Benoît Le Bret became partner at the Gide Brussels office in 2008, after spending nine years at senior level for the European Commission and seven years working for the French finance Ministry (Paris and Brussels).

He has recognised experience in competition law, particularly in the field of State aid (financial services, transport, environment, energy, agriculture, large investment, IPCEIs) and antitrust.

Benoît specialises in various European regulations (structural funds, gambling, aerospace, energy and environment, telecoms, online services) and is able to draw on a particularly high level of expertise gained in financial services and transport. He has in-depth knowledge and understanding of internal market rules and of community actors and procedures (legislative co-decision, complaints and infringements, EU budget), and has a wealth of experience in negotiating with the EU Commission as well as EU agencies and authorities such as ESMA and to litigate before CJEU.

He currently represents and advises clients in the private equity industry for all EU-relevant regulatory matters, as well as large firms such as KKR and SNCF respectively for portfolio companies-related matters across the EU and for EU railway reforms and possible State aid. He handles State aid cases in various Member States (France, Germany, the Netherlands, Luxemburg, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece) and sectors (automotive, healthcare, electricity, etc.) including all new instruments (Chips Act, Temporary frameworks, IPCEIs...).

Benoît regularly drafts complaints to the EU Commission to redress or protect the interests of his clients in a broad range of sectors, including the press, tax, environment, public tenders, gambling, energy and mining. He is known for opening closed market or assisting disrupting innovation during their ramp up.

His working languages are French, English and German.

« Benoît Le Bret has experience in EU and national merger filings and also assists with the filing of complaints to the EC in response to anti-competitive conduct by competitors. He is particularly active for transportation and telecommunications clients. Strengths: “Benoît Le Bret has very good knowledge of European affairs and EU legislation, good experience and is very reliable.” “He translated the European gobbledegook into something we can implement into our work.” “He also speaks a language that our teams understand.” “Benoît Le Bret has very good knowledge of European affairs and EU legislation.” “He also speaks a language that our teams understand. He translated the European gobbledegook into something we can implement into our work.” “He is uniquely combining very strong legal knowledge with very strong connections to the decision-making machinery. He understands what is doable or not, how hard to go in and how to move strategically.” “He provides very interesting solutions.” “Benoît Le Bret is excellent. He is super commercial and strategic, sees the bigger picture and is a guy you want alongside you when you are on the battlefield.” »
Chambers Europe & Global 2024 - Competition: EU

« Benoît Le Bret has experience in EU and national merger filings and also assists with the filing of complaints to the EC in response to anti-competitive conduct by competitors. He is particularly active for transportation and telecommunications clients. Strengths: "He is very innovative in his approach." »
Chambers Europe & Global 2023 - Competition: EU

« Benoît Le Bret has experience in EU and national merger filings in support of telecoms sector transactions. He also assists with the filing of complaints to the EC in response to anti-competitive conduct by competitors. »
Chambers Europe & Global 2022 - Competition: EU

« Benoît Le Bret acts for international clients on merger control procedures before a range of domestic and European competition authorities. He also advises on distribution networks and vertical competition matters. »
Chambers Europe & Global 2021