Competition/European Law | Europe

A&O Shearman boasts a market-leading competition presence in the Netherlands, with a particular specialism in merger clearance work, including complex phase II investigations. The law firm also exhibits expertise in mandates connected with state aid and the Foreign Subsidies Regime. It is a popular choice with clients from the aviation and energy sectors. The team offers further expertise in behavioural matters, representing clients in cartel investigations, as well as acting on appeals against fines and high-profile follow-on damages actions.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek remains one of the best firms in the Dutch market for contentious and non-contentious competition law matters. The team offers outstanding experience in investigations into allegations of price fixing and abuse of dominance, as well as representing clients in damages actions following decisions in high-profile cases. It has further expertise in Foreign Direct Investment filings and phase II merger clearance investigations. Team members are highly respected for their work in connection with the new Foreign Subsidies Regime and the Digital Markets Act.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer houses one of the leading competition law teams in the Netherlands, and collaborates closely with its colleagues in Brussels for matters before the European Commission, including high-profile state aid cases. The law firm has further expertise defending clients against allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. With a number of clients from the technology and private equity sectors, the team is also experienced in merger clearance work and Foreign Direct Investment filings.

One of the standout law firms in the Dutch competition market, Stibbe is particularly esteemed for its work on high-profile behavioural cases. The team has impressive experience in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and cartels, and represents clients in appeals against fines and in damages actions. The team offers additional expertise in merger clearance work and is able to collaborate with Stibbe's Brussels office.

Houthoff has a strong competition law practice with notable experience representing clients in behavioural investigations and subsequent damages litigation, including mass claims. The firm's impressive client roster includes defendants and claimants in some of Europe's largest cartel and abuse of dominance cases, as well as a number of entities from the energy, transport and manufacturing sectors.

Pels Rijcken is best known for its popularity with public sector clients, which sees the competition team representing municipalities and the ACM in state aid disputes and challenges to authority decisions. The law firm also represents corporate clients in some of Europe's most high-profile behavioural investigations and follow-on damages actions. In addition to its contentious work, the team acts on merger clearance mandates, including phase II investigations and appeals against prohibited mergers.

Bird & Bird has a broad competition law practice acting out of the firm's office in The Hague. The team advises clients on merger control filings, including acting for interested third parties. It offers additional strength in behavioural investigations, and represents clients in appeals against ACM judgements. The law firm further assists with competition compliance matters, including around distribution agreements. Moreover, the firm's team members offer expertise in procurement matters.

Brinkhof has a strong reputation for representing clients in follow-on damages actions. The law firm also defends clients in ACM investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. The team advises clients and third parties on merger clearance notifications. It is a popular choice with clients from the TMT sector.

bureau Brandeis offers a well-rounded competition practice. The team acts in a number of contentious cases, including defending clients in ACM behavioural investigations, as well as representing claimant groups in high-profile follow-on damages actions. The team offers further experience in merger clearance mandates, including phase II investigations, as well as major disputes in the sports industry.

Loyens & Loeff boasts a broad competition practice. The team is capable of handling sophisticated merger clearance mandates, including those requiring phase II investigations and Foreign Subsidies Regulation notification. The law firm offers further expertise in investigations into cartel infringements, abuses of dominance and state aid. The team has a number of clients from the private equity and healthcare domains.

Maverick Advocaten is a competition law boutique that assists clients with contentious competition law matters, including representing them in cartel investigations and in disputes over selective distribution strategies. The team also acts on merger clearance mandates, including phase II investigations and appeals against prohibited mergers. The law firm has further experience in state aid matters.

NautaDutilh has a number of clients from the energy and transport sectors. The law firm frequently represents clients in high-profile cartel damages actions. It offers additional experience in merger clearance notifications, as well as Foreign Direct Investment filings and the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

Van Doorne has a broad competition law practice, assisting clients with obtaining merger clearance for proposed transactions, as well as advising them in ACM investigations, challenges to fines and Foreign Subsidies Regulation FSR investigations. The law firm also acts on state aid mandates and the competition compliance aspects of distribution agreements.

Based in The Hague, BarentsKrans is a popular choice with claimants and litigation funders for representation in high-profile damages actions. The law firm also defends clients in ACM investigations into abuses of dominance and cartel infringements. It further advises clients on obtaining competition law clearance for proposed mergers, including in phase II investigations. Team members offer additional experience in public procurement matters.

The team at Dentons has experience representing claimants and defendants in cartel follow-on damages actions. The law firm further acts for clients on behavioural investigations and merger filings. It additionally advises on contentious state aid matters and assists clients with competition law compliance advice. The team is often instructed by clients from the transport and technology sectors.

Kennedy Van der Laan assists financial sector clients with competition law compliance. Moreover, the team has recently worked for clients in collective action litigation on grounds of abuse of dominance, as well as defending clients in appeals against ACM decisions. The law firm is also capable of taking on high-profile private-enforcement actions, and Foreign Direct Investment notifications.

AKD enters the rankings this year on the back of strong feedback from commentators. The law firm is particularly active in competition compliance mandates. It additionally acts on behavioural investigations and merger control filings. The team has further experience in public procurement mandates. Team members divide their time between the firm's offices in Brussels and the Netherlands.

Having recently opened an office in the Netherlands, Geradin Partners enters the rankings this year on the back of notable work in contentious competition law matters, often representing claimants. The law firm has further experience in the competition law aspects of proposed corporate transactions, including acting on phase II merger clearance investigations. It is highlighted for its ability to handle multi-jurisdictional mandates thanks to its rapidly growing network of offices.

Taylor Wessing enters the rankings this year following strong support from referees. The law firm often acts for interested parties in high-profile merger clearance notifications and behavioural investigations. It has further experience in FDI and FSR filings. Team members also advise on public procurement issues.