France's Competition Authority's first year as a reformed, united competition enforcer has been a resounding success, according to the private bar. Lawyers say the authority plays "a major role in French economic life", and has been an "extremely influential body" thanks to commendable use of its new powers. The former Competition Council, in charge of antitrust issues, and the DGCCRF, responsible for merger control, combined to create the new authority 18 months ago, following the enactment of the 2008 Act for the Modernisation of the Economy.