Clifford Chance
David Tayar has extensive experience in handling first and second stage complex merger control investigations before both European and French antitrust agencies and in coordinating multijurisdictional filings. He regularly advises clients in restrictive arrangements and monopolization cases before European and French competition authorities and courts.
David is a Member of the Board of the Association des Avocats Pratiquant le Droit de la Concurrence.
- Prior to joining Clifford Chance, David advised clients on a wide range of matters, including merger control, horizontal and vertical agreements, abuse of dominance cases, state aid issues and antitrust litigation matters
News and client work
Contact details
- Clifford Chance, Paris
- +33 1 4405 5422
- Email me
- Speaks English and French
- Practice area Antitrust, EU & trade, M&A corporate
Career and qualifications
- Université PARIS X (Nanterre) (Masters in Business Law and Anglo-American Law) 1995
- London School of Economics and Political Science (LL.M, European Community Law) 1996
- Université PARIS I (Panthéon Sorbonne) (Postgraduate in Private Law, DEA) 1997
- Admitted as an avocat in Paris 1999
- Joined Clifford Chance as a Partner 2017
Awards and citations
- David Tayar is ranked in the "Hall of Fame" for the practice.
'David Tayar has an outstanding knowledge of French/EU competition law and also the practical aspects of dealing with the French competition authority. He is very good at explaining complicated topics in an easy way and is always swift in his responses. He thinks a few steps ahead and presents you with a strategy or answer before you have asked for it, which is highly appreciated. He gives legal advice in a clear and always practically useful way. I can highly recommend David Tayar.'
Legal 500 EMEA 2025, EU, competition and distribution - France - The market-leading David Tayar (Band 1) has extensive expertise in antitrust investigations, as well as complicated merger control filings, particularly cases involving multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. He is also skilled in advising on dawn raid proceedings and actions before French courts.
"David Tayar is absolutely brilliant and easy to work with."
"David Tayar just gets it. He is brilliant, gives good advice and is quick. He's a good contact."
"David Tayar is very proactive in his thinking, always a step ahead and gives me an idea of what we will be doing. I like that he does that."
"David Tayar has a very keen intellect and a high level of perseverance to navigate very complex matters."
"David Tayar is great - superb at leveraging the global strengths at Clifford Chance. He is a pleasure to work with and very clever. He is one of the best I have worked with."
Chambers France 2025, Competition/European Law - David Tayar is ranked as one of the 'Leading Individuals' for the practice.
"David Tayar has an outstanding knowledge about French/EU competition law and also the practical aspects of dealing with the French competition authority. He is very good with explaining complicated topics in an easy way and always swift in his responses. He always thinks a few steps ahead and presents you with a strategy or answer before you have asked for it, which is highly appreciated. Gives legal advice in a clear and always practically useful way."
"David Tayar is an excellent practitioner, whose detailed and relevant legal analyses always take into account the business needs of his clients."
"I primarily work with David Tayar, who is excellent. He has very strong technical knowledge and great experience in running cases with the European Commission. He has very strong communication skills and builds great relationships with our internal stakeholders."
Legal 500 EMEA 2024, EU, Competition and Distribution - France - The market-leading David Tayar (Band 1) has extensive expertise in antitrust investigations, as well as complicated merger control filings, particularly cases involving multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. He is also skilled in advising on dawn raid proceedings and actions before French courts.
"David Tayar has a good understanding of the market and investigates his files thoughtfully in order to facilitate the transaction. He is very responsive and relevant in his remarks and observations."
"David Tayar really stands out. He is a very technical and smart lawyer with good tactics and instincts."
"His knowledge is really extraordinary when it comes to competition law. He is also very practical. He is a really brilliant competition lawyer and is very good at explaining extremely complicated things."
"David Tayar is one of the best competition lawyers in Paris. He is available, creative and very business-oriented."
"David Tayar is international and very easygoing. He is a smooth lawyer."
Chambers Europe 2024, Competition/European Law - France - David Tayar is ranked as one of the 'Leading Individuals' for the practice.
Legal 500 EMEA 2023, EU, Competition and Distribution - France - The market-leading David Tayar has extensive expertise in antitrust investigations as well as complicated merger control filings, particularly cases involving multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. He is also skilled at advising on dawn raid proceedings.
"He has proven to be very effective commercially and solution-oriented, and gets the job done."
"David Tayar is very good at taking complex topics and presenting them in approachable ways."
"David Tayar is an exceptional and masterful lawyer who solves the most complex and challenging competition issues. I much appreciated his strategic approach and he was a pleasure to work with."
"David Tayar has a good understanding of the market, is very responsive and all his comments allow us to move forward more quickly."
"He is very proactive. He seeks information that is useful for me and we do not need to wait for it."
Chambers Europe - 2023, EU, Competition and Distribution - France - David Tayar is ranked as one of the 'Leading Individuals' for the practice.
Legal 500 - 2022, EU, Competition and Distribution - France - David Tayar "has got an excellent client communication style and is extremely good technically," reports one client. He has extensive expertise in antitrust investigations as well as complicated merger control filings, particularly cases involving multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. Another impressed client states: "If I want to win a case, I will contact David Tayar." (Ranked Band 1)
Chambers Europe 2022, Competition/European Law - France - David Tayar is one of the main points of contact for the practice.
Chambers Europe 2022, Pharma/Life Sciences - France
- David Tayar is ranked as "Leading Individual".
Legal 500 2021, UE, Competition and Distribution - France
- David Tayar is lauded by one pleased client for being "extremely knowledgeable and good for business." He has extensive expertise in complicated merger control filings, particularly cases involving multi-jurisdictional mergers and acquisitions. Sources also report him to be "absolutely excellent."
Chambers Europe 2021, Competition/European Law - France - David Tayar is ranked as "Leading Individual"
Legal 500 2020, UE, Competition and Distribution - France - Thomas Baudesson and David Tayar are the main points of contact for the practice.
Chambers Europe 2020, Pharma/Life Sciences - France
- David Tayar enters the top band following an excellent feedback from market sources. He handles a range of merger control and antitrust proceedings before the competition authorities. Clients report him to be "very smart and pragmatic," with one source also adding that "his strengths are his technical and interpersonal abilities."
Chambers Europe 2020, Competition/European Law - France - "Market access, pricing policies, competition, public procurements, intellectual property, compliance and corporate matters all fall within the expertise of Clifford Chance's cross-disciplinary offering. Reinforced by the arrival of antitrust expert David Tayar from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, the team recently advised on the breakup of a joint venture between two leading global pharmaceutical players for the distribution of over-the-counter products; Tayar is also representing Teva in an investigation by the European Commission regarding a patent settlement with Cephalon. Thomas Baudesson and senior associate Gaëlle Merlier teamed up to defend a major pharmaceutical company against a series of product liability claims, including criminal charges. On the corporate front, Laurent Schoenstein assisted Synlab Labco with its acquisition of Seldaix, while regulatory expert Olivier Gaillard continues to advise on new anti-gift and transparency regulations. Other key clients include Pfizer, GSK and Novo Nordisk."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, Industry Focus: Healthcare and Life Sciences - France - "Clifford Chance's antitrust practice combines national and European expertise to cover the full gamut of competition matters through the experience of Katrin Schallenberg and David Tayar. The pair jointly head the practice, supported by of counsel Michel Petite. As well as overseeing Europcar's acquisition of Goldcar, the group recently handled Axel Springer's sale of 78.4% of the Aufeminin group to TF1. Schallenberg is currently representing Arkema in a claim against Honeywell on the grounds of European competition law, seeking a worldwide licence to use one of its products; Tayar is assisting Carrefour with its strategic alliance with Tesco covering the joint purchase of own-brand products and the negotiation of services with large international suppliers. Senior associate Emily Xueref-Poviac is also a key contact and is part of the team advising Oracle on a very recent FCA investigation."
Legal 500 EMEA 2019, EU Competition & Distribution - France - David Tayar acts for clients from the retail, IT and pharmaceutical spaces on a variety of French and European competition law issues. He demonstrates particular experience in merger clearances, state aid cases and antitrust investigations. Clients regard him as "a true business partner: very smart, sharp, responsive and practical."
Chambers Europe 2019, Competition/European Law - France - "Clifford Chance managed to balance the departure of former practice head Patrick Hubert and three of his associates to Orrick Rambaud Martel with the arrival of the ‘exceptional’ David Tayar, who ‘stands well above the rest of the pack’ and joined from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP; additionally, Katrin Schallenberg was promoted to the partnership. Along with numerous high-value merger control cases in the pharmaceutical and car rental sectors, the group is representing clients such as Teva, Ingram Micro and Volkswagen in antitrust investigations. Of counsel Michel Petite successfully obtained clearance with remedies in phase two proceedings before the European Commission on behalf of Airbus Safran Launchers with regards to its acquisition of Arianespace and Marie Pacaux is also a key contact."
Legal 500 EMEA 2018, EU Competition & Distribution - France - "Interviewees recognise David Tayar as a "very talented partner" who has a significant track record in merger control mandates, often handling sizeable merger control investigations and filings at domestic and European levels. He also boasts experience of advising on abuse of dominance cases and restrictive agreements"
Chambers Europe 2018, Competition/European Law - France