Competition/European Law | Europe

Morais Leitão, Galvão Teles, Soares da Silva & Associados maintains its position as a leading firm on the Portuguese competition law market, with particular strength in representing clients in investigations into alleged abuses of dominance, cartels and no-poach agreements. It additionally represents clients in subsequent appeals against fines and in damages actions. The team also offers notable expertise in merger clearance notifications and contentious and non-contentious state aid matters. It is a popular choice with clients from the energy, TMT and financial services sectors.

PLMJ has noteworthy strength in class action damages claims, defending clients in both standalone and follow-on litigation. The firm offers market-leading strength in investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour. It is also active in merger clearance notifications, gun-jumping cases and state aid mandates.

SRS Legal is one of the leading law firms in Portugal with respect to representing clients in investigations into possible cartels, abuses of dominance and anti-competitive commercial agreements. The team also acts for clients in appeals against fines and in damages actions. It has further notable expertise in merger clearance notifications. It has a number of clients from the retail, energy and natural resources sectors.

VdA possess a team with notable strength in contentious competition law matters, representing clients in investigations into no-poach agreements, cartels and abuses of dominance. The law firm further acts for clients on challenges to authority decisions, as well as stand-alone and follow-on damages actions. It also assists with merger control filings and state aid mandates.

Cuatrecasas is well known for its ability to assist clients with obtaining competition law approval for proposed joint ventures and mergers, often acting with its Spanish colleagues on cross-border filings. The firm has additional experience in behavioural matters, representing clients in investigations into possible bid rigging, hub-and-spoke agreements and no-poach agreements. It also acts for clients on damages actions.

A popular choice with clients from the banking and technology sector, Linklaters advises clients on merger clearance notifications and investigations into alleged cartels and abuses of dominance. The firm has further expertise in challenges to authority decisions and damages actions.

Uría Menéndez is able to cover a broad range of competition law topics. The firm frequently acts for clients on merger control filings. In addition, the team has experience representing clients in investigations into alleged illegal information sharing, as well as assisting with challenges to authority decisions and damages actions. It also acts for clients on competition law compliance mandates.

Antas da Cunha Ecija assists clients with both competition law and European law matters, often representing energy sector clients before the CJEU in matters based on EU directives. The team also has experience representing clients in contentious competition law matters and state aid mandates.

CMS frequently acts for clients in investigations into alleged cartels, as well as defending them in complaints of abuse of dominance. The firm also assists with obtaining competition law approval for proposed mergers. The team has further experience in state aid mandates.

Garrigues has particular experience in behavioural investigations and in subsequent challenges to fines imposed by the Portuguese Competition Authority. The firm is a popular choice with clients from the automotive sector seeking advice on the competition law compliance aspects of distribution strategies. It has further experience in merger clearance notifications.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo assists clients in the full range of contentious competition law matters, representing them in initial investigations as well as subsequent challenges to authority decisions and damages actions. The firm offers additional experience in merger clearance notifications and competition law compliance mandates.

Sérvulo & Associados is particularly active in state aid matters. The firm also assists clients with behavioural matters, including appeals against competition authority decisions. It additionally advises clients, including interested third parties, on merger control mandates.

The lawyers at Abreu Advogados cover a wide range of competition law matters, representing clients in behavioural investigations and advising on competition law approval for proposed mergers and joint ventures. The team has further experience in competition law compliance mandates. It also acts on state aid disputes.

DLA Piper enters the rankings this year following notable activity in behavioural matters, including representing clients in investigations into possible cartels, advising on challenges to authority decisions and defending them in high-profile follow-on damages actions. The firm offers further experience in merger clearance notifications, as well as assisting with competition law compliance mandates.

TELLES frequently acts for clients on competition law compliance mandates, particularly concerning queries in relation to distribution strategies. The firm is also experienced in merger clearance notifications. The team additionally represents clients in appeals against fines imposed by the Portuguese Competition Authority.