Competition/European Law
Europe Guide 2024 : Netherlands
Band 1
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+31 20 485 7000About
Provided by Freshfields
Please visit the Freshfields website for more details about our work in this category: http://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/what-we-do/services/antitrust-and-competition/
Chambers Review
Freshfields houses one of the leading competition law teams in the Netherlands, and collaborates closely with its colleagues in Brussels for matters before the European Commission, including high-profile state aid cases. It has a strong practice challenging ACM decisions following both behavioural investigations and prohibited mergers. The team is also experienced in phase II merger investigations and foreign direct investment filings. The law firm has further expertise defending clients in investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. It has a number of clients from the technology and private equity industries.
Work Highlights
- Freshfields assisted Talpa Holding with the merger clearance aspects of its proposed joint venture with RTL, which included a phase II investigation by the Dutch authorities.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Freshfields combines competition law expertise with excellent industry knowledge."
"Freshfields is a very good sparring partner and provides very strong but also pragmatic advice on very complex matters."
"The team give helpful, practical advice within the commercial context, and are very helpful and proactive at discussing things."
"The team's market knowledge is good, and the technical knowledge of their partners and senior lawyers is generally very strong."
"The team works efficiently."
"Freshfields combines competition law expertise with excellent industry knowledge."
"Freshfields is a very good sparring partner and provides very strong but also pragmatic advice on very complex matters."
"The team give helpful, practical advice within the commercial context, and are very helpful and proactive at discussing things."
"The team's market knowledge is good, and the technical knowledge of their partners and senior lawyers is generally very strong."
"The team works efficiently."
Notable Practitioners
Onno Brouwer is an experienced litigator known for his work on competition law-related CJEU proceedings. He also represents clients in European Commission investigations and merger clearance mandates. He splits his time between the firm's Brussels and Amsterdam offices and has additional experience representing clients in ACM investigations.
Winfred Knibbeler remains a leader in the Dutch competition market, with particular strength in merger control and FDI filings, as well as in challenging prohibited combinations. He offers further expertise in investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and other appeals against ACM decisions.
"Winfred Knibbeler is one of the top lawyers in the Netherlands."
"Winfred is a very intelligent lawyer with a huge amount of knowledge and he advises in a very strong and strategic way, whereby he takes into account all both business and legal aspects."
"The added value is that he is advising us in a very comprehensible way."
"His experience and international network make him a good lawyer."
"He's quick, a strategist and open to discovering things. He is knowledgeable on the topics. I like also how he writes, he is concise."
Alvaro Pliego Selie assists clients with obtaining competition law clearance for proposed joint ventures, including representing clients in phase II investigations. He further advises on contentious state aid matters and behavioural investigations for clients in the technology sector.
"Alvaro has a huge amount of knowledge of both legal and regulatory and business aspects, which he applies in a very pragmatic and comprehensible way. His advice is really strategic."
"Alvaro seems to enjoy the details and in-depth analysis, although he also keep commercial drivers close to mind."
Paul Van den Berg is a popular choice with investment funds for advice on merger control and FDI filings. He further represents clients in behavioural investigations.
"Paul Van den Berg is very knowledgeable and he's very good with his advice."
"He has an excellent knowledge of merger law but knows also how to find solutions for complex issues."
"Paul Van den Berg knows his stuff so well; there is a real level of comfort you get from the detail he provides and his ability to step back."
"Paul is very commercial."
"He is knowledgeable but also approachable and not too purist in his advice, so he gives meaningful answers."
Ranked Lawyers at
Freshfields
Netherlands