We act for a broad variety of clients across the spectrum of competition law matters in the EU. Our lawyers understand how the various EU and national regulatory bodies and courts operate and how to argue in front of them. Economic principles underpin competition law and we are well-versed in the practical application of these principles to competition law matters.
In the area of merger control, we have acted on numerous high-profile, first and second-phase investigations at EU and national level. We are used to designing suitable and innovative remedies to deal with competition law concerns in order to settle these cases. We have significant depth of experience with coordinating regulatory clearances in multiple jurisdictions for cross-border transactions. Third-party interventions can play an important part in merger control investigations, and we regularly act for clients seeking to comment in this way.
Clients also come to us for representation in cartel investigations at EU and national level, and when they wish these issues to be investigated internally. We deal with leniency applications, settlement negotiations and defenses to investigations. Clients regularly ask us to attend at dawn raids on little or no notice.
Our team is often asked to review commercial agreements under the rules on anti-competitive practices and abuse of dominance at EU and national level. We advise across the range of issues, including franchising, distribution, supply agreements, parallel imports, rebates, refusal to supply and discrimination. The interface between intellectual property and competition law is often an issue for our clients, and we have significant experience in this area. We also have extensive experience in drafting complaints to regulators on behalf of our clients wishing to make use of competition law.
Any business, large or small, needs to consider how best to ensure compliance with competition law. We analyze what is needed and implement best practices, tailored to the business in question. Our lawyers have extensive experience in carrying out audits and training, as well as creating written compliance programmes and manuals.
State aid rules are specific to the EU, and clients come to us for support in navigating their way around them. They may be seeking state support, may wish to complain about state support to a competitor or need to defend themselves against an alleged receipt of illegal aid.
Our competition lawyers work closely with our litigators, and we bring actions before the EU courts and national courts appealing decisions in all areas of competition law. We also intervene in third-party cases for our clients. Private competition litigation is developing rapidly in the EU, and we bring and defend private claims for damages or other measures. We act for individuals defending their personal interests arising out of competition law violations in the EU.
Market investigations in the EU can dramatically alter the competitive landscape in an industry, and clients look to us for assistance in monitoring and influencing these as they progress.
Outside the competition law sphere, our lawyers deal with all aspects of EU internal market and regulatory law, including free movement of goods, personal data protection, environmental regulation, food & beverage, public procurement, life sciences, energy, water, transport, telecoms, anti-dumping, sanctions and trade. Our developed relations with the European Commission and other relevant regulators allow us to guide clients through the maze of rules in these areas.