Paris heavyweight De Pardieu Brocas Maffei has raided Norton Rose for competition partner Laure Givry, who joins the French boutique this week.

Givry joins De Pardieu as a partner from Norton Rose's local office, along with associate Chantal Andrioti.

Givry's practice focuses on French and European competition law – particularly EC merger control, antitrust litigation and restrictive trade practice. She was admitted to the Paris bar in 1988. Before joining Norton Rose in 2000, she worked at the Paris office of Coudert Brothers.

The pair joins the competition and commercial law team led by Philippe Guibert, bringing the practice group to two partners and five associates.

Guibert said: "The recruitment of Laure is part of our strategy to develop a top-ranking team able to answer an ever-increasing demand from clients in the competition field – an area of the law which expanded considerably lately."

Givry added: "I am extremely happy to join De Pardieu Brocas Maffei, a firm with a strong reputation and visibility, both in Paris and internationally."

Following the departure, Norton Rose's Paris office has around 117 lawyers, including 24 partners.