Competition: EU | Europe

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton offers outstanding expertise across the full range of EU competition law issues. The law firm's work for leading global IT companies on EU abuse of dominance investigations and subsequent EGC appeal processes is often seen as a clear endorsement of its ability to handle the most sophisticated and high-impact behavioural work. The team has experience in appealing important cartel decisions, as well as representing clients in follow-on damages cases before national courts. Cleary also regularly wins instructions on complex merger control mandates that attract close scrutiny from the EC, including an impressive track record of assisting clients with phase II investigations. Its capacity to coordinate related US, UK and other international filings through its global network is an additional benefit to companies undertaking multi-jurisdictional transactions. The firm's more high-profile state aid work recently has centred around key clients challenging the introduction of various measures to support airlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is held out as a market leader for advice on complex EU competition law issues. The law firm has the ability to bring together specific sector expertise and a deep understanding of the EC to advise on phase II merger investigations into planned transactions, including in the shipbuilding, telecommunications and natural resource sectors. The firm has acted on appeals and subsequent damages claims against merger prohibition decisions made by the EC. It represents defendants in abuse of dominance or cartel investigations initiated by the EU authorities. Key partners have a strong reputation for their handling of contentious state aid mandates, including important cases that relate to the provision of tax breaks to defendant companies. Freshfields also has an important domestic Belgian competition law practice that handles BCA cartel investigations, merger control issues and follow-on damages claims filed in Brussels.

Latham & Watkins maintains its spot in the top band based on ongoing recognition of its repertoire and performance. The law firm showcases recent experience in phase I and II EU merger investigations into transactions in the healthcare, telecommunications and heavy industry sectors, as well as impressive behavioural mandates. It additionally defends clients in investigations into abuse of dominance and has experience in the complainant side of similar investigations. Its lawyers also represent clients in appeals to the CJEU and the EGC against EC decisions, particularly concerning cartel fines. The law firm complements its practice with expertise in state aid matters, including high-profile cases that relate to tax rulings for individual companies.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom benefits from a strong pipeline of major M&A transactions, including US strategic investments into Europe and vice versa. The strength of its Brussels-based practice earns the firm roles on transactions that are subject to detailed investigation by the EC and that often necessitate the negotiation and implementation of complex remedy packages. The firm is particularly popular with clients from the technology sector. Skadden also acts on important EU behavioural mandates, including investigations into potential collusion between companies in the financial services sector.

Slaughter and May's competition teams in Brussels and London often work closely together on high-value mergers that are likely to attract considerable scrutiny from the CMA and the EC. The law firm has also acted on antitrust investigations, often involving alleged breaches of Article 102. Slaughter and May's lawyers additionally assist third-party interveners with EGC cases seeking to overturn merger clearance decisions or appeals of EC abuse of dominance decisions taken against IT sector clients.

White & Case stands out for its work on various significant CJEU appeals against EC decisions, having acted both for addressees and intervening third parties on significant abuse of dominance cases in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors, often involving high-quantum fines. The law firm has experience acting on notable transactions that are subject to EU merger investigations, as well as acting for interested third parties. Clients benefit from the firm's broad international network, as well as a number of dual-qualified lawyers in the firm's Brussels office.

The firm benefits from a long-established domestic Belgian practice that targets sophisticated competition law mandates investigated by the Belgian Competition Authority. It advises on the notification of Belgian mergers or joint ventures, and it defends clients in BCA cartel investigations. The lawyers have also acted on EU cartel investigations and appeals against significant fines, including for multinational financial institutions and truck manufacturers. The Brussels team handles European or global transactions that trigger EU merger notifications, serving a broad client list that includes Middle Eastern oil and gas companies, as well as global financial services and investment firms. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

Some of Arnold & Porter's most impressive work stems from its strong reputation among major life sciences sector companies, which instruct the firm on mergers, abuse of dominance complaints and broader advisory matters relating to the roll-out of new drugs or vaccines. The firm has also acted on phase II EU merger investigations of planned IT sector transactions, working together with lawyers in Washington, DC to coordinate US antitrust filings.

Baker Botts acts for a number of clients from the TMT, energy and transport industries. It represents clients in EC cartel or abuse of dominance investigations. The law firm defends companies in private enforcement actions and has experience acting on the claimant side of follow-on claims. The Brussels team is also a key component in the firm's global merger control practice and is well versed in assisting notifying parties as well as interveners.

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.

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.

Covington & Burling has an established reputation for its work on high-profile state aid cases for public entities, and it has been notably active in the notification or defence of state aid measures introduced to support the aviation sector. The team also has proven experience in defending clients in BCA investigations and advises on domestic civil litigation that seeks to rely on competition law principles. The law firm acts both for merging parties and for third-party interveners on transactions that are notified either to the EC or to the Belgian Competition Authority. Together with its London colleagues, the Brussels team regularly advises on large-scale global merger control mandates. It has additional experience in handling EC cartel probes.

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.

Jones Day is highly regarded for its work notifying M&A transactions to the EU authorities. The Brussels team regularly works with colleagues across the USA and other jurisdictions to handle merger mandates for companies in the transportation and manufacturing industries, as well as the energy and life sciences sectors. Brussels-based individuals qualified in different EU member states often also assist with merger control or behavioural investigations carried out by national competition regulators in Italy, France or Germany. The law firm attracts particular attention for its longstanding telecoms sector expertise, having advised on various mandates including EU investigations into the functioning of network sharing agreements. The team also exhibits skill with regards to private enforcement litigation.

Linklaters has handled standout consumer goods, life sciences and IT sector transactions that are subject to merger control investigations in the EU, and that often leverage the firm's wider network of competition teams for the coordination of global filings. The team has demonstrable experience in deals that raise significant foreign direct investment issues in multiple jurisdictions and is a key contact for investment firms. Linklaters has further experience representing companies in abuse of dominance investigations, and it attracts particular attention for its work on behalf of third-party interveners in key CJEU proceedings.

Van Bael & Bellis has a strong EU and domestic Belgian competition law offering, with a deep bench of partners based in Brussels. It handles behavioural and merger control matters that necessitate interaction with the EC or the BCA. The law firm has notable experience in the appeal of EC decisions, having acted on significant cases for third-party interveners or addressees of EC decisions operating in the IT, aviation and sports sectors. It assists an impressive list of life sciences or consumer goods companies with questions surrounding pricing of goods or the management of compliance programmes. Van Bael & Bellis has also secured roles acting on phase II EC merger investigations and is active in cartel cases and subsequent damages claims.

contrast has a superb reputation for its handling of top-end domestic Belgian competition law matters. It acts for complainants, defendants and third-party interveners on BCA behavioural investigations and assists with appeals against BCA decisions. The team frequently advises clients on merger clearance proceedings before the BCA and the EC. The firm also handles mandates that raise complex issues regarding vertical agreements between manufacturers and distributors and defends civil claims filed in Belgium that raise competition law arguments in relation to the termination of distribution agreements. The law firm also offers experience in behavioural investigations before the EC.

Dechert is especially strong on the coordination of global merger filings. The team is also experienced in EC cartel investigations and in EGC appeals against adverse decisions. It additionally advises on the filing of complaints with the EC seeking the investigation of anti-competitive practices and assists with third-party interventions in merger investigations. Dechert has also actively contributed to the push to enable competitors to engage in sustainability initiatives without fear of reprisal from competition regulators.

Garrigues is instructed on a considerable volume of major state aid cases brought predominantly by Spanish companies affected by EC decisions. It has assisted with cases that raise state aid or other EU law challenges to the introduction of new tax legislation in Spain. It also acts for non-Spanish entities on state aid complaints against the approval of new infrastructure projects. The firm's wider competition law capabilities are showcased through its work on EC merger controls, abuse of dominance investigations or major CJEU cases through which IT companies seek to overturn significant behavioural fines.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher handles significant EC behavioural mandates on behalf of sophisticated US or Europe-headquartered companies. It defends clients in EC abuse of dominance investigations and acts for major complainant companies seeking to gain traction with the EC for new cases. The law firm also acts on cartel cases and assists a number of clients with merger clearance and FDI filing mandates. The team additionally handles notifications of state aid schemes or EGC cases through which companies seek to overturn rulings on compatible state aid.

Some of Hogan Lovells' most high-profile work highlights include instructions on important EGC and CJEU appeal proceedings in which the firm seeks the annulment of high-value EC competition fines. Hogan Lovells has notable experience in abuse of dominance mandates and also handles significant merger control matters, often involving FDI concerns. The team is additionally equipped to handle the competition law elements of standard-essential patents.

Sidley Austin couches its competition law capabilities within a wider EU law practice that handles EC-level regulatory and policy mandates and leads challenges to national laws that restrict fundamental rights afforded by EU treaties. It advises life sciences and technology sector clients on specific EU competition cases and on compliance issues. The law firm also assists clients with obtaining merger clearance and FDI approval for transactions, often representing third parties in significant merger investigations and working alongside colleagues in the US or UK. Sidley Austin also advises key telecoms clients on their responses to EC investigations.

Bird & Bird regularly advises clients on assessing requirements for merger filings and submitting notifications. It also acts on competition issues relating to the distribution of fashion and manufacturing products and assists technology companies with appeals of EC cartel and abuse of dominance decisions. The team is also adept at advising clients on contentious state aid matters. One of the standout aspects of the practice is its activity in the sports sector; it advises several sports governing bodies either on specific competition law-based complaints or on more general matters relating to the exercise of their regulatory functions.

BonelliErede has a particularly strong reputation in the field of state aid, having won roles in important state aid cases in the energy, transportation and financial services sectors. The law firm is also well placed to assist both notifying parties and interveners with EU merger clearance mandates. The team is especially well-versed in matters that have a significant Italian law component, often working alongside colleagues in Rome, as well as representing Italian clients before EU institutions.

Gide Loyrette Nouel regularly advises on merger control issues arising from planned M&A and joint venture transactions. It has further experience in EC abuse of dominance and anti-competitive practice investigations, with a focus on advising complainants and interveners. It is particularly active for TMT, transport, energy and finance companies and stands out for its focus on French and Polish clients, whom it represents before both national and EU authorities. The team's practice is also well versed in issues relating to state aid litigation, compliance and notifications.

Gleiss Lutz predominantly attracts attention for its state aid expertise. It defends private companies against state aid complaints and assists public entities with proceedings opposing the recovery of unlawful state aid. The firm is also notably active in appeals against EC merger decisions, having acted on cases seeking either to challenge merger prohibitions or seeking the annulment of fines imposed for alleged gun-jumping in notifiable transactions. The team has additional experience in abuse of dominance investigations and cartel cases.

Partners in Hengeler Mueller's Brussels, Berlin and Düsseldorf offices work together to handle sophisticated EC and domestic German competition matters. The law firm is capable of handling in-depth merger investigations, including those that necessitate FDI filings in Germany. It has notable experience defending companies in EC cartel investigations, as well as in EGC appeals of cartel decisions and in follow-on damages claims.

Reed Smith has the proven capacity to handle significant mandates relating to EC behavioural investigations or merger notifications. It also provides ongoing advice to key clients on their interventions in third-party mergers or on the competition law implications of new commercial agreements. The law firm is active for US, European and Asian clients and has experience dealing with innovative mandates, such as those linking sustainability issues and competition law.

Squire Patton Boggs wins instructions both on specific merger control or behavioural matters and as ongoing competition counsel. The law firm acts on appeals against EC cartel decisions and assists with follow-on damages litigation. It advises on the review of distribution agreements or new product or service offerings in order to identify competition risks.

Sullivan & Cromwell assists clients with EC merger filings made as part of multinational pharmaceutical or technology sector transactions, with particular experience in transactions connected to Germany, the US and South Korea. It also handles EU appeals against merger prohibitions and assists with the defence against EC investigations into anti-competitive conduct and in follow-on damages claims.