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Michaël Cousin

Partner, Competition
France

Expertise

Michaël is a partner in the EU/Competition department in Paris. He represents clients in antitrust litigations, merger control, State Aid, counselling, and establishing effective antitrust compliance programs. He is also specialised in distribution law and restrictive trade practices.

Michaël has considerable experience in competition matters involving the energy, transport and consumer products sectors and has represented clients in other industries including retail, banking, industrial equipment and private equity. Michaël lectures competition law at the University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas).

He is a member of the board of the French competition Law Society.

AWARDS

Michaël is ranked for EU, Competition and Distribution (Firm to watch) in the 2023 Legal 500 EMEA guide

Experience

Acted for an expert in business revitalisation in relation to the merger filing of their acquisition of a retail network.
Acted for a private electricity and gas supplier in relation to the merger filing of their acquisition of an oil retail distribution businesses.
Assisted one of the defendants in the "Home Products/Personal Care Products" cartel case before the French Competition Authority.
Represented a company dedicated to the manufacture and marketing of cleaning and personal care products in relation to the merger filing of their cosmetic brand's acquisition.
Represented a manufacturer of consumer goods in relation to several follow-on competition damage claims.

Education

University of Paris II (Panthéon-Assas), DEA (postgraduate degree) in EU law - 1998
University of Lille II, Maîtrise in private law - 1997
Universities of Warwick (UK), Saarland (Germany) and Lille II (France), integrated certificate of legal studies (legal diploma in English law, German law and European business law) - 1997PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Member of the Paris Bar Association.
Member of the board of the French Competition Law Society (Association Francaise d'Etude de la Concurrence).

Publications

"Autorité de la concurrence : les vraies raisons du départ d'Isabelle de Silva" interview with Michaël Cousin in Challenges (15 November, 2021) - Read the article here >

" Le mur de Facebook se remplit de scandales " interview with Michaël Cousin in Challenges (14 October, 2021) - Read the article here >

Professional Memberships

Member of the Paris Bar Association.
Member of the board of the French Competition Law Society (Association Francaise d'Etude de la Concurrence).

Testimonials/Rankings

Michaël Cousin has been ranked as "Recommended" in Distribution in "Décideurs Leaders League" (edition 2021).
Michaël Cousin has been ranked as "Highly recommended" in Antitrust in "Décideurs Leaders League" (edition 2021).
Michaël Cousin has been ranked as "Highly recommended" in Merger control in "Décideurs Leaders League" (edition 2021).
Michael is a "business-oriented" lawyer who is responsive and 'very easy to work with - CHAMBERS EUROPE, COMPETITION/EUROPEAN LAW, 2018
Competition and Distribution teal ranked "FIRM TO WATCH" in the Legal 500 EMEA guide 2023
Michaël Cousin has been ranked by Best Lawyers (editions 2023, 2024) in the following category: "The Best Lawyers in France" for competition and antitrust law.