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Provided by Freshfields

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http://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/what-we-do/services/antitrust-and-competition/

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

1
Band 1

What the Team is Known For

Freshfields is regarded as a market leader for advice on complex EU competition law issues. The law firm has the ability to bring together specific sector expertise and a deep understanding of the EC to advise on high-profile merger investigations into planned transactions, including in the pharmaceuticals, telecommunications and natural resource sectors. The firm has acted on appeals and subsequent damages claims against merger prohibition decisions made by the EC. It represents defendants in abuse of dominance or cartel investigations initiated by the EU authorities. Key partners have a strong reputation for their handling of contentious state aid mandates, including important cases that relate to the provision of tax breaks to defendant companies. Freshfields also has an important domestic Belgian competition law practice that handles BCA cartel investigations, merger control issues and follow-on damages claims filed in Brussels.

Work Highlights

  • Freshfields advised Viterra on the competition law aspects of its proposed merger with Bunge.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Frank Montag
S
Frank Montag
S
Senior Statespeople

The German-law qualified Frank Montag has a well-established reputation as a highly experienced Brussels-based competition lawyer. He is a sought-after adviser to well-known German companies and is best known for his merger control work, including post-merger investigations before the German authorities and FDI filings. He offers additional experience in EC behavioural investigations.

Frank Montag is the best of the best.

In my files he brought his German expertise and I was impressed.

Onno Brouwer
S
Onno Brouwer
S
Senior Statespeople

Onno Brouwer is an experienced litigator known for his work on competition law-related CJEU proceedings. He also has experience representing clients in EC investigations, as well as mandates connected with the EU Digital Markets Act. He splits his time between the firm's Brussels and Amsterdam offices and has additional experience representing clients in ACM investigations.

Andreas von Bonin
1
Andreas von Bonin
1
Band 1

Andreas von Bonin skilfully handles major state aid litigation on behalf of beneficiary companies. He is held out as a high-profile figure in the state aid space, advising prominent European clients on state aid issues with standout experience in the energy markets sector.

Andreas von Bonin is a top of the range seasoned lawyer who knows how to safely navigate his clients through the sometimes difficult universe of competition law.

Thomas Janssens
1
Thomas Janssens
1
Band 1

Thomas Janssens is credited with handling several of the firm's most sophisticated EU-level matters, including merger clearances and anti-competitive investigations in the technology sector. He is also a central figure in the firm's domestic Belgian competition law offering, representing clients in BCA investigations, as well as merger clearance and FDI filings.

Thomas Janssens is very responsive, available and he is also hands-on and able to synthesise complex elements into a comprehensive manner for business.

Thomas Janssens a very client and detail-oriented lawyer who is able to understand all of the relevant issues.

Merit Olthoff
3
Merit Olthoff
3
Band 3

Merit Olthoff regularly advises clients, such as public authorities and private sector companies in the transport sector, on EU state aid procedures, and boasts particular experience in navigating clients through the funding of green transformation initiatives.

Merit Olthoff is an excellent relationship lawyer both internally and externally. She understands how the client works and is able to manage that brilliantly.

She is very responsive, knowledgeable, extremely quick at understanding issues and has an excellent business perspective.

Sascha Schubert
3
Sascha Schubert
3
Band 3

As head of the firm's Brussels antitrust practice, Sascha Schubert handles sophisticated merger control matters for global corporates. He also has notable experience in antitrust proceedings and compliance with EU regulations. His client list includes well-known companies in the telecommunications and technology sectors.

Sascha Schubert is a top-class lawyer.

He is very diplomatic also both internally and externally. His guiding hand is invaluable.

Sascha is highly skilled at organising large teams and delivering under challenging timelines. He knows the EU institutions well and can provide strategic advice on engagement with authorities.

Thomas Wessely
4
Thomas Wessely
4
Band 4

Thomas Wessely is based in Brussels and is also qualified to practise in Germany. He attracts particular praise for his activity in high-value cross-border transactions in the telecoms sector and has additional experience representing clients in requests to review merger commitments.

It is a pleasure being advised by Thomas Wessely.

Tone Oeyen
5
Tone Oeyen
5
Band 5

Tone Oeyen caters to a client base of well-known multinationals and receives recognition for his handling of EU merger control mandates. He also has experience in antitrust investigations and appeals against Commission decisions, particularly in the technology sector. He has further expertise in merger notifications and behavioural investigations before the Belgian Competition Authority, as well as handling a number of FDI filings.

Tone Oeyen is a trusted advisor in competition law. He has great judgement and a very strong understanding of competition law. He is also willing to learn the complexities of his clients' business.

Tone Oeyen is a great lawyer who allies clarity to complexity.

Tone Oeyen is a very good lawyer who is super reactive and has a good team working with him.

Tone Oeyen is a great lawyer who brings clarity to complexity.

Laurent Garzaniti
6
Laurent Garzaniti
6
Band 6

Laurent Garzaniti is known for his work on merger notifications and FDI filings in the electric vehicles and raw materials sectors.

Laurent Garzaniti is a very good antitrust lawyer.

Ranked Lawyers at
Freshfields

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Belgium

Competition/European Law: State Aid

Andreas von Bonin
1
Andreas von Bonin
1
Band 1
Merit Olthoff
3
Merit Olthoff
3
Band 3
Competition: EU

Frank Montag
S
Frank Montag
S
Senior Statespeople
Onno Brouwer
S
Onno Brouwer
S
Senior Statespeople
Thomas Janssens
1
Thomas Janssens
1
Band 1
Sascha Schubert
3
Sascha Schubert
3
Band 3
Thomas Wessely
4
Thomas Wessely
4
Band 4
Tone Oeyen
5
Tone Oeyen
5
Band 5
Laurent Garzaniti
6
Laurent Garzaniti
6
Band 6
Andreas von Bonin
F
Andreas von Bonin
F
Foreign expert for Germany