Sergio Sorinas
Sergio Sorinas is head of the Competition department in Paris.
Sergio advises clients in all areas of French and European Union competition law including merger control, cartels, abuses of a dominant position, distribution and cooperation agreements, competition law disputes and state aid. His experience covers a wide range of sectors including technology, media, telecom, infrastructure, energy, automotive, consumer products and financial institutions.
Sergio assists French and international groups before the European Commission and the French Competition Authority. He also acts for clients in competition litigation before French courts and European Union courts.
Sergio is admitted to the bar in Paris and Barcelona, and speaks fluent French, English and Spanish.
Market recognition
- Sergio is ranked by Forbes 2025 and 2024 in the top 40 lawyers of the CAC 40 companies (Top 40 des Avocats du CAC 40) published with La Lettre des Juristes d'Affaires as well
- Sergio is ranked for Competition in France by Chambers Europe 2024 and is listed as 'Leading Individual' for EU Competition and Distribution by Legal 500 EMEA 2024
- "Sergio Sorinas is excellent: he provides sharp analysis of competition law, and practical, effective advice. He regularly keeps us informed of legislative changes that could impact us." – Legal 500 EMEA 2024 (EU Competition and Distribution)
- "Sergio Sorinas is really a key partner for us. He is extremely available - I can always call him and he will be there."; "Sergio Sorinas is a clear expert in competition law. He always provides very valuable and practical advice in a timely fashion. He is very responsive and able to explain extremely complex issues in a clear and understandable way and to propose positive solutions."; "He is consistent, dedicated and has put time into learning about our business, which is appreciated, and he has been delivering good results. There are sometimes obscure areas of law and he goes out and does novel thinking."; "He has strong analytical skills and sound judgement."; "Sergio Sorinas is an excellent lawyer who is very smart and dedicated to his clients." – Chambers Europe 2024 (Competition/ European law in France)
Experience & capabilities
Selected matters
Merger control and cooperation agreements
- BNP Paribas, Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale and Société Générale on the creation of 2SF, a joint venture pooling the ATMs of the three groups
- Cellnex Telecom, Europe’s leading operator of wireless telecommunications infrastructures, in securing merger control approval by the French Competition Authority (FCA) for its acquisition of French tower company Hivory from Altice France and Starlight Holdco (KKR) through an initial investment of €5.2bn and assisting Cellnex in implementing the divestment remedies agreed with the FCA
- United Group, the leading provider of telecommunications services and media in Southeast Europe, in obtaining unconditional clearance by the European Commission for its acquisition of Greek telecoms operator Wind Hellas
- A leading IT Services company on the competition law aspects and merger control clearance by the European Commission for the creation of a joint venture with a French telecommunications player which will provide sovereign cloud services
- Diageo, a global leader of beverage alcohol, in obtaining merger control clearance by CEMAC (Communauté économique et monétaire de l'Afrique centrale) for its sale of 100% of Guinness Cameroon, one of the most important brewers in Cameroon, to Castel Group
Antitrust Investigations and litigation
- Sonepar, a leading global distributor of electrical equipment in an investigation by the French Competition Authority in relation to alleged RPM practices and in the appeal against the FCA decision fining Sonepar
- Groupe Up in antitrust proceedings before the French Competition Authority and the subsequent appeal against the FCA decision fining Up for alleged anti-competitive practices in the market for meal vouchers
- A leading global supplier of industrial explosives in the context of an antitrust investigation initiated by the French Competition Authority
- HSBC in the successful appeal against the FCA decision fining HSBC and the main French banks for alleged collusion in relation to interbank fees on cheques resulting in the annulment of the FCA decision
State aid and Foreign Subsidies Regulation
- The Croatian Ministry of Public Works and Maritime Affairs in obtaining State aid approval by the European Commission for several extensions of the Y highway concession granted to Bina Istra
- A telecommunications services and media provider in a complaint against a competitor under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation
Background
Sergio holds a degree from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Strasbourg and from the University of Strasbourg, where he earned a Masters in Law and a Masters of Philosophy (DEA) in European law.
