Competition: EU
Europe Guide 2024 : Belgium
Band 3
About
Provided by Baker McKenzie
Please visit bakermckenzie.com to learn more about our practice.
Chambers Review
Baker McKenzie is often selected to handle merger filings in support of high-value transactions that are notifiable both to the EU and to numerous competition authorities worldwide. It has handled standout transactions on behalf of clients from the TMT, consumer goods and life sciences sectors. The law firm advises on sector inquiries and issues around selective distribution networks. The team also has a notable state aid practice that includes compliance mandates for public bodies and CJEU appeals against EC findings of illegal state aid. Baker McKenzie equally boasts strength in abuse of dominance investigations before the EC.
Work Highlights
- Baker McKenzie represented Sika in the phase I clearance of its USD5.6 billion acquisition of MBCC Group before the European Commission.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The Baker McKenzie team is extremely adept at synthesising complex legal issues and regulatory practices on the issues we raise with it and delivers clear and unequivocal advice."
"The Baker McKenzie team is extremely commercially savvy and able to marry strong legal capabilities with underlying commercial imperatives and realities."
"The firm is truly adept at understanding the heart of the issue and helping chart a path forward."
"Where the lawyers really show their worth is when it is a bit more complicated. They can be creative in how they look at things, teasing out issues and guiding us. We always get to the right place with them."
"Baker McKenzie has a strong competition bench and is often good for projects that go across multiple jurisdictions or multiple legal topics."
"The Baker McKenzie team is extremely adept at synthesising complex legal issues and regulatory practices on the issues we raise with it and delivers clear and unequivocal advice."
"The Baker McKenzie team is extremely commercially savvy and able to marry strong legal capabilities with underlying commercial imperatives and realities."
"The firm is truly adept at understanding the heart of the issue and helping chart a path forward."
"Where the lawyers really show their worth is when it is a bit more complicated. They can be creative in how they look at things, teasing out issues and guiding us. We always get to the right place with them."
"Baker McKenzie has a strong competition bench and is often good for projects that go across multiple jurisdictions or multiple legal topics."
Notable Practitioners
Fiona Carlin occupies a senior managerial role in Baker McKenzie's global competition practice. She has notable experience acting on merger control matters, as well as providing strategic competition advice, particularly in the healthcare sector.
"I could not ask for a better co-pilot. I turn to Fiona Carlin to brainstorm on how best to think through new issues and to help us on the most sensitive of projects."
Nina Niejahr has a busy state aid practice that includes representing clients in appeals against state aid decisions, as well as advising on the approval of state aid filings, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I have a very high opinion of her in the state aid field."
Gavin Bushell has experience in high-value merger control mandates that trigger merger notifications in the EU and across multiple jurisdictions.
"He is super responsive and a very good partner when it comes to more strategic questions. He is a very valuable asset to us."
"I think he has an excellent eye for understanding how to work with the authorities on competition filings. He also has very good business understanding and acumen."
"He stood out as a very pragmatic but still technical adviser from an antitrust perspective."