Global Belgium Competition: EU

Gerhard Fussenegger is an Austrian law-qualified partner based in the Brussels office of bpv Huegel. He is known among market commentators in Austria as an important figure in the firm's competition law practice, earning praise for his work both on merger filings to the Austrian competition authority and on cartel investigations and follow-on damages claims.

Volker Weiss of Schoenherr has experience in EC merger filings and in the appeal of EC cartel decisions. Volker Weiss is admitted to the Bar in Austria and regularly assists with the competition-focused analysis of transactions that centre around Central and Eastern Europe.He is also a peer of choice for other Brussels-based law firms to cover Austria and Central and Eastern European jurisdictions in multi-jurisdictional merger control matters."I always reach out to Central and Eastern Europe via Volker Weiss. He makes sure that there is consistency across the jurisdictions. He is also very practical and pragmatic, doesn't try to reinvent the wheel when it isn't necessary, is good at mining what has been done before and not wasting time by starting from zero."

Volker Weiss of Schoenherr has experience in EC merger filings and in the appeal of EC cartel decisions. Volker Weiss is admitted to the Bar in Austria and regularly assists with the competition-focused analysis of transactions that centre around Central and Eastern Europe.He is also a peer of choice for other Brussels-based law firms to cover Austria and Central and Eastern European jurisdictions in multi-jurisdictional merger control matters."I always reach out to Central and Eastern Europe via Volker Weiss. He makes sure that there is consistency across the jurisdictions. He is also very practical and pragmatic, doesn't try to reinvent the wheel when it isn't necessary, is good at mining what has been done before and not wasting time by starting from zero."

As Clifford Chance's former head of antitrust in Hong Kong and China, Brussels-based Richard Blewett is highly experienced in assisting international clients with attaining merger control approvals in China.

Admitted to practice in France and Belgium, Charlotte Breuvart is based in the Brussels office of Jones Day, acts on diverse matters that often have a key link to the French market. She often advises energy sector clients on merger clearance and antitrust investigations before the French Competition Authority.

The French law-qualified Jean-Nicolas Maillard is based in the Brussels office of Dentons and has notable experience in assisting clients with cartel investigations by the French competition authority.

Axel Gutermuth rises in the rankings as a result of playing a leading role on high-profile complex merger control mandates in the technology and life sciences sectors. He also regularly advises on competition compliance in commercial agreements. Axel Gutermuth is German law-qualified and assists with merger filings to the Bundeskartellamt, as well as antitrust investigations.

Bernd Meyring heads the competition team at Linklaters and is admitted to practice in Germany and in Belgium. He is known for his work on behalf of third-party interveners in significant IT sector abuse of dominance cases. He also advises on cartel investigations before the FCO and EC and assists with EU and German merger and FDI filings.

Bertold Bär-Bouyssière of Dentons is a seasoned competition law practitioner, whose broad knowledge includes merger control issues and IP-related competition disputes. He has particular strong experience in the life sciences sector. He is admitted to practice both in Germany and in Brussels.

"Christian Filippitsch comes straight to the point and always finds a practical and business-oriented solution. He is proactive, responsive and well-connected in Brussels. He also has extraordinary skills to handle multi-jurisdictional matters in an efficient and proactive way." "Christian Filippitsch is pragmatic, hands-on, knowledgeable, and able to handle difficult project situations."

"I have always been impressed by Clemens York's in-depth expertise in the area of merger control as well as antitrust parental liability, which positions him very well as an advisor to large globally active investment firms, private equity and pension funds. He delivers his advice, which is always very precise and clear, in a calm and level-headed manner."

German law-qualified partner Falk Schöning splits his time between the Berlin and Brussels offices of Hogan Lovells. He has notable experience in international mergers that require notification to the competition authorities in Germany and that require supporting FDI approval.

Frank Montag of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has a well-established reputation as a top Brussels-based competition lawyer. He is best known for his merger control work, having handled notable highlight mandates on behalf of manufacturers of cargo-handling machinery and suppliers of life sciences products. He is also German law-qualified and a sought-after adviser to well-known German companies seeking merger clearance from the FCO and EC."Frank Montag is super pragmatic, business oriented and really just an authority on pan-European projects." "His superb quality and subject matter expertise stand out."

"Jens Peter Schmidt handled complex and challenging matters with a great degree of pragmatism and sensitivity." "He is very supportive to our requests and not just focused on legal matters but also very strong in his commercial awareness."

Jürgen Schindler ascends in the rankings due to excellent market feedback. He has experience representing technology companies in appeals against Commission decisions. He has additional expertise advising clients on merger clearance mandates, including those subject to phase II investigations. Jürgen Schindler also earns praise as a German-qualified lawyer who is able to handle German merger or cartel mandates. He joined Davis Polk & Wardwell in February 2023.

Michael Bauer is admitted to practice in Germany and is a partner in the Brussels office of CMS. Standout mandates include his advice to addressees of cartel decisions on the defence of German civil damages actions. He also regularly advises German companies on state aid matters.

Philipp Werner of Jones Day is German-qualified and has proven experience in the defence against investigations carried out by the German Bundeskartellamt. He also regularly advises German clients on EU competition law and some of his key work highlights entail the coordination of cross-border teams to advise on global mergers or compliance audits.

Silvio Cappellari is based in the Brussels office of SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz. He is German law-qualified and has experience in advising on merger control cases before the FCO, as well as assisting with the competitive aspects of strategic distribution systems and collaboration and licensing agreements.

Thomas Wessely of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer attracts particular praise for his activity in significant cross-border transactions in the telecoms sector. He is also experienced in CJEU appeals of merger decisions. Thomas Wessely is based in Brussels and is also qualified to practise in Germany, where his work includes representing clients in seminal antitrust court proceedings.

Assimakis Komninos ascends in the rankings due to handling impressive mandates for high-profile clients. He represents technology sector companies in EC behavioural investigations and related CJEU appeals. He is also admitted to the Athens Bar and often handles mandates that involve interaction with national competition authorities in European jurisdictions.

"Annamaria Mangiaracina is insightful and she provides practical advice which is clear and understandable. She has a great sense of humour and is very approachable. She reads her audience well and engages with her clients on every level."

Francesco Maria Salerno is admitted to practice in Italy and is the managing partner of Gianni & Origoni's Brussels office. He enters the rankings based on his focus on complex state aid matters. He is particularly active advising Italian clients, providing general state aid advice as well as representation before EU courts in contentious cases, such as recently in connection to Covid relief measures by the state. As part of his broader competition law practice, Francesco Maria Salerno stands out for his experience in telecoms or IT sector merger control and FDI mandates that are filed before the Italian Competition authorities.

Mario Todino has notable experience in EU merger control mandates involving energy sector clients. He is also admitted to practice in Italy and has a strong reputation for advising on behavioural investigations and merger control proceedings undertaken by the Italian competition authority.

Massimo Merola has a long-standing reputation as one of the top choices for complex state aid matters. He acts for beneficiary companies or their representative bodies on EC state aid investigations, on EGC appeals or on their role in the notification of new state aid measures. Massimo Merola is also central to the firm's wider EU competition practice, assisting clients with merger clearance notifications. He is admitted to practice in Italy and often advises Italian clients on state aid matters before the Italian authorities.

Operating out of CMS's Brussels office, Edmon Oude Elferink is Dutch law-qualified and leads the firm's Netherlands competition practice. He advises on merger control notifications before the Dutch competition authority, as well as representing clients in cartel follow-on damages claims and in appeals against behavioural fines.

Edurne Navarro Varona is an experienced practitioner in the Brussels market who demonstrates long-standing expertise in antitrust investigations by the EC. Her activity on merger control mandates complements her well-rounded practice and skill set. As a Spanish-qualified lawyer, she is also central to the firm's domestic Spanish competition law practice and represents clients before the CNMC in merger notifications and FDI filings.

Miguel Troncoso Ferrer heads Gómez-Acebo & Pombo's Brussels office. He is Spanish law-qualified and plays an active role in the firm's Spanish competition practice representing Spanish companies in CNMC investigations, as well as in merger clearance matters. He also acts for public sector clients on state aid matters.

Brussels-based Kaarli Eichhorn is admitted to practice law in Sweden and leads Jones Day's Nordic practice. He is experienced advising Scandinavian clients on merger control matters.

Stefan Perván Lindeborg splits his time between Mannheimer Swartling's Brussels and Stockholm offices. He is recognised as a leading figure in the Swedish market. He regularly advises on merger filings with the Swedish Competition Authority, as well as representing claimants and defendants in SCA investigations.

Izzet M Sinan of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a partner in Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP's Brussels practice and advises on transactions notified to the EC, the CMA and other competition authorities. Izzet Sinan has notable experience working together with local Turkish counsel on investigations initiated by the Turkish Competition Authority. He is admitted in Brussels as well as England and Wales.

Alec Burnside of Dechert LLP is admitted to practice in Brussels and in the UK, and he earns praise for his experience dealing both with the EC and with the CMA. His comprehensive practice spans merger control matters, cartel investigations, abuse of dominance complaints as well as advisory work relating to sustainability practices in competition law.

"Anna Lyle-Smythe is fantastic: She provides clear, pragmatic advice which is adapted for the commercial reality of the situation." "She has been a well-trusted advisor to our business. She is a great understander of our company's strategic objectives and when we retain her and her firm in regards to strategic matters, she always has an eye on our interest and is just very pragmatic and well-thought-out."

Bill Batchelor has standout experience in the defence of EC behavioural investigations into the videogames sector. He is admitted to the Bar in Brussels as well as England and Wales and regularly covers merger notifications in the UK and interactions with the CMA."Bill Batchelor is very practical and gets to core of the issue and why it matters to the client, rather than keeping things up in the ether. He is also incredibly responsive and has always impressed me with his willingness to respond quickly and really have a good client communication." "He is very involved in the detail, and driven to bring evidence and what's going to make the difference to the case."

Izzet M Sinan of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP is a partner in Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP's Brussels practice and advises on transactions notified to the EC, the CMA and other competition authorities. Izzet Sinan has notable experience working together with local Turkish counsel on investigations initiated by the Turkish Competition Authority. He is admitted in Brussels as well as England and Wales.

Jordan Ellison is a Brussels-based, English law-qualified lawyer who advises on phase II merger investigations undertaken by the CMA or by the EC. He also stands out for his work representing clients in antitrust investigations or appealing EC abuse of dominance decisions taken against IT companies.

Julian Ellison of Mayer Brown LLP handles damages litigation filed in EU member states or disputes before the EGC relating to the application of state aid or other European legislation. He is English law-qualified and also acts on UK or EC merger filings.