Europe Belgium Competition/European Law: State Aid

Market commentators note Andreas von Bonin's skilled handling of 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, such as recently in connection to renewable energy, as well as COVID-19 government measures.

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.

Ulrich Soltész is a top 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 leads a wider range of competition matters including EGC appeals against EC merger decisions or the filing of abuse of dominance complaints against competitors.

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 BCA merger notifications and contentious behavioural matters.

François-Charles Laprévote is best known for his contentious state aid work. He assists complainant third parties with ECJ proceedings seeking to challenge the provision of state aid to the aviation sector. He is a member of the Bar in both Paris and Brussels, and has further experience representing clients in behavioural investigations and merger notifications before the FCA.

Hans Gilliams is often held out as one of the best lawyers in Belgium to handle matters that involve interaction with the BCA. Gilliams 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.

Hendrik Viaene of McDermott Will & Emery LLP 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 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 cartel investigations.

Johan Ysewyn has a notably broad practice across state aid, as well as merger filings and cartel investigations that fall within the remit of either the BCA or the EC. His state aid practice is characterised by strong aviation sector expertise, while his top-tier domestic ranking is based on strong feedback from market commentators for his capacity to handle sophisticated BCA matters.

Alfonso Lamadrid rises in the rankings on the back of impressive work highlights representing high-profile clients. He has experience in standout cases seeking the annulment of EC fines imposed against IT companies for abuse of dominance. He also defends major Spanish corporates in ongoing EC cartel investigations. Alfonso Lamadrid additionally enters the state aid rankings due to his high levels of activity on seminal matters, where he has successfully represented clients in appealing EC state aid decisions before the EGC.

Elisabetta Righini is known for having experience in state aid as both private practitioner and from her previous role at the Commission. She has notably acted for complainants to the EC alleging unlawful aid in the renewable energy space.

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.

An established practitioner in the state aid and EU competition law spheres, Kristina Nordlander recently joined the team at Allen & Overy. She regularly acts for defendant companies on EC investigations into abuse of dominance and handles broader EU law mandates relating to the free movement of pharmaceutical products. She has recently also acted as an adviser to big tech companies concerning the DMA.

Lena Sandberg enters the rankings due to high levels of client satisfaction and her visibility on notable state aid matters, with a particular focus on infrastructure projects in the transport sector.

Maria Segura Catalán is a founding member of Brussels state aid boutique Clayton & Segura. She is known among market commentators for her work on behalf of European governments in important state aid cases.

Nina Niejahr has a busy state aid practice that includes representing clients in appeals against state aid decisions, as well as advising on compliance issues, particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic.