Professional notice
Vogel & Vogel is a firm in a class of its own. Founded in 1990 by brothers Louis and Joseph Vogel, both Who's Who nominees, the boutique firm has the largest competition team in Paris.
The Firm specialises solely in competition, focusing mainly on litigation and behavioural matters, though it also does some merger work. The Vogel brothers are known to have refused clients that do not fall into their specialist sectors because they want to maintain a strong brand. "We are exceptional in this sense," says Louis Vogel. The Vogels also never make lateral hires. Everyone works their way up from trainee level, which the brothers believe builds a robust, motivated team.
Clients include Mattel and Playmobil, for which the firm acted in France's toy cartel case, and the country's largest regional newspaper, Ouest France. It also acted for French ferry company Société Nationale Maritime Corse Méditerranée in respect of two complaints before France's Competition Council. Though the firm focuses on French cases, the brothers say they are currently looking to build a specialised competition network with other European domestic firms.
Vogel & Vogel
| Global heads: Louis Vogel and Joseph Vogel |
| Home jurisdiction: France |
| Total size of firm: 33 |
| Number of competition lawyers: 33 |
| Percentage of firm specialised: 100 |
| Who's Who nominees: 2 |
| Equity Partners: 2 |
| Senior associates: 14 |
| Associates: 9 |
| Counsel: 8 |
| Number of lateral partner hires: 0 |
| Number of partner departures: 0 |
| Number of internal promotions: 0 |
The firm handled a large array of competition matters this year.
Vogel & Vogel represented Bouygues Telecom in one of the first cases brought before the French civil courts by a consumer group following a conviction by the Competition Council (3,500 consumers were claiming damages). We were able to convince the Commercial Court to dismiss an attempt of introducing a class action by way of case law (class actions are not possible under current French procedure). It also represented the Bouygues Group before the Competition Council regarding an important claim for damages for alleged practices in the public works sector in the Ile-de-France region.
We also obtained a success for Bouygues Telecom against Apple and Orange / France Telecom. The Competition Council granted interim measures to our client, Bouygues Telecom, and suspended by decision of 17 December 2008 the exclusivity given by Apple to France Telecom / Orange for the iPhone on the French market.
The firm defended Eurosport against Neuf Cegetel before civil courts and subsequently the CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l’Audiovisuel) in a case involving broadcasting rights.
Mattel France and Playmobil France instructed the firm in proceedings brought by the French competition council concerning an alleged price-fixing cartel in the toy’s industry. The firm intervened from the investigation stage to the proceedings. The Competition Council dropped its objections against our clients.
VOGEL & VOGEL also advised the SNCM in a case regarding the awarding of delegation of the public service of the maritime link to Corsica from the port of Marseille. The firm intervened to defend the interests of SNCM during two interim procedures and the main case on the merits for alleged anticompetitive practices during the call tender process (restrictive agreements and abuses of dominance).
The firm handled the notification of the transfer of shares of several companies which constitute the Républicain Lorrain Group. This operation led to the acquisition of sole control of the Républicain Lorrain Group by the Banque Fédérative du Crédit Mutuel. Vogel & Vogel obtained a rapid decision in phase 1 authorizing the acquisition.
Vogel & Vogel also represented Pomona (one of the major players in the fruit and vegetable wholesale market in France) in proceedings for the authorisation of its concentration transactions (transfers/buyouts) by the Minister for the Economy.