Department profile
Freshfields

Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad

Global Guide 2026 : Germany


Freshfields

Rankings

About

Provided by Freshfields

Please visit the Freshfields website for more details about our work in this category:

https://www.freshfields.com/en-gb/capabilities/services/antitrust-and-competition/

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad - Germany


What the Team is Known For

With particularly strong teams in its Berlin and Düsseldorf offices, Freshfields boasts a market-leading practice across the full range of competition law topics. The law firm is highly esteemed for its work on multi-jurisdictional merger clearance and FDI filings. The team also represents clients in behavioural investigations and in high-profile follow-on damages actions. Clients benefit from close collaboration with the firm's offices in Brussels for matters that also involve the Foreign Subsidies Regulation and state aid mandates, as well as DMA queries. The firm is a popular choice among clients from the technology, financial services and automotive sectors in particular.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Freshfields represented Otto Fuchs Beteiligungen in an appeal against a fine for anti-competitive behaviour imposed by the FCO.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The team is very responsive and very experienced, and gives associates opportunities to be in the first row.

    Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • The team is very experienced, extremely responsive and service-oriented.

    Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • We appreciate the seamlessness of the service offered across the globe. The team works together well, and offers high quality across offices.

    Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • The team understands the business perfectly and gives advice on what we should do.

    Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • It is always great to work with the team; they are top tier and best in class.

    Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 1Martin Klusmann
    Band 1Martin Klusmann

    Martin Klusmann

    With a broad practice that covers behavioural investigations, appeals against fines for anti-competitive conduct and follow-on damages actions, Martin Klusmann remains one of the leading competition law experts in Germany. He is particularly highly sought after by clients from the automotive and manufacturing sectors.

    • I find him very impressive and knowledgeable. He is a superstar in Germany.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • He is the best in Germany for defending in cartel investigations.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • Martin Klusmann is an excellent technical lawyer.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • For cartel investigations, Martin Klusmann is a big shot in the market.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • Martin Klusmann is the leader of the pack.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Helmut Bergmann
    Band 3Helmut Bergmann

    Helmut Bergmann

    Helmut Bergmann has a strong focus on the competition law aspects of transactions, advising on merger control and foreign direct investment filings, as well as FSR issues.

    • I can rely on his empathy, and he sees when it's needed.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Tobias Klose
    Band 3Tobias Klose

    Tobias Klose

    Tobias Klose is particularly active in contentious competition law matters. He has recent experience of representing clients in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations as well as defending them in follow-on damages actions.

    • He has excellent experience and know-how, so we have always been very happy with the advice.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Band 3Uta Itzen
    Band 3Uta Itzen

    Uta Itzen

    Uta Itzen frequently assists clients with obtaining competition law clearance for multi-jurisdictional mergers. She has additional experience in behavioural investigations and subsequently represents clients in damages actions before the German courts.

    • She is smart, engaging and gets matters over the line, even with a lot of headwind.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • It is pure joy to work with Uta Itzen on highly complex projects.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • She is a fantastic person to work with and a true anchor for us.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • Uta Itzen is a very reliable, calm person, and a safe pair of hands.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • Uta Itzen was excellent on the merger control.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumAndreas von Bonin
    Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumAndreas von Bonin

    Andreas von Bonin

    A member of both the Düsseldorf and Brussels Bars, Andreas von Bonin is a popular choice with German clients for his skilful handling of major state aid litigation on behalf of beneficiary companies and public bodies. He is held out as a high-profile figure in the state aid space, advising prominent European clients on state aid compliance, with standout experience in the energy markets sector.

    • He is a top-of-the-range, seasoned lawyer, who knows how to safely navigate his clients through the sometimes difficult universe of competition law.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumFrank Montag
    Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumFrank Montag

    Frank Montag

    The German-law qualified Frank Montag has a well-established reputation as a top 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.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
    • In my files he brought his German expertise and I was impressed.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal
  • Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumThomas Wessely
    Germany, expertise based abroad in BelgiumThomas Wessely

    Thomas Wessely

    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 in representing clients in requests to review merger commitments.

    • It is a pleasure being advised by Thomas Wessely.

      Competition/European Law: Lawyers Based Abroad respondentGlobal

Ranked Individuals at Freshfields (7)

Germany

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