The Autorité de la concurrence launches a call for applications to co-organise a series of seminars in France and abroad on hot topics in merger control
The Mergers Unit of the Autorité de la concurrence is seeking to organise a series of seminars with students and law or economics firms on hot topics in merger control.
The free, public seminars – entitled “Three-party Chats on Mergers” – will be held across France and abroad.
The co-organisation of seminars
With the aim of creating a forum for learning, information-sharing and exchange between students of business law (and, in particular, competition law), companies and their representatives, and practitioners of competition law and economics, the Autorité de la concurrence is seeking to organise a series of seminars entitled “Three-party Chats on Mergers”.
The Autorité de la concurrence is therefore inviting academic and teaching staff from higher education establishments whose students take competition law courses to get involved in the organisation of a seminar, with the opportunity to prepare an opening presentation.
A law or economics firm or a professional body will also be involved in each seminar, in order to contribute the perspective of merger law practitioners. The firm or body will also host the seminar at their premises and record the event, so that a video replay can be made widely accessible.
The Mergers Unit of the Autorité de la concurrence will present its position in the light of recent decision-making practice, any projects the Autorité is planning to launch or the results of its public consultations.
Hot topics
The “Three-party Chats on Mergers” will explore hot topics in merger control, such as the possible introduction of merger reviews for transactions falling below the current turnover-based notification thresholds, analysis of mergers in the retail sector, ex post assessment of decisions and commitments, consideration of efficiency gains, etc.
The first seminar will be held in May 2025 with Anne Wachsmann (Partner) at the Linklaters office in Paris, with the participation of students from the Competition and Distribution Law master’s at Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University and the programme director, Professor Prieto. The seminar will explore the status and role of the monitoring trustee approved by the Autorité to monitor behavioural or structural remedies.
Call for applications
Any parties interested in getting involved in the organisation of the “Three-party Chats on Mergers” are invited to contact the Mergers Unit of the Autorité de la concurrence, at the following email address:
Practical information on the organisation of the “Three-party Chats on Mergers”
The general principle of the “Three-party Chats on Mergers” is the co-organisation of several annual seminars, across France and abroad, between the Mergers Unit of the Autorité de la concurrence, a law or economics firm, and students interested in competition law.
The topic of each seminar will be discussed and chosen by the co-organisers in the light of current developments in merger control.
In advance of each seminar, the Mergers Unit of the Autorité de la concurrence and the partner law or economics firm will organise a preparatory session with the students, at the firm or the Autorité or, where applicable, remotely via videoconferencing.
The partner firm undertakes to provide a room seating at least 80 people. A quota of places for the guests of each co-organiser may also be determined in consultation. The decision on whether or not to invite the media is left to the discretion of the co-organisers.
The partner firm undertakes to record the seminar and make the video replay available, free of charge, on the sites of the co-organisers or, where applicable, an online video platform within 48 hours.
For any further information, please contact the Mergers Unit at the following email address: