Orrick hires Clifford Chance antitrust head in Paris

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe has hired Clifford Chance Paris antitrust head Patrick Hubert, the latest senior addition to its growing French base.

Hubert joins Orrick’s French arm Orrick Rambaud Martel as a partner following a 12-year career at Clifford Chance, where he was a partner and head of antitrust and European law.

Of counsel Marie-Laure Combet and at least two associates, members of Patrick’s team at Clifford Chance, will also join Orrick’s Paris office at a later date.

Prior to joining Clifford Chance, Hubert held several senior positions in government bodies, such as chief of staff to the French Minister of Justice and general counsel and chief investigator with the French competition authority. He also served as a judge with the Conseil d’Etat (French Supreme Administrative Court).

During his time at Clifford Chance, he advised global companies in a wide range of French and EU competition matters, including merger control filings, cartel investigations, compliance work and private damages actions before the French courts.

“Patrick is a deeply respected practitioner in the international competition bar, and he will be a unique resource, in particular for our global technology company clients,” said Douglas Lahnborg, antitrust partner and leader of Orrick’s London and Brussels offices.

Orrick has been on a hiring spree in Paris. Patrick is the eighth partner to join the office since 2016 and the fifth local partner hire from a magic circle firm.

Last April, four partners left Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer for Orrick’s Paris office, including Paris employment head Emmanuel Benard.

Most recently, the firm hired Olswang Paris managing partner and corporate head Guillaume Kessler.

However, prior to Hubert’s appointment, the office’s only antitrust-focused partner Philippe Rincazaux left Orrick after 12 years, but has not yet resurfaced at a new firm.

In an interview with The Lawyer in May 2016, Orrick’s global boss Mitch Zuklie said “boosting certain practices in the US, London and Europe” would be a key focus for the firm.

The recent hires will bring the total number of lawyers in Orrick’s Paris office to around 120.