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 it attracts particular attention for its work on behalf of third-party interveners in key CJEU proceedings.

Work Highlights

Provided by Linklaters

  • Linklaters advised Nasdaq on the merger control and foreign investment aspects of the divesture of its Nordic power business to EEX.

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 behavioural investigations.

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, particularly for clients in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors.

Bernd is very calm, very serene, knowledgeable and practical.

He is very practical, has a problem-solving approach and is knowledgeable about lots of aspects of competition law.

He is able to clearly explain an issue in a way that is calming and understandable to everyone.

Annamaria Mangiaracina
6
Annamaria Mangiaracina
6
Band 6

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 behavioural mandates, including abuse of dominance investigations.

It has been a very positive experience working with Annamaria; I find that she is able to navigate the complexities while being also aware of the sensitivities involved.

Annamaria Mangiaracina is strong on strategy, provides practical advice and makes a point of knowing her client’s business well.

Ina Lunneryd
Ina Lunneryd
Associates to watch

Heading Linklaters' Brussels state aid practice group and entering the rankings this year is Ina Lunneryd. She is frequently mandated by clients to assist with appeals to the EU General Court against state aid decisions and is adept at advising on FSR mandates.

Ina Lunneryd provides clear advice and is practical and reactive.

Ina has been exceptional to work with and I look forward to our future collaborations.

The wider business consistently gives Ina positive feedback on her knowledge, pragmatism and, most importantly, her ability to pitch explanations at exactly the right level for the business to digest.

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
Ina Lunneryd
Associates to watch
Competition: EU

Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Gerwin Van Gerven
S
Senior Statespeople
Bernd Meyring
2
Bernd Meyring
2
Band 2
Annamaria Mangiaracina
6
Annamaria Mangiaracina
6
Band 6
Lodewick Prompers
F
Lodewick Prompers
F
Foreign expert for Netherlands