Department profile
Linklaters

Competition/European Law: State Aid

Global Guide 2026 : Belgium

Share profile

Linklaters

Rankings

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/European Law: State Aid - Belgium

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.

View ranking table

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

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

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Linklaters handles complex tasks with small teams and is extremely effective and efficient with the time spent on the matters.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

  • Linklaters has a strong, mature and well-balanced team with partners, associates and junior associates.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

  • Linklaters' team is not only really easy and great to work with, but also attentive and quick to respond.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

  • Linklaters' team is completely on top of all workstreams and fully up to speed on all technical and industry specific issues enabling it to provide targeted, high-quality advice on the spot.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

  • Linklaters' team provides reliable and easy to understand advice, as well as practical solutions which are critical for the client's business.

    Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Gerwin Van Gerven
    Gerwin Van Gerven

    Gerwin Van Gerven

    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.

    View profile
  • Bernd Meyring
    Bernd Meyring

    Bernd Meyring

    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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

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

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Ina Lunneryd
    Ina Lunneryd

    Ina Lunneryd

    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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

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

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

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

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Annamaria Mangiaracina
    Annamaria Mangiaracina

    Annamaria Mangiaracina

    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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

    • She was a very strong hand to have assist us.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal

    • 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.

      Competition/European Law: State Aid respondentGlobal
    View profile
  • Lodewick Prompers
    Lodewick Prompers

    Lodewick Prompers

    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.
    View profile

Ranked Individuals at Linklaters (5)

Belgium

Members

Provided by Linklaters

Linklaters 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