Competition/European Law: State Aid | Europe

Hans Gilliams maintains a solid reputation in Belgium for handling matters that involve investigations by the BCA. He also acts on high-profile state aid matters, including work for beneficiaries on the appeal of EU findings of illegal state aid through advance tax rulings.

Andreas von Bonin skilfully handles major state aid litigation on behalf of beneficiary companies. He is held out as a high-profile figure in the state aid space, advising prominent European clients on state aid issues with standout experience in the energy markets sector.

Massimo Merola of BonelliErede has a longstanding 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 and merger control filings before the Italian authorities.

Ulrich Soltész is a leading lawyer in the state aid field, and as a German-qualified lawyer he regularly represents German companies and public bodies in connection to EC state aid investigations. In addition to his contentious state aid work, Ulrich Soltész represents clients in behavioural investigations before the EC and FCO, and advises on merger control filings.

In addition to her state aid advice to aviation sector clients, Annabelle Lepièce is known for her work on behalf of predominantly francophone public bodies seeking to notify or respond to challenges to state aid measures. She also has a broader domestic competition law practice that includes advising clients on merger control and FDI filings.

Denis Waelbroeck has acted for EU member states on high-profile state aid cases including appeals against authority decisions and state aid notifications. He also has notable experience in high-profile cases that seek to apply competition law principles to the sports sector.

Elisabetta Righini is known for having experience in state aid matters as both a private practitioner and from her previous role at the Commission. She has notably acted for complainants to the EC and EGC alleging unlawful aid and is adept at advising clients on the implementation of the EU Regulation on Foreign Subsidies. She joined Sidley Austin in early 2025.

Hendrik Viaene joined Fieldfisher in January 2026. He showcases his state aid expertise in his work on behalf of beneficiaries either facing new Commission investigations or appealing EC decisions on tax rulings. He is equally well placed to ensure companies remain compliant with state aid measures. He acts for the Belgian state and regions on the notification of state aid measures, while his highlight competition law mandates include advice on the defendant side of BCA investigations into alleged no-poach agreements. He has further experience handling merger control filings before the BCA.

Alfonso Lamadrid demonstrates impressive work highlights representing high-profile clients from the technology sector before both the European Commission and the CNMC. He has experience in standout cases seeking the annulment of EC fines imposed against IT companies for abuse of dominance. Alfonso Lamadrid additionally exhibits high levels of activity on seminal state aid matters, where he has successfully represented clients in appealing EC state aid decisions before the EGC. He joined Latham & Watkins in May 2025.

Benoît Le Bret has experience in EU and national merger filings and also assists with the filing of complaints to the EC in response to anti-competitive conduct by competitors. He frequently advises on the new Foreign Subsidies Regulation. He is particularly active for transportation and telecommunications clients.

Carole Maczkovics is a popular choice with clients from the transport sector and also with public sector clients. She frequently advises on challenges against alleged illegal state aid, as well as assisting with the notification of state aid schemes to the EC. She also assists clients with matters concerning the application of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

Francesco Maria Salerno is admitted to practice in both Italy and Brussels and is the managing partner of Gianni & Origoni's Brussels office. He exhibits a focus on complex state aid matters. He is particularly active advising Italian clients, providing advice on state aid notifications.

Ina Lunneryd rises in the rankings this year on the back of high-profile contentious state aid work, particularly in the aviation sector. She has additional experience advising clients on the Foreign Subsidies Regulation.

Karel Bourgeois is a seasoned practitioner with a solid experience advising public bodies and clients in regulated sectors on state aid appeals and investigations before the European Commission. His practice additionally covers merger control filings before the BCA, as well as behavioural investigations and competition law compliance queries.

Lena Sandberg shows visibility on notable state aid matters, with a particular focus on infrastructure projects in the transport sector. She joined WilmerHale in May 2025.

Lode Van Den Hende has notable experience in state aid enforcement mandates, including acting for clients from the transport sector.

Merit Olthoff regularly advises clients, such as public authorities and private sector companies in the transport sector, on EU state aid procedures, and boasts particular experience in navigating clients through the funding of green transformation initiatives.

Dual-qualified in Belgium and Germany, Nina Niejahr has a busy state aid practice that includes representing clients in appeals against state aid decisions, as well as advising on the approval of state aid filings, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.