Competition/European Law | Europe

Maintaining its position as one of the top law firms in the Netherlands for competition law, the firm is a popular choice for clients from the TMT, energy and transportation sectors. The team offers impressive activity on high-value merger clearance mandates, including phase II investigations. In addition, it has a broad contentious practice, representing clients in cartel investigations, as well as appeals against ACM fines and significant follow-on damages actions. The law firm has further experience advising clients on state aid mandates and on distribution strategy issues. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek remains one of the best firms in the Dutch market for high-profile 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 investigations. It has further expertise in foreign direct investment filings and phase II merger clearance investigations. Team members often act for clients on state aid matters and the competition law compliance aspects of commercial agreements.

Freshfields 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. It has a strong practice challenging ACM decisions following both behavioural investigations and prohibited mergers. The team is also experienced in phase II merger investigations and foreign direct investment filings. The law firm has further expertise defending clients in investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. It has a number of clients from the technology and private equity industries.

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 expertise in investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance and cartels, and additionally represents clients in appeals against fines and in damages actions. It is able to collaborate with colleagues in Brussels on European Commission investigations. The law firm offers further experience in merger clearance notifications to the ACM.

Houthoff has a broad competition law practice with notable experience in merger clearance and foreign direct investment filings, as well as representing clients in behavioural investigations and subsequent damages actions, including mass claims. Team members based in the firm's Brussels office also offer experience in state aid matters and regarding compliance with EU legislation. The firm's impressive client roster includes a number of clients from the transport and energy 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 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 investigations into allegations of abuse of dominance or cartel involvement, as well as appeals against ACM decisions. The law firm further assists with competition compliance matters, including around distribution agreements. The firm's team members offer additional expertise in procurement matters.

Brinkhof has a strong reputation for representing claimants 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 and also offers experience in state aid mandates. It is a popular choice with clients from the TMT sector.

Loyens & Loeff has a strong focus on advising private equity houses and corporate clients on the Dutch competition law aspects of proposed transactions. The law firm offers further experience in cartel investigations and state aid proceedings. The team has a number of clients from the food and beverage and healthcare sectors.

Maverick Advocaten is a competition law boutique that assists clients with contentious competition law matters, including representing them in abuse of dominance investigations and in disputes over selective distribution strategies. The team also acts on merger clearance mandates, including assisting with appeals against prohibited mergers. The law firm has further experience in state aid matters. It is a popular choice with clients from the TMT and transportation sectors.

NautaDutilh has a number of clients from the energy sector. The law firm frequently represents clients in high-profile cartel damages actions. It offers additional experience in merger clearance notifications and state aid disputes.

Van Doorne has a broad competition law practice, assisting clients with obtaining merger and foreign direct investment clearance for proposed transactions, as well as representing them in ACM investigations and challenges to potential fines. 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 allegations of participating in cartels or abusing dominant positions. It further advises clients on obtaining competition law clearance for proposed mergers. Team members offer additional experience in public procurement matters.

bureau Brandeis advises a number of clients from the sports industry on competition law matters. The law firm also acts in a number of contentious cases, defending clients in ACM investigations into alleged abuses of dominance and cartels, as well as representing claimant groups in damages actions. The team offers further experience in state aid matters and assists clients with obtaining competition law clearance for proposed corporate transactions.

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 clearance notifications. It additionally advises on contentious state aid matters and assists clients with the competition law compliance aspects of commercial agreements. The team assists clients from the transport, mining and construction sectors.

Kennedy Van der Laan assists financial sector clients with competition matters, including obtaining approval for joint ventures. The law firm also represents clients in contentious competition law matters, including investigations and collective action damages claims. The team further acts for clients from the fashion and luxury goods industries on contentious distribution matters. Additionally it has clients from the healthcare sector.