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Mélanie Bruneau

Mélanie Bruneau

Partner
Brussels
+32.2.336.1940
Email Mélanie Bruneau @ melanie.bruneau@klgates.com
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Mélanie Bruneau is a partner at the firm and she advises on a broad range of areas in European Law. Her practice focuses on advising clients a variety of industrial sectors, including transport, and aviation, energy, hydrogen, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, consumer goods and cosmetics, manufacturing, chemicals, and IT on the legal aspects of their business activities, with a particular emphasis on EU and French regulatory and compliance matters.

Mélanie advises large multinationals on all aspects of EU competition law, including merger control. She also has significant experience in cartel investigations and sector inquiry investigations. Mélanie was also involved in the first cartel settlement and in the first hybrid cartel settlement before the European Commission. Mélanie regularly advises clients on global antitrust compliance programs. She performs internal audits and compliance trainings. She advises on the rules and procedures governing State aid, as well as EU and French public procurement directives. Mélanie regularly advises on global companies and trade associations on ESG, environment, and sustainability matters including collaboration agreements between competitors and green claims.

Mélanie has experience in foreign direct investment (FDI) and foreign subsidies regulation (FSR). She has performed multi-jurisdictional FDI assessments and obtained FDI clearances in France under phase 1 and phase 2 for EU and non-EU acquisitions.  

Mélanie has significant experience in advising on vertical agreements including exclusive distribution and supply, as well as selective distribution and franchising. She also has lots of experience in advising on horizontal issues including joint ventures, collaboration, cooperation, research and development, as well as consortium and grant agreements. She frequently advises on resale price maintenance (RPM) and price discrimination issues on behalf of some of the largest companies in the world. Mélanie frequently advises on restrictions of active and passive sales, non compete provisions, but also on termination of distribution agreements. She advises on parallel import restrictions and more generally on free movement of goods. Mélanie regularly advises on commercial agency agreements (including on compensation and termination issues).

She also advises on consumer protection legislation including unfair commercial practices as well as misleading and comparative advertising. She advises companies on distribution agreements including e-commerce cross-border issues and distribution networks in Europe. Mélanie has assisted various clients in the setting up of their commercial websites and drafting of terms and conditions of sale in compliance with the e-commerce, e-sign and data protection legislations.

Over the past 15 years, Mélanie has developed a strong experience in a wide range of transport and logistics, aviation, ground handling, transport infrastructure, and airport related matters where she advises clients on EU and French regulatory issues and complex contractual arrangements. This includes regulatory issues associated with international transportation of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, perishables, jewelry and high-value goods, but also on slot allocation. Mélanie has advised on the emissions trading schemes (ETS) for aviation, on the guidelines for State aid to airports and airlines and on passenger rights. She also has experience in EU sanctions, customs, export controls, and anti-corruption matters. She has also extensive experience advising international companies on logistics, 3PL, warehousing, and global supply chain issues.

Mélanie is a member of the Paris and Brussels Bars. She has contributed to Practical Law Company (PLC) on international sales and marketing.

Melanie Bruneau […] are excellent. They have grown an in-depth knowledge of our unique business models and utilise this to provide highly personalised advice. They are highly responsive, ever willing to help, even in tight timeframes, and most importantly, provide easy to digest and clear advice. I would highly recommend them.

The Legal 500 EMEA 2025 – Aviation
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