About

Provided by Linklaters

Our Brussels-based team is markedly international and regarded by corporates, regulators and peers as one of the leading Antitrust & Foreign Investment practices. We are part of a worldwide group, which enables us to scale up easily and to rely on specific expertise or skills in other offices.

What sets us apart is our track record of success in dealing effectively and efficiently with complex matters by providing top-rate legal advice and astute strategic counselling, and our ability to access and talk easily with decision-makers, as well as our belonging to a broader, truly integrated team.

We handle cases before the European Commission, as well as across Europe and the world, co-ordinating filings for global deals or the defence in conduct investigations.

The practice has a strong track record assisting clients in merger reviews. We have successfully supported clients in getting their deals through in a number of challenging merger reviews.

We are at the forefront of defending clients in cartel investigations and other conduct investigations, including dominance cases. Our lawyers have first-hand experience in litigating as well as settling follow-on damages cases.

Our State Aid practice is among the very best in Brussels and we have assisted clients on investigations into banking rescue packages and tax rulings.

Please visit the Linklaters website for more details about our work in this category: https://www.linklaters.com/en/client-services/antitrust-and-foreign-investment


Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition: EU - Belgium

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Linklaters has handled standout consumer goods, life sciences and IT sector transactions that are subject to merger control investigations in the EU, and that often leverage the firm's wider network of competition teams for the coordination of global filings. The team has demonstrable experience in deals that raise significant foreign direct investment issues in multiple jurisdictions and is a key contact for investment firms. Linklaters has further experience representing companies in abuse of dominance investigations, and appeals against fines. It attracts particular attention for its work on behalf of third-party interveners in key CJEU proceedings. Team members are also able to represent clients in contentious state aid proceedings.

Work Highlights

  • Linklaters advised Novo on the merger control, FDI and FSR aspects of its proposed acquisition of Catalent.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Senior Statespeople

Gerwin Van Gerven is a senior partner and a key name in Linklaters' Brussels-based EU competition team. He has notable experience in both merger filings and appeals against fines.

Bernd Meyring
2
Bernd Meyring
2
Band 2

Bernd Meyring heads the firm's global antitrust and foreign investment group and is admitted to practice in Germany and in Belgium. He is known for his work on behalf of third-party interveners in abuse of dominance cases and for assisting clients in appealing European Commission decisions. He also assists with merger and FDI filings. He is particularly popular with clients in the technology sector.

He is one of the absolute best EU competition lawyers.

He is really impressive and all the work is delivered on time despite the fact he is very busy.

Whenever we brief him about a new matter, he not only immediately asks the right questions but immediately comes up with an excellent idea how to tackle the matter.

Ina Lunneryd
3
Ina Lunneryd
3
Band 3

Ina Lunneryd rises in the rankings this year on the back of high-profile contentious state aid work, particularly in the aviation sector. She has additional experience advising clients on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

She offers great responsiveness and the right amount of pragmatism when it comes to handling our cases.

She is a great partner with great insights and dedicated attitudes. We really enjoy the cooperation with her.

Ina Lunneryd provides clear and concise advice, and is practical and reactive.

Annamaria Mangiaracina
5
Annamaria Mangiaracina
5
Band 5

Annamaria Mangiaracina counts large multinationals among her client list, for which she advises on cross-border merger control and FDI filings before the European Commission and other national authorities, including - as an Italian-qualified lawyer - the ICA. Her practice extends to appeals against merger control decisions.

Annamaria Mangiaracina is an excellent and very experienced lawyer.

Annamaria knows her craft and her client's business well. She is strong on strategy, provides clear and insightful advice, and she instils confidence in her clients.

She was a very strong hand to have assist us.

Annamaria Mangiaracina is an extremely competent professional who is capable of giving support that is not only of high quality from a technical point of view, but also extremely pragmatic.

Lodewick Prompers
F
Lodewick Prompers
F
Foreign Expert
Dutch-qualified lawyer Lodewick Prompers has notable experience assisting clients with obtaining merger clearance before the Dutch competition authorities and representing clients in ACM investigations into alleged abuse of dominance.

Ranked Lawyers at
Linklaters

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Belgium

Competition/European Law: State Aid

Ina Lunneryd
3
Ina Lunneryd
3
Band 3
Competition: EU

Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Senior Statespeople
Bernd Meyring
2
Bernd Meyring
2
Band 2
Annamaria Mangiaracina
5
Annamaria Mangiaracina
5
Band 5
Lodewick Prompers
F
Lodewick Prompers
F
Foreign expert for Netherlands