Competition: EU

Herbert Smith Freehills' Brussels competition practice leverages its expertise to work on corporate transactions that often draw scrutiny both from the EC and from various other competition regulators worldwide. It advises on EU merger control issues arising from high-profile strategic acquisitions that test the scope for further consolidation of sectors including energy, consumer goods and TMT. Key lawyers offer notable strength in state aid mandates, advising beneficiary companies on state aid investigations and compliance matters. The firm also has experience in antitrust investigations, including appeals to the CJEU seeking to overturn findings of abuse of dominance.

"They are creative and down-to-earth lawyers who can be entrepreneurial and pragmatic."

"The firm grasped the issues very quickly and focused on value-added efforts."

"Herbert Smith Freehills was chosen for its wealth of expertise, knowledge of our company's business and its wide reach."

"The team is business-oriented, always available, and gives clear answers to our questions."

"Herbert Smith Freehills has a very grounded understanding of the workings of the EU institutions, the people and the law."

Herbert Smith Freehills represented Synthomer in merger filing requirements related to the sale of its laminates, films and coated fabrics businesses to Surteco.

Kyriakos Fountoukakos has notable experience in merger control filings made in support of a wide variety of cross-border M&A and JV transactions, notifying prominent deals before the EC as well as coordinating filings across jurisdictions. He additionally represents clients in antitrust investigations and appeals against European Commission decisions. He also manages the firm's competition practice in Japan, assisting Japanese companies with international merger filings. "While his depth of competition law knowledge is unquestioned, perhaps the most admirable trait of Kyriakos Fountoukakos is his pragmatic approach to problem solving." "Kyriakos Fountoukakos is quite practical and has been advising us in a very commercial and practical way."

Lode Van Den Hende has notable experience in state aid enforcement, EU regulatory issues and contentious mandates, with a particular focus on representing clients from the energy sector. "He is very client-oriented and always specifically clarifies what we need. His work is really interesting and easy to read." "We are very satisfied that we engaged the right person for this job."