About

Provided by Dechert LLP

Dechert has maintained a strong presence at the heart of Europe for nearly half a century. We opened an office in Brussels in 1968, becoming one of the first U.S. law firms to establish a base in the European Union’s administrative and regulatory hub.

Our Brussels lawyers are qualified to represent clients before the European Commission and before European and Belgian regulators, authorities and courts. We are also qualified to practice in numerous EU member states.

Clients call on Dechert for advice on all areas of competition law. Our lawyers have an outstanding track record of success in complex merger control cases, multi-jurisdictional cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, business agreements, EU state aid and privatization matters.

Long-term clients value our ability to provide a seamless service across all major jurisdictions around the world and to develop tailor-made, innovative and result-oriented defense strategies—even in the most challenging cases.

We work closely with clients to improve their compliance posture, preparing and presenting tailor-made compliance workshops across a broad range of industries and jurisdictions. The Brussels office further serves as a hub for EU internal market and regulatory work and helps companies meet EU-related regulations.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

5
Band 5

What the Team is Known For

Dechert is especially strong on the coordination of global merger and FDI 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.

Work Highlights

Provided by Dechert LLP

  • Dechert advised GIC on a consortium's USD14 billion acquisition of Emerson's climate tech business from Emerson Electric.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Alec Burnside
S
Alec Burnside
S
Senior Statespeople
Alec Burnside is admitted to practice in Brussels and in the UK, with experience dealing both with the EC and with the CMA. His comprehensive practice spans merger control matters and antitrust investigations, as well as advisory work relating to sustainability practices in competition law.

Alec is critical for what we do. He understands how to bring legal support to the business needs we require.

He's very smart, efficient and provides sensible advice.

Clemens York von Wartenburg
6
Clemens York von Wartenburg
6
Band 6

Clemens York von Wartenburg enters the rankings this year following glowing market support. Dual qualified in Germany and Brussels, he has a well-established practice spanning across behavioural and transactional mandates, including investigations before the European Commission and German Federal Cartel Office. He additionally regularly oversees FDI screening processes.

He is knowledgeable, pragmatic and conveys complex ideas in a very clear form.

Clemens understands the challenges in the various jurisdictions and is great at putting together an overall strategy.

Clemens has been a trusted advisor on many of our most complicated antitrust matters and we have really enjoyed working with him.

He is certainly a go-to lawyer for complex merger control, cartel and FDI matters.

Ranked Lawyers at
Dechert LLP

Provided by Chambers
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Band

Belgium

Competition: EU

Alec Burnside
S
Alec Burnside
S
Senior Statespeople
Clemens York von Wartenburg
6
Clemens York von Wartenburg
6
Band 6

Members

Provided by Dechert LLP