Competition/Antitrust | Global

Freshfields has an outstanding competition practice which benefits from regular exposure to far-reaching merger control mandates that often attract in-depth investigation by the EC and trigger notifications in multiple jurisdictions worldwide. The law firm offers:

• Capacity to handle important US competition litigation.

• Coordination of local China filings within the context of global mergers.

• Representation of defendants in follow-on damages claims that are run simultaneously in multiple national courts.

Latham & Watkins brings together teams in Brussels, Washington, DC and San Francisco to provide clients with an extensive network of competition and antitrust experts. The firm is recognised for its capabilities handling both transactional and contentious matters. The law firm offers:

• Expertise in EU and US merger control aspects of global private equity or strategic M&A transactions.

• Advice for major clients on matters concerning both abuse of dominance and cartel investigations.

• Experience defending technology sector clients in parallel investigations in multiple jurisdictions.

• Defence of companies in follow-on damages claims that are filed by claimant groups in different jurisdictions.

A&O Shearman combines strength in depth across Europe with a highly-respected office in Australia, an important presence in China and smaller teams in the USA. The law firm offers:

• Advice for prominent technology sector clients both on formal EC behavioural investigations and on interactions with other competition regulators that are examining potential breaches of local competition rules.

• Assistance with private damages claims brought across Europe and in the USA.

• Experience handling global merger clearance mandates, with notable experience in high-profile transactions in the media sector.

The firm boasts an exceptional global reach that facilitates direct management of the majority of issues arising from international merger control mandates. Baker McKenzie coordinates global teams through key partners based in Belgium, China, Japan, Germany or the UK. The law firm offers:

• Advice on the notification of M&A transactions or planned joint ventures.

• Experience in the coordinated defence of cartel investigations across multiple jurisdictions.

• Ability to draw on the firm's wider network to handle compliance mandates for clients seeking to mitigate competition risks.

Clifford Chance has an extensive global offering spanning key jurisdictions in Europe and Asia, centred on its Brussels and London hubs. The law firm offers:

• Strong experience working with domestic regulators.

• Careful handling of EC or national behavioural investigations.

• Advice on EU and global merger clearance mandates.

Partners in Brussels, Beijing and New York work with local firms in relevant jurisdictions to provide a seamless offering of global competition and antitrust expertise to their clients. Linklaters' China practice is notable for leveraging knowledge of competition regulation worldwide in the design of competition-compliant selective distribution systems. The law firm offers:

• Coordination of vast global merger control mandates through work on high-value transactions in the industrial gases and pharmaceutical sectors.

• Experience securing requisite merger clearances and assisting with the implementation of remedy packages.

• Advice on the European and Asian aspects of global consumer goods transactions.

The law firm leads cross-border mandates through a market-leading US practice and through key offices in Belgium and China. Gibson Dunn offers:

• Representation of clients in cartel investigations.

• Notable experience coordinating leniency applications across multiple jurisdictions.

• Assistance for clients undergoing behavioural investigations in Asia or South America.

• Advice on transactions that attract considerable scrutiny from competition regulators across Asia.

The firm has a highly-regarded competition practice spanning the Asia-Pacific and European markets, with notable hubs in London, Sydney and Brussels. Herbert Smith Freehills' expert lawyers coordinate international transactional and contentious competition matters across the network of offices. The law firm offers:

• Representation of defendants both in cartel damages follow-on actions and in standalone claims.

• Advice on CJEU appeals of EC decisions and experience intervening in judicial review proceedings.

• In-depth knowledge of the TMT and aviation sectors.

Jones Day has a broad global presence that earns particular praise from clients of the Belgium, China, Germany and Spain offices. The firm has proven skill in coordinating advice with non-Jones Day lawyers on transactions that extend beyond the firm's own network. The law firm offers:

• An established presence across US, European, Asian and Latin American markets.

• A strong Brussels office serving as a hub for merger control and behavioural matters that involve interaction with national competition authorities in EU member states.

• Capacity to provide clients with a single-firm solution to many global merger control mandates.

• Advice on global competition compliance and training mandates for multinational and EU-based clients.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, & Flom boasts strong teams in Washington DC, New York, Brussels and key China offices that all win praise for their ability to work with external firms on local merger notifications. The law firm offers:

• Counsel on global M&A transactions, working together with a high-powered corporate team to assist with the merger control aspects of major deals.

• Advice to US, Europe and Japan-headquartered corporate clients on transactions that touch on multiple jurisdictions.

• In-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical, telecommunications and financial services sectors.

The firm advises on cross-border merger control mandates from its renowned London, Brussels and Hong Kong offices. Clients benefit from Slaughter and May's capabilities leveraging the Best Friends network of leading independent firms and with other local counsel to provide global coverage. Slaughter and May offers:

• Experience supporting clients in Phase II investigations carried out by the CMA or the EC.

• Advice on competition law issues flowing from M&A transactions or joint ventures.

• In-depth knowledge of a range of industries including steel, shipping and luxury goods.

• Expertise managing behavioural investigations that span multiple jurisdictions on behalf of financial services clients.

White & Case is a notable player in the competition field demonstrating strength in depth by handling proceedings brought simultaneously across several jurisdictions, including Brussels, the USA, the UK and France. The law firm offers:

• Assistance with global merger clearance topics as well as major cartel investigations.

• Expertise managing distribution advisory mandates on behalf of goods manufacturers.

• In-depth knowledge of competition law impacting the regulatory landscape for the life sciences sector.

The firm is recognised as an impressive transatlantic firm with a strong presence in Washington DC and Brussels for major transactions. Arnold & Porter's team in New York assist with cartel defence mandates across multiple jurisdictions, while the London office adds to the firm's wider capacity to represent defendants in follow-on damages claims. The law firm offers:

• Experience acting on high-profile global mergers for clients in the TMT, life sciences and chemical sectors.

• Evidence of managing transactions that are subject to both a second request in the USA and a Phase II investigation in the EU.

• US litigation capabilities in cases facing the DOJ or the FTC when they seek to block global mergers.

Ashurst draws on the strength of its London, Dublin, Brussels and Paris teams. The firm is respected for its focused competition practice concerning pan-European and broader global transactions. The law firm offers:

• Advice on high-profile global mergers for clients in the energy and transportation sectors.

• Strength handling international cartel investigations as well as related damages claims.

• Experience handling major compliance mandates for clients wishing to mitigate cross-border regulatory risks.

Clients benefit from Hogan Lovells' significant international resources, which combine strong local capabilities across Europe and in Asia, Latin America and the USA. The law firm offers:

• Experience in the notification of global mergers for clients in the technology, chemical and consumer packaging sectors.

• Advice on the design of global distribution strategies.

• Strong litigation practices in key jurisdictions that win instructions on the defendant side of cartel follow-on damages claims.

Baker Botts demonstrates a transatlantic platform through the integrated operations of its Brussels and Washington, DC offices. The firm's specialist lawyers regularly coordinate with local counsel in other jurisdictions to provide rest-of-world coverage. The law firm offers:

• Experience handling global merger filings on behalf of predominantly US-headquartered corporate clients.

• Assistance with EU and US merger notifications particularly in the technology, chemical and pharmaceutical sectors.

• Expertise in the defence of cartel investigations initiated in multiple jurisdictions.

As an international law firm with an on-the-ground presence in over 40 countries, CMS provides strong cross-border expertise in complex antitrust, competition and trade matters. The law firm offers:

• Experience acting on high-profile global mergers for clients in the transportation, energy and e-commerce sectors.

• Assistance with global merger clearance as well as major cartel investigations, sanctions and private enforcement.

• Expertise in the defence of cartel investigations carried out by multiple competition enforcement agencies worldwide.

Covington & Burling has important teams in Washington, DC, San Francisco and Brussels that are best known for their work on merger control and competition litigation mandates. Covington offers:

• Strong links to the South Korean and Japanese markets, advising key clients on EU, US and national European competition law topics.

• In-depth knowledge on M&A, civil actions and cartel investigations.

• Advice for companies from a range of sectors including life sciences and TMT.

Dechert is widely recognised for its outstanding capabilities in the competition/antitrust space, offering a robust global footprint and deep expertise. The firm is strategically positioned in key jurisdictions such as New York, London and most notably, Brussels. The law firm offers:

• A global multidisciplinary team that combines seasoned antitrust knowledge with regulatory, corporate and litigation expertise.

• Depth of experience in handling complex multijurisdictional cartel investigations as well as experience dealing with the DOJ, EC and FTC.

• A strong track record in coordinating with overseas colleagues and local counsel worldwide.

Sidley Austin is highly regarded for its capabilities in the field of competition and antitrust law. The firm's global network extends across the US, Europe and Asia. Sidley's competition team is adept at advising major international corporations on cartel investigation, merger control and clearances as well as antitrust litigation. The law firm offers:

• A robust team of practitioners with proven experience as former regulators and prosecutors who possess a thorough understanding of antitrust government investigations.

• Advice on high-profile global mergers for clients in the life sciences and technology sectors.

• Strong cross-border collaboration on multi-jurisdictional merger clearances and enforcement matters.

Weil Gotshal has an impressive antitrust practice that sees it handle a broad spectrum of work. The firm works with a multinational client base, offering robust expertise in the USA and the UK. The law firm offers:

• Experience in handling merger clearance mandates.

• Advice on cartel investigations.

• Capacity to provide training mandates for international clients.