Sergio Sorinas
Sergio heads the competition law group for Herbert Smith Freehills in Paris.
He 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 media, banking, agribusiness, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, motor vehicles, consumer products, energy and retail trade.
Sergio advises many French and international groups before the European Commission and the French Competition Authority. He also represents several major French groups before French and European Union courts.
He has recently represented clients in several matters before the European General Court. In a recent appeal in a cartel case, Sergio obtained a fine reduction of more than €100 million for chemical group Arkema.
Sergio is admitted to the bar in Paris and Barcelona, and speaks fluent French, English and Spanish.
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.
Experience & expertise
Selected matters
- Lagardère on the multi-jurisdictional merger control aspects of selling its international magazine publishing business to Hearst Corporation, with operations in 18 countries, including the licence to Elle magazine outside France
- Chevron on French merger control proceedings relating to selling its petrol and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) downstream activities in the French Caribbean and French Guiana to Rubis Group, including the successful negotiation of remedies
- HSBC on complaints of collusion in relation to interbank fees on cheques, before the French competition authority and on the successful appeal of the decision of the French competition authority before the Paris Court of Appeals
- Arkema on three appeal procedures before the EU General Court against €300 million in fines the European Commission imposed on the company in cases related to hydrogen peroxide, methacrylates and sodium chlorate
- a leading German manufacturer of household electronics on revising its general sales conditions under national distribution and competition laws.
Related insights
