McDermott Will & Emery welcomes new partner Frédéric Pradelles. He joins our global antitrust practice and his arrival boosts our European competition team.

Frédéric is recognized for his strength in French and European competition law. He regularly counsels major French and international companies active in the banking/finance, services, transport, media, hospitality and information technology sectors on issues relating to abuse of dominance, cartels and distribution.

Frédéric also advises clients on merger control cases at the global, European and national levels, including in Phase II proceedings.

An outstanding litigator, Frédéric represents clients before the French Competition Authority, the DGCCRF, the European Commission and also before the French courts and the European courts in Luxembourg. Frédéric has extensive experience in summary proceedings in the field of competition law, and in interim measures and commitments proceedings before the French Competition Authority.

“In joining McDermott I am delighted to have become part of an exciting entrepreneurial project, both in terms of developing the firm’s competition law practice and participating in its growth. I am very happy to join this dynamic team, which combines a high level of technical expertise and quality of service in many areas of law, with a real capacity and willingness to work together“, says Frédéric Pradelles.

Frédéric joins a strong team of partners including Jacques Buhart, founding partner, Sabine Naugès and Laurent Ayache, both specialists in competition law applicable to the public sector, Nicolas Faguer, who focuses on complex litigation, and counsel Matthieu Adam. He will work closely with the Brussels office, led by managing partner Hendrik Viaene, who focuses on state aid, international cartels and litigation in Luxembourg.

“Frédéric Pradelles’ arrival represents a considerable coup for us in providing first class advice and service to our French and global clients. His in-depth knowledge of competition law and his experience in cases with an international dimension will enhance our full range of services. His appointment is in line with our strategy to provide connectivity across our practices and a global approach to the cases entrusted to us” said, Grégoire Andrieux, Managing Partner of the Paris Office.

About Frédéric Pradelles

Frédéric Pradelles, 48, began his career at Gide (1998-1999) and Freshfields (1999-2003) as an associate. He joined Latham & Watkins in 2003 and was promoted to partner in 2008.

Frédéric holds a Magistère-DJCE in business law and taxation from the University of Paris II Panthéon Assas and a DESS in European business law from the same university. He was admitted to the Paris Bar in 1999.

Frédéric is regularly listed in international rankings such as Chambers & Partners, Legal 500, or Best Lawyers. In 2019, he was listed in the “Top 10 Antitrust Lawyers in EMEA” by Mergerlinks.

About the Global Antitrust Team

McDermott’s global antitrust team is ranked among the best in the world. It has 18 partners and offices in Washington DC, New-York, Chicago, Brussels, Düsseldorf and Paris.

This is the fifth consecutive year that the firm has been listed in Global Competition Review’s “Global Elite” top competition law teams. The team’s global strength is recognized by leading industry and legal professional rating organizations, such as BTI Consulting Group, Chambers & Partners, and U.S. News – Best Lawyers, as well as by publications such as Benchmark Litigation, Legal 500, and The World’s Leading Competition and Antitrust Lawyers.

McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and more than 20 locations to deliver highly effective—and often unexpected—solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.

McDermott Will & Emery has advised Figeac Aéro, a leading partner of major aerospace companies, in connection with the signing of an agreement under which Ace Capital Partners, a subsidiary of Tikéhau Capital, has agreed to subscribe for and acquire approximately 26% of the company’s share capital and to invest a minimum of €10 million in bonds.

In the context of the current crisis in the aeronautics sector, this agreement should contribute to strengthening Figeac Aéro’s equity capital and diversifying its shareholder structure.

These transactions are subjected to (i) FIGEAC AERO reaching an agreement with its creditors on the rescheduling of its main bank financing and the restructuring of the repayment profile of its convertible bonds (ORNANE) made necessary by the consequences of the crisis in the aeronautics sector and (ii) the Autorité des marchés financiers granting a waiver from the obligation to file a mandatory public offer in view of the conclusion of the planned transactions with Ace on the capital of FIGEAC AERO.

The McDermott team that advised Figeac Aero was composed of Guillaume Kellner, partner, Nicolas Lafont, partner, Sacha Frantz, and Akiko Simar, associates on the corporate aspects.

McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices, industries and more than 20 locations to deliver highly effective—and often unexpected—solutions that propel success. More than 1,200 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.