Competition: EU - Belgium
What the team is known for
Ashurst advises on EU merger clearance matters and FDI notifications. It defends clients in BCA or EC cartel and abuse of dominance investigations and advises governments on important state aid cases. It also acts on ongoing compliance mandates, while key individuals attract attention for their work on significant competition law cases within the sports sector.
Strengths
"Ashurst is very reactive and has a good understanding of complex problems."
"The team is fast, efficient and accurate."
"Ashurst has good knowledge of our industry but also of our company. When we have a question, it is quite efficient."
Work highlights
Ashurst represented UEFA in the competition law aspects of the dispute concerning the European Super League.
Notable practitioners
Denis Waelbroeck has acted for EU member states on high-profile state aid cases relating to differences in the tax treatment of individual companies. He also has notable experience in high-profile cases that seek to apply competition law principles to the sports sector and appeals against EC decisions in relation to merger control. "Denis Waelbroeck is someone I have a lot of respect for." "Denis Waelbroeck is an excellent litigator and legal mind." "I have a fantastic working relationship with Denis Waelbroeck. He is really collaborative, shares and debates ideas and has a wealth of experience that can bring in new angles." "When there is a tricky question, we call the professor." "Denis Waelbroeck is an authority without a doubt."
Annick Vroninks has experience in BCA investigations, including in the defence of clients from regulated sectors. "She is a real litigator." "I handle very complex matters with Annick Vroninks on a regular basis and she always provides good, efficient and accurate responses."
Climbing the rankings this year is Denis Fosselard who assists clients with EC merger notifications, the filing of complaints of abuse of dominance and appeals of cartel decisions. He is particularly active for clients hailing from the telecommunications and other regulated industries. Denis Fosselard is also Italian law-qualified and advises on merger clearance and FDI notifications to the Italian competition authority. "He has very good industry knowledge and asks spot-on questions." "Denis Fosselard is uncomplicated and easy to work with. He is pragmatic, approachable and not too legalese. He has really good business acumen." "He can manage fairly complex files, he is very reactive and he takes what business people explain into account. The advice is based on the legal aspects but also adopts a practical approach so business people can leave with proposed solutions." "His flexibility and ability to get the work done in a short period really stood out."
