transport

Transport

Our expertise

In response to the drive by EU law, the French rail sector is gradually opening up to competition. Whereas rail freight transport has been liberalised since April 2006 and cross-border passenger travel since December 2009, domestic passenger travel has just been opened up to competition.  As is the case in all network industries, this liberalisation trend, which required an independent regulator to be formed (currently the French Transport Regulatory Authority (ART)), has created issues relating to regulatory or competition matters (organisation and management of competitive operations and SNCF’s monopoly,  network management methods, electricity supply management for traction current, etc.).

Magenta has solid expertise and industry knowledge of the sector and helps clients (rail companies or authorised candidates) deal with all issues arising in their operations.

Our work

Assisting various rail companies in sanctions proceedings aimed at securing compliance with injunctions in relation to decisions by the French Rail and Road Operations Regulatory Authority (ARAFER) nos. 213-016 to 2013-019 of 1 October 2013 (ART decision no. CS-2023-001 of 27 June 2023)
Dispute resolution acting for four rail companies against SNCF Réseau relating to allocation of train paths, management and use of reserved infrastructure capacity for works, and compensation principles and processes (ART decision no. 2022-059 of 28 July 2022).
Dispute resolution acting for French regions relating to the terms and conditions applied by SNCF Mobilités and SNCF Réseau for access to passenger stations and service facilities (ARAFER decisions no. 2015-002 of 3 February 2015, no. 2015-17 of 13 May 2015, no. 2015-028 and 2015-030 of 15 July 2015).
Dispute resolution acting for a rail company against SNCF Réseau relating to the terms and conditions of allocation of service infrastructure capacity and pricing of rail fees (ARAFER decision no. 2013-028 of 3 December 2013).
Dispute resolution acting for three rail companies and an authorised candidate against SNCF Réseau relating to the terms and conditions of allocation and monitoring of train paths (ARAFER decisions nos. 2013-016 to 2013-019 of 1 October 2013).
Dispute resolution acting for a rail company against SNCF Réseau relating to invoicing and supply terms and conditions for traction current (ARAFER decision no. 2012-019 of 3 October 2012).
Assisting a rail operator in a liability dispute relating to damage caused to its means of transport.

Our rankings

Magenta is a great independent boutique specialising in competition law and regulatory matters. The four-lawyer practice has strong knowledge of the telecoms, transport and energy sectors in which it is involved in several major regulatory disputes. The main practitioners are practice head Vincent Jaunet, Sylvain Justier and counsel Fanny Mahler. In addition to her strong regulatory expertise, Mahler isequally recommended for her public contract and PPP advisory and litigation expertise.

Legal 500 2020
Administrative and public Law

Magenta combines its expertise in the field of competition and antitrust with an in-depth knowledge of regulatory issues to advise an impressive list of clients in the heavily regulated industry sectors such as energy, transport and telecoms. Counsel Gaël Hichri supports joint practice heads Sylvain Justier and Vincent Jaunet, who recently acted for CCFA – the professional association covering all French car manufacturers – in a review of its practices to ensure regulatory compliance. Associates Lolita Berthol-Balladur and Morgane Silhol are part of the team currently representing Candy Hoover with regard to the FCA’s investigation into alleged vertical and horizontal malpractices in the white and brown goods sector. Also notable is Justier’s work for Deutsche Bahn pertaining to two proceedings: a public enforcement claim filed by the FCA relating to alleged abuse of dominant position in the freight railway market, and a private enforcement action brought against SNCF after it was found guilty by the FCA of having impeded the growth of the French market. Other key clients include Outremer Telecom, SFR and Adista.

Legal 500 2019
EU, competition and distribution

Magenta dispose d’une offre aboutie en droit public des affaires, en conseil et en contentieux, devant les juridictions nationales et européennes, ainsi que les autorités de régulation. L’équipe est animée entre autres par Fanny Mahler, spécialiste des questions liées à la commande publique, aux entreprises du secteur public, au droit de l’environnement et de l’urbanisme. Magenta est aussi expert en matière de réglementation relative aux investissements étrangers et aux aides d’Etat.

Le cabinet assiste les acteurs du secteur public et les sociétés du secteur privé (opérateurs de l’énergie, des communications électroniques et du transport. L’équipe intervient en métropole, Polynésie française et Nouvelle-Calédonie. Magenta se distingue en droit de la concurrence et des secteurs régulés.

Décideurs 2019
Regulatory

Cette jeune équipe dynamique, forme désormais l’un des meilleurs cabinets de niche entièrement dédié au droit économique. Elle a l’habitude de travailler sur des dossiers complexes et a récemment participé à une procédure d’engagement devant l’Autorité de la concurrence pour une entente alléguée sur les services de transport maritime entre la France métropolitaine et les Antilles. Le cabinet dirigé par Sylvain Justier et Vincent Jaunet fournit une assistance juridique de grande qualité dans le cadre de dossiers d’entente et d’abus de position dominante, sur le terrain de contrôle des concentrations et des aides d’Etat. L’équipe concentre son expertise sur les secteurs de l’énergie, des télécoms, des médias, d’Internet et des nouvelles technologies.

Décideurs 2014
Droit de la concurrence