover antitrust damages. Which person has had the most beneficial impact on your career? Francis Delbarre, who recruited me 24 years ago at CMS France. He is retired now yet was one of the best competition lawyers in the market. Through his personal example, he taught me how to give the best practical advice to the client, while remaining accessible, good-humoured and maintaining an agreeable work atmosphere. What are your interests outside the law? I like everything that has to do with the ‘art of living’: gastronomy, wine, music and gardening. If you weren’t a lawyer, what would you be? I would be a photographer or a journalist.
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