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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Competition: EU

Global Guide 2026 : Belgium

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Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

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.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • 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 respondentGlobal

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

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

  • 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 respondentGlobal

  • 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 respondentGlobal

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

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Antoine Winckler
    Antoine Winckler

    Antoine Winckler

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • Maurits Dolmans
    Maurits Dolmans

    Maurits Dolmans

    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
    Francisco Enrique González-Díaz

    Francisco Enrique González-Díaz

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • François-Charles Laprévote
    François-Charles Laprévote

    François-Charles Laprévote

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • Nicholas Levy
    Nicholas Levy

    Nicholas Levy

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • He stands out to me for this kind of work.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • Christopher Cook
    Christopher Cook

    Christopher Cook

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • Christopher Cook is a pleasure to work with.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • Patrick Bock
    Patrick Bock

    Patrick Bock

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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  • Romano Subiotto
    Romano Subiotto

    Romano Subiotto

    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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  • Isabel Rooms
    Isabel Rooms

    Isabel Rooms

    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.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

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

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
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Ranked Individuals at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (10)

Belgium

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP has rankings in the following guides

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