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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
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Competition: EU

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

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 and abuse of dominance decisions. 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.

Work Highlights

  • Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton advised Google on the antitrust aspects of its USD32 billion acquisition of Wiz.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Cleary has such a deep bench of exceptionally talented lawyers of all experience levels. The firm is not reliant on a single partner or associate - they are all excellent and reliable.

Competition: EU respondent
Global

Cleary has the ability to create a legal and business product of the highest quality, including a comprehensive 360-degree analysis.

Competition: EU respondent
Global

Cleary’s competition law team stands out for its deep-rooted experience representing European-based companies in high-stakes EU competition matters, including proceedings before the EC and EU courts.

Competition: EU respondent
Global

Cleary's strengths are quality of work, expertise, innovative thinking and problem solving. In general I find the lawyers easy to communicate with.

Competition: EU respondent
Global

The team at Cleary is very strong across all levels of seniority. The lawyers are unmatched for complex and strategic matters.

Competition: EU respondent
Global

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Antoine Winckler
S
Antoine Winckler
S
Senior Statespeople

Antoine Winckler is recognised among market commentators as a hugely experienced and high-profile figure within the Brussels competition law community. He attracts particular attention for assisting with sophisticated merger control mandates.

What truly distinguishes him is his proactive communication and ability to anticipate challenges, providing guidance that is both timely and highly relevant to our needs.

Antoine Winckler stands out for his exceptional combination of legal expertise, strategic insight, and client-focused approach.

He really thought outside the box and he works very well with his contacts abroad as well.

Antoine Winckler is an unmatched adviser for strategic and complex topics.

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Maurits Dolmans
S
Maurits Dolmans
S
Senior Statespeople

Maurits Dolmans is a renowned figure in the EU competition law community. He splits his time between London and Brussels and is known for his work on significant behavioural mandates for sophisticated multinational companies, most notably in the technology sector.

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Francisco Enrique González-Díaz
1
Francisco Enrique González-Díaz
1
Band 1

Francisco Enrique González-Díaz is a market leader who offers a combined experience of working within the EC and handling sophisticated merger control mandates in private practice. He is also well-versed in advising on contentious issues, including antitrust investigations by the EC.

His deep experience, actionable advice and sharp mind helped us immeasurably.

His connections, insight and ability to see the bigger picture and understand the strategy is relatively rare.

He is an excellent lawyer: first of all he deeply knows us, so he can understand our needs and how the company thinks. Secondly he knows very well the EU world.

Francisco Enrique González-Díaz is one of the best lawyers I have seen.

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Robbert Snelders
1
Robbert Snelders
1
Band 1

Robbert Snelders acts for some of Cleary's most high-profile technology sector clients on behavioural mandates, including appeals against European Commission decisions before the General Court. He has experience in transactions that necessitate the negotiation of significant remedy packages. His practice is equally equipped to deal with compliance with new regulations.

Robbert Snelders is a very seasoned lawyer and an excellent strategic business partner.

He delivered strong guidance to us and guided us appropriately.

He is not only a great lawyer but also a very strong leader. No matter how high the stakes are, he consistently comes up with fast and actionable solutions.

Robbert Snelders is best in class.

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François-Charles Laprévote
2
François-Charles Laprévote
2
Band 2
François-Charles Laprévote is best known for his contentious state aid work. He assists complainant third parties with ECJ proceedings seeking to challenge the provision of state aid to the aviation sector. He additionally assists with the approval of state aid provisions. He is a member of the Bar in both Paris and Brussels, and has further experience representing clients in behavioural investigations before the FCA.

François-Charles Laprévote is a state aid guru. He is truly professional, competent and extremely valuable.

Working with François-Charles Laprévote is an opportunity to expand your knowledge. He is an excellent problem-solver who pursues his goals in a clear and brilliant manner.

François-Charles Laprévote is always available to answer questions quickly, even in urgent situations, and his advice is clear, precise and adapted.

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Nicholas Levy
2
Nicholas Levy
2
Band 2

Nicholas Levy is a London and Brussels-based competition law specialist who attracts strong praise for his understanding of both the CMA and the EC. In addition to his impressive reputation for merger control work, Nicholas Levy has experience in high-profile challenges to EC decisions. He has notable experience in mandates in the technology sector.

Nicholas Levy is an outstanding professional. He offers clear, strategic advice and is highly attuned to his client's needs. He's a world class expert in antitrust and competition law.

He stands out to me for this kind of work.

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Thomas Graf
2
Thomas Graf
2
Band 2

Thomas Graf is lauded for his role in high-profile abuse of dominance cases in the technology sector, as well as appeals against European Commission decisions before the General Court. He is equally equipped to advise on matters pertaining to the Digital Markets Act.

Thomas Graf is a brilliant lawyer and an expert on the Digital Markets Act.

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Christopher Cook
5
Christopher Cook
5
Band 5
Christopher Cook handles both EU and wider global merger notifications in support of high-value corporate transactions.

Christopher Cook consistently offers a high level of quality in his service.

Christopher Cook is a pleasure to work with.

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Patrick Bock
5
Patrick Bock
5
Band 5

Patrick Bock has notable experience advising on complex multi-jurisdictional merger filings. He has further expertise in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and cartels.

Patrick Bock is an excellent advisor across the full range of competition law topics.

He is very knowledgeable on the law, and works very hard to understand the specific facts of our business and to teach us what we need to know to ensure we prepare the best case along with him.

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Romano Subiotto
5
Romano Subiotto
5
Band 5

Romano Subiotto KC wins instructions acting for interested parties and defendants on EC behavioural investigations. He is a member of the UK Bar and splits his time between London and Brussels.

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6
Isabel Rooms
6
Band 6

Isabel Rooms is a seasoned practitioner frequently mandated on European Commission investigations into alleged abuses of dominance.

Isabel Rooms is a skilled and experienced professional who is also proactive and always provides business-oriented advice.

Isabel Rooms provides clear advice on complex matters in very short timeframes.

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Ranked Lawyers at
Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Belgium

Competition/European Law: State Aid
François-Charles Laprévote
2
François-Charles Laprévote
2
Band 2
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Competition: EU
Antoine Winckler
S
Antoine Winckler
S
Senior Statespeople
View Profile
Maurits Dolmans
S
Maurits Dolmans
S
Senior Statespeople
View Profile
Francisco Enrique González-Díaz
1
Francisco Enrique González-Díaz
1
Band 1
View Profile
Robbert Snelders
1
Robbert Snelders
1
Band 1
View Profile
Nicholas Levy
2
Nicholas Levy
2
Band 2
View Profile
Thomas Graf
2
Thomas Graf
2
Band 2
View Profile
Christopher Cook
5
Christopher Cook
5
Band 5
View Profile
Patrick Bock
5
Patrick Bock
5
Band 5
View Profile
Romano Subiotto KC
5
Romano Subiotto KC
5
Band 5
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6
Isabel Rooms
6
Band 6
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François-Charles Laprévote
F
François-Charles Laprévote
F
Foreign expert for France
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