Department profile
Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Competition/European Law: State Aid

Europe Guide 2026 : Belgium

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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

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About

Provided by Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP

Based in the heart of Europe for over 30 years, the firm Brussels provides global clients with commercially-focused, legal and strategic advice across the full spectrum of competition, regulation and trade law issues.

Our competition law team has a distinguished track record of delivering results for clients in the most challenging cases, navigating EU and national competition laws across Europe and globally. We advise across the full spectrum of competition law matters, including in relation to merger control, foreign direct investment (FDI), cartels and investigations, unilateral conduct, competition litigation, competition compliance, and State aid / subsidy control.

Our EU law professionals have unparalleled knowledge in proceedings before the European Commission and EU courts across various fields of EU law, having led in numerous high-profile cases. Our team has an excellent understanding of the workings of the EU, drawing on the experience of former secondees, officials and judges at the European Commission and EU courts.

The Brussels office is also the hub of our global international trade and WTO law practice, acting on disputes under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and advising on market access strategies, sanctions, export controls and trade remedy matters.

We pride ourselves on providing excellence in client service and being easy to work with. Central to our ethos is a commitment to act robustly to defend and promote our clients' interests.

Clients (12)

  • Sky/Comcast
  • Google
  • Uber
  • The Coca-Cola Company
  • British American Tobacco
  • AbbVie
  • Synthomer
  • Eni
  • VTTI
  • Sumitomo Corporation
  • Mitsubishi Corporation
  • Marubeni Corporation

Industries (5)

  • TMT / Digital
  • Energy
  • Pharma
  • Consumer
  • Financial Services

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition/European Law: State Aid - Belgium

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.

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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's team is deeply knowledgeable of all matters concerning EU competition law.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

  • 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/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope

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

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope
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  • 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/European Law: State Aid respondentEurope
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Ranked Individuals at Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP (2)

Belgium

Members

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