Competition/European Law | Germany

With particularly strong teams in its Berlin and Düsseldorf offices, Freshfields boasts a market-leading practice across the full range of competition law topics. The law firm is highly esteemed for its work on multi-jurisdictional merger clearance filings. The team also represents clients in behavioural investigations and in high-profile follow-on damages actions. Clients benefit from close collaboration with the firm's offices in Brussels and London for matters that also involve scrutiny by the European Commission or the CMA, as well as contentious state aid mandates. The firm is a popular choice among clients from the technology and automotive sectors in particular.

Gleiss Lutz continues to be highlighted as one of the market-leading competition law teams in Germany. With lawyers in its Munich, Stuttgart, Düsseldorf and Frankfurt offices, supported by German-qualified lawyers based in Brussels, the law firm stands out for its geographic spread. The team is able to cover the full spread of competition law mandates, representing defendants in behavioural investigations and follow-on damages actions, as well as assisting with complex merger clearance filings. Gleiss Lutz is highly sought after by a number of high-profile German clients, especially in the transport sector.

Hengeler Mueller has an outstanding practice in contentious competition law matters, frequently representing defendants in the most high-profile follow-on damages actions and behavioural investigations. In addition, the law firm often acts for clients on complex merger clearance filings. Its offices in Düsseldorf, Munich and Berlin are supported by a team in Brussels to assist with multi-jurisdictional filings. The team has a number of clients from the energy sector.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton assists clients with both merger control notifications and behavioural investigations. The law firm also represents clients in follow-on damages actions and in disputes concerning section 19a. It is a popular choice with clients from the TMT and energy sectors. The firm's office in Cologne collaborates closely with a number of German-qualified lawyers based in the firm's office in Brussels.

Latham & Watkins has a strong team for transactional competition law matters, assisting clients with foreign direct investment filings and phase II merger control investigations. Its teams in Hamburg, Frankfurt and Düsseldorf work alongside the firm's offices in London and Brussels to handle cross-border filings. The law firm also has experience representing technology sector clients in FCO investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance or infringements of section 19a. The team is also adept at handling damages actions.

Linklaters has a broad competition law practice, with notable experience in both complex merger control filings and in investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. The law firm also represents defendants in competition damages actions, as well as assisting with appeals against previous judgements. Clients also benefit from the firm's ability to call upon German-qualified lawyers in its Brussels office.

A&O Shearman's Hamburg office is a popular choice with clients from the technology and pharmaceutical industries looking for competition law advice. The law firm covers a broad range of competition law topics, assisting with merger control filings and antitrust disputes, including defending clients in high-profile damages actions.

Clients benefit from Clifford Chance's ability to handle both transactional and contentious competition law mandates. The law firm advises private equity clients on merger control and foreign direct investment filings. The team also represents clients in investigations into alleged cartels and the exchange of sensitive information.

Glade Michel Wirtz has a strong focus on transactional competition law matters, assisting clients with obtaining clearance for proposed mergers as well as representing third party intervenors in challenges to clearances. The law firm often acts for investors on transactional mandates. The team is also capable of representing clients in investigations into possible cartels and in subsequent damages actions.

Hogan Lovells competition law teams in Berlin, Düsseldorf and Munich are supported by German-qualified lawyers in the firm's Brussels office. The law firm is well regarded by clients from the automotive and technology sectors for advice on a range of competition law issues, including merger clearance, behavioural investigations and damages actions, as well as assistance with distribution strategies.

Noerr assists clients with a broad range of competition law mandates, advising on merger clearance notifications, investigations into alleged cartels and defending clients in follow-on damages actions. The team collaborates closely with its office in Brussels.

Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte is particularly well known for its strength in competition litigation, regularly representing both claimants and defendants in high-profile damages actions following cartel decisions. The law firm additionally acts on merger clearance mandates, including assisting clients with phase II reviews.

Baker McKenzie assists clients with the local aspects of multi-jurisdictional merger filings. The law firm also has experience handling phase II merger reviews before the German authorities. The team is additionally active in behavioural matters, representing clients in investigations and damages actions. It often assists multinational clients with compliance with competition law regulations.

BUNTSCHECK rises in the rankings this year on the back of representing clients in a number of abuse of dominance proceedings, frequently acting on behalf of the claimants. The law firm also offers notable activity in the field of merger and foreign direct investment filings. The team is additionally strong in follow-on damages actions, representing both claimants and defendants.

CMS covers the full range of competition law matters. Team members assist clients with merger control filings, follow-on damages actions, the compliance aspects of distribution strategies and state aid issues. Clients benefit from the firm's ability to collaborate closely with the German-qualified lawyers in its Brussels office.

Dentons is particularly active in contentious competition law mandates, representing clients in the initial investigation, as well as in subsequent appeals against fines and damages actions. The law firm also acts on merger control and foreign direct investment filings, as well as assisting with the compliance aspects of distribution strategies.

With its team split across offices in Düsseldorf and Brussels, Bird & Bird handles a broad range of competition law matters, including advising on the competition law approval for proposed strategic partnerships and representing clients in damages actions. The law firm also acts on state aid and FDI mandates. The team particularly stands out for its ability to handle matters at the cross-section of competition law and intellectual property law.

BLOMSTEIN has a broad competition law practice. The law firm frequently acts on merger clearance and foreign direct investment filings. Team members have experience of state aid mandates, as well as acting as monitoring trustees. On the behavioural side, the team often acts for technology sector clients on FCO investigations, and has further expertise in damages actions.

Jones Day frequently acts on the merger clearance aspects of multi-jurisdictional transactions, collaborating with its offices in other countries, particularly the German-qualified lawyers in its Brussels office. On top of its very active transactional practice, the law firm also represents clients in follow-on damages actions, appeals and state aid mandates.

Luther advises clients on a broad range of competition law matters, covering merger control filings, cartel damages actions, state aid advice and the antitrust compliance aspects of distribution strategies.

With notable teams of German lawyers in Mannheim and Brussels, SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz is able to assist clients with both behavioural investigations and merger control filings. The law firm is also able to represent clients in appeals against antitrust fines and follow-on damages actions.

WilmerHale offers a broad competition law practice, covering behavioural investigations, merger clearance filings and follow-on damages actions. The law firm also assists clients with competition law compliance issues.