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August Debouzy Welcomes Mathilde Saltiel as Competition Law Partner

Communiqué August Debouzy | 12/03/26 | 8 min. |

Recognized as one of France’s leading competition law experts, Mathilde Saltiel joins August Debouzy as a partner, together with Laure Maes as counsel. Their team will also include three associates. This appointment marks the creation of a new “Competition, European Regulation and Foreign Investment Control” group, bringing together several of the firm’s leading areas of expertise in close coordination with its Brussels office.

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A Recognized Leader In Competition Law

Mathilde Saltiel has established herself as one of the leading figures of her generation in French competition law. She was named among the Forbes Top 40 CAC 40 Lawyers (2025), featured in the Institut Choiseul’s inaugural legal ranking (2025), and selected as a 2025 Young Leader by the French-American Foundation. She is also ranked by Chambers Europe and Legal 500.

Her practice spans the full spectrum of competition law, including merger control, dawn raids, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and litigation, damages actions, and compliance programs.

At 39, and a graduate of Sciences Po Paris and Paris Descartes University in European law, she began her career at Willkie Farr & Gallagher in Paris and New York before joining Latham & Watkins in Paris, where she was appointed partner in 2021. She advises French and international groups across a broad range of sectors, including financial services, industry, healthcare, and telecommunications.

A Track Record Built On Landmark Matters

In merger control, she advised EssilorLuxottica on its $8 billion acquisition of GrandVision, Worldline on its €7.8 billion acquisition of Ingenico, and L’Oréal on its acquisition of Aesop, as well as private equity funds such as PAI Partners and Five Arrows.

In investigations and litigation, she represented Essilor in proceedings relating to the online sale of lenses, advised TDF on the lifting of commitments in the mobile antenna hosting market, and assisted the Orange group in several matters following dawn raids conducted by the French Competition Authority and the European Commission.

A Transformative Moment For European Economic Law

This appointment comes at a time of profound transformation in European economic law, marked by increasingly complex merger control rules, the rise of economic sovereignty instruments, and strengthened foreign investment screening mechanisms. In response to these structural developments, August Debouzy has chosen an integrated, strategic, and fully European approach.

A Team At The Crossroads Of Law, Institutions, And Economic Strategy

The new “Competition, European Regulation and Foreign Investment Control” group brings together profiles rarely found within a single firm.

Vincent Brenot advises on foreign investment control and public business law. Emmanuelle Mignon, former Chief of Staff to the President of the French Republic and member of the Conseil d’État, co-leads the Brussels office and contributes her expertise in European public law and litigation before EU courts. Nicolas Baverez, former judge at the Cour des comptes and partner for eighteen years at Gibson Dunn, focuses on public economic law and state aid.

Pierre Sellal, who served for more than ten years as France’s Permanent Representative to the European Union, provides clients with deep insight into EU institutions and decision-making processes.

Marc Mossé, former General Counsel and Director of Public Affairs at Microsoft Europe, co-leads the Brussels office and advises on digital competition matters. David Zygas is widely recognized for his expertise in European litigation.

This unique configuration enables the firm to combine legal rigor, a refined understanding of European institutional mechanisms, and strategic foresight.

In competition law, Mathilde Saltiel and Laure Maes will be supported by three associates.

A Broad Scope Of Practice

The group acts before the European Commission, the French Competition Authority, and all relevant French and European courts on the full range of competition law matters. This includes merger control, from feasibility assessments and notifications to multi-jurisdictional coordination and negotiation of commitments; cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and litigation; damages actions; state aid matters, including qualification, notification, recovery litigation, and complaints before the European Commission; application of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation; and digital competition issues, notably under the Digital Markets Act.

In foreign investment matters, the team advises investors and target companies on French screening procedures under the IEF regime and on global coordination of FDI processes.

The group relies in particular on the firm’s Brussels office and works in close collaboration with sector-focused teams.

A Natural Convergence

Mathilde Saltiel, Partner, August Debouzy:

“Joining August Debouzy means becoming part of a leading independent French firm, agile and driven by a strong entrepreneurial spirit, that has brought together exceptionally diverse profiles. It offers a unique opportunity to build a top-tier competition practice while delivering a truly differentiated approach for clients, drawing on the expertise and perspectives of Vincent Brenot, Emmanuelle Mignon, Nicolas Baverez, Pierre Sellal, and Marc Mossé. We go far beyond legal advice. We provide deep insight into European institutions, economic sovereignty challenges, and a comprehensive strategic vision. This is precisely what companies need to navigate today’s European competitive landscape.”

Mahasti Razavi, Managing Partner, August Debouzy:

“The arrival of Mathilde, Laure, and their team marks an important milestone for August Debouzy. At a time when competition issues are becoming increasingly central, our clients seek teams capable of anticipating developments, influencing outcomes, and securing their most transformative decisions. With careers shaped at the heart of European institutions, senior public service, and major international corporations, this team brings a unique capacity for analysis and action in the French market, combining legal excellence, institutional insight, and strategic vision.”

Laure Maes Joins As Counsel

Laure Maes joins the group as counsel. She holds degrees from the College of Europe in Bruges, Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne University, King’s College London, and the University of Strasbourg.

After practicing at Willkie Farr & Gallagher and Latham & Watkins in Paris alongside Mathilde Saltiel, she developed strong expertise in competition law, covering merger control, investigations and litigation, and compliance programs.

She has worked on major merger transactions, including Orange’s acquisition of Voo, Siemens’ acquisition of Altair Engineering, and L’Oréal’s minority investment in Galderma. She also represents clients in investigations and litigation before French and European competition authorities.