Department profile
Dentons

Competition/European Law

Germany Guide 2026 : Germany

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Dentons

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About

Provided by Dentons

With companies operating globally and markets becoming more interconnected, Competition and Antitrust Law is gaining increasing significance. We maintain excellent relations to German competition authorities and the European Commission. Therefore, you can rely on us to protect your interests in German and European antitrust and competition matters. We regularly appear before German and European courts and collaborate with you to face challenges and achieve the desired results by linking first-class expertise in various fields of law and jurisdictions—tailored to your requirements, wherever you need us.

Key service areas

Our team advises companies and public institutions from a wide range of industries on highly complex and trendsetting Competition and Antitrust Law issues and represents clients in politically sensitive projects, in particular:

  • Merger control proceedings with the European Commission and the Federal Cartel Office
  • Worldwide merger control coordination
  • Safeguarding interests in antitrust and abuse proceedings under German and EU law
  • Judicial and extrajudicial enforcement and defence of antitrust claims, including strategic advice in advance and arbitration of disputes
  • Antitrust audits and consulting as well as training compliance
  • Antitrust advice on joint ventures and franchise agreements, in bidding and award procedures as well as in the field of Intellectual Property law
  • Support related to state aid (e.g. to avoid legal conflicts, state aid complaints)

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/European Law - Germany

Band 4

What the Team is Known For

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.

Wofür das Team bekannt ist

Dentons ist insbesondere in streitigen Kartellrechtsangelegenheiten aktiv und vertritt Mandanten sowohl im Rahmen der ersten Ermittlungen als auch in anschließenden Rechtsmitteln gegen Bußgelder und Schadensersatzforderungen. Die Kanzlei berät zudem zu Fusionskontrolle und ausländischen Direktinvestitionen und unterstützt bei der Einhaltung der Compliance-Aspekte von Vertriebsstrategien.

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Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Dentons advised Porsche on the merger control aspects of its proposed acquisition of a stake in Varta and its subsidiary V4Drive.

  • Dentons beriet Porsche hinsichtlich der fusionskontrollrechtlichen Aspekte der geplanten Übernahme einer Beteiligung an Varta und deren Tochtergesellschaft V4Drive.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is reliable, fast and competent.

    Competition/European Law respondentGermany

  • The team has a pragmatic approach on merger control. The lawyers are pragmatic at knowing what the authorities want and what we are prepared to disclose, and are able to strike a good balance.

    Competition/European Law respondentGermany

  • We appreciate the team's agility and readiness to help.

    Competition/European Law respondentGermany

  • In my opinion, the special strength is that the colleagues are not only excellent lawyers but also deal with our business very intensively, and understand it.

    Competition/European Law respondentGermany

  • The firm has a great network for worldwide merger control.

    Competition/European Law respondentGermany
  • Das Team ist zuverlässig, schnell und kompetent.
    Competition/European Law respondentGermany

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Jörg Karenfort
    Jörg Karenfort

    Jörg Karenfort

    Jörg Karenfort represents clients in follow-on damages actions.

    Jörg Karenfort vertritt Mandanten in Schadenersatzverfahren.

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  • René Grafunder
    René Grafunder

    René Grafunder

    René Grafunder represents clients in cartel investigations and appeals against fines imposed for alleged anti-competitive behaviour. He also assists clients with merger control filings and the competition law compliance aspects of their distribution agreements.

    René Grafunder vertritt Mandanten in Kartellverfahren und bei Rechtsmitteln gegen Geldbußen wegen angeblich wettbewerbswidrigen Verhaltens. Er unterstützt Mandanten außerdem bei Fusionskontrollverfahren und den wettbewerbsrechtlichen Aspekten ihrer Vertriebsverträge.

    • René Grafunder is very business-oriented. He delivers tailored advice.

      Competition/European Law respondentGermany

    • It's a pleasure working with him.

      Competition/European Law respondentGermany

    • René Grafunder is very pragmatic and hands-on.

      Competition/European Law respondentGermany
    • René Grafunder ist sehr geschäftsorientiert. Er bietet maßgeschneiderte Beratung.
      Competition/European Law respondentGermany
    • René Grafunder ist sehr pragmatisch und praxisorientiert.
      Competition/European Law respondentGermany
    • Es ist mir ein Vergnügen, mit ihm zusammenzuarbeiten.
      Competition/European Law respondentGermany
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Ranked Individuals at Dentons (2)

Germany

Members

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