Competition: EU
Global Guide 2024 : Belgium
Band 3
Contact number
+32 2 533 59 11Chambers Review
Clifford Chance stands out for its work on the complainant side of significant EC investigations into alleged abuse of dominance in the IT sector. It has represented clients in subsequent EGC appeals that seek to overturn considerable fines. The firm also represents defendants in behavioural investigations and acts for clients on cases dealing with issues around state aid. Clifford Chance has additional experience in high-profile merger control work, covering EC and other non-US filings of global mandates. The team is also a favourite amongst clients for its ability to provide advice on new digital regulations.
Work Highlights
- Clifford Chance acted for Amazon on its acquisition of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, resulting in phase I clearances across multiple jurisdictions.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"We were fully satisfied with the team's efficiency, timely responses and overall approach towards our cases and our company as clients."
"Clifford Chance is clearly a high-end legal firm capable of handling the most difficult and sophisticated matters."
"The depth and breadth of the firm's partners' knowledge ensures that it is able to support every client's business needs successfully and provide high-quality, innovative legal solutions."
"My experience is the team tends to work seamlessly across its different offices when we are looking for expertise that can be multi-jurisdictional."
"You have no doubts that the firm can handle complexity."
"We were fully satisfied with the team's efficiency, timely responses and overall approach towards our cases and our company as clients."
"Clifford Chance is clearly a high-end legal firm capable of handling the most difficult and sophisticated matters."
"The depth and breadth of the firm's partners' knowledge ensures that it is able to support every client's business needs successfully and provide high-quality, innovative legal solutions."
"My experience is the team tends to work seamlessly across its different offices when we are looking for expertise that can be multi-jurisdictional."
"You have no doubts that the firm can handle complexity."
Notable Practitioners
Thomas Vinje is recognised as one of the most important competition law experts in Brussels. He has acted for complainants on several key IT sector abuse of dominance investigations carried out by the EC.
"We rely on him for his experience and for knowing the relevant people."
"He is an excellent lawyer for legal argumentation but understands the politics and powers that be. He knows what is at stake."
Anastasios Tomtsis handles high-level mandates, showcasing a strong focus on merger control mandates and associated foreign direct investment reviews.
"Anastasios Tomtsis is an excellent competition lawyer who understands the intricacies of the matters we are involved in and their repercussions very well."
"He is very result-oriented and the way he explains risks and the matters is very clear, which is very helpful in confusing situations."
"We feel that we are in good hands thanks to his past experience and knowledge of the subject matter, and he is easily reachable, which is a big asset."
"Anastasios Tomtsis is a highly sophisticated expert who can implement a pragmatic approach to complicated legal issues. What distinguishes Anastasios from other law firm partners is not only his depth of knowledge of the law and the process, but predominantly the fact that he is an invaluable strategist."
"He continues to have my complete trust."
Ashwin van Rooijen joins the rankings this year following glowing market support and involvement in high-profile abuse of dominance complaints and litigation. He has particular insight into the digital sector, advising clients on the implications of the Digital Markets Act.
"What I particularly like about Ashwin van Rooijen is his responsiveness. He is incredibly quick to jump on questions and comes back with well thought-out answers that understand our position."
"He is extremely knowledgeable and into the details."
"He is exceptionally hands-on, knowledgeable in the subject matter and has a wealth of experience in large-scale competition matters."
"He was good and knew what he was talking about."
"Ashwin van Rooijen is very thoughtful and wants to put in the time to think on these issues and consider every angle. I find him to be a very good communicator and he has a genuine interest in the issues he is advising on."
As Clifford Chance's former head of antitrust in Hong Kong and China, Brussels-based Richard Blewett is highly experienced in assisting international clients with attaining competition approval for mergers and joint ventures in China.