Department profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Competition: EU

Global Guide 2026 : Belgium

Share profile

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Herbert Smith Freehills' Brussels competition practice leverages its expertise to work on corporate transactions that often draw scrutiny both from the EC and from various other competition regulators worldwide. It advises on EU merger control issues arising from high-profile strategic acquisitions that test the scope for further consolidation of sectors including energy, consumer goods and TMT. Key lawyers offer notable strength in state aid mandates, advising beneficiary companies on state aid investigations and compliance matters, as well as advising on FSR. The firm also has experience in antitrust investigations, including cartel investigations in the automotive sector.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer advised Mitsubishi Motor Corporation on parallel cartel investigations by the European Commission and the UK Competition and Markets Authority into end-of-life vehicle recycling.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer stands out for its practical, solution-oriented approach, and consistently high-quality advice.

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's team has an excellent insight into how regulators are going to react. This insight is extremely valuable and solution-focused.

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

  • The lawyers are very thorough, thoughtful and knowledgeable about the area of expertise that I need.

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's team is very responsive, dedicated and offers a great service.

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

  • Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer's team is deeply knowledgeable of all matters concerning EU competition law.

    Competition: EU respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Kyriakos Fountoukakos
    Kyriakos Fountoukakos

    Kyriakos Fountoukakos

    Herbert Smith Freehills' managing partner of global competition, regulation and trade, Kyriakos Fountoukakos has notable experience in merger control filings made in support of a wide variety of cross-border M&A and JV transactions, notifying prominent deals before the EC as well as coordinating FDI filings across jurisdictions. He additionally represents clients in antitrust investigations. He also manages the firm's cross-border Japanese competition practice.

    • Kyriakos Fountoukakos' regulatory insight and network is his strength. He has the ability to take a very nuanced approach when it comes to navigating uncertainty with a regulator.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • Kyriakos Fountoukakos is a very hands-on and smart lawyer.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal

    • Kyriakos Fountoukakos provides tailored, relevant and sensible legal advice on complex interpretative points.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Lode Van Den Hende
    Lode Van Den Hende

    Lode Van Den Hende

    Lode Van Den Hende has notable experience in state aid enforcement mandates, including acting for clients from the transport sector.

    • Lode Van Den Hende is an incredibly responsive lawyer with fantastic technical knowledge.

      Competition: EU respondentGlobal
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP (2)

Belgium

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP has rankings in the following guides

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership