We handle complex large-scale proceedings, often with cross-border elements and high amounts in dispute. We have represented clients in numerous landmark cases. Our expertise covers the entire spectrum of antitrust and competition law, with a particular focus on competition litigation and cases relating to digital markets.
We represent clients in complex competition law disputes before German and European courts, the European Commission, and national antitrust authorities. We regularly act for companies in preliminary injunction proceedings and injunctive relief actions, as well as in antitrust damages proceedings against large digital platforms (such as Amazon, Google, Meta, and Apple) based on the abuse of a dominant position and DMA violations.
Our clients include multinationals as well as medium-sized companies from a wide range of industries, e.g., digital markets, media, automotive industry, retail, energy supply, consumer goods, petroleum industry, and mechanical engineering.
We prioritize efficient dispute resolution in the interests of our clients. We facilitate negotiations and seek settlement solutions to avoid time-consuming and costly court proceedings.
When enforcing antitrust damages claims, we are mindful of the underlying economic considerations and concerns of the injured companies. Thanks to our experience in conducting complex, third-party-financed large-scale proceedings, we are ideally positioned to offer our clients cost-effective models that are in line with their interests. We maintain close contacts with litigation funders, which we can leverage for our clients.
We represent our clients in all types of competition litigation. This includes stand-alone lawsuits where authorities have not issued a binding decision on a possible infringement. Our expertise includes in particular:
- Antitrust claims for damages
- Enforcement of injunctive relief, access, and supply claims (including in summary proceedings)
- Addressing the invalidity of restrictive or abusive contractual clauses (antitrust objection)
- Complaints to competition authorities regarding antitrust violations on behalf of affected companies
Proceedings before competition authorities and courts
We represent our clients in proceedings before the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission – including all subsequent court proceedings before German and EU courts.
Advice across sectors with a focus on digital markets
We advise across sectors and are familiar with the specifics of numerous industries. We have outstanding expertise in digital markets (especially regarding Big Tech).
Antitrust compliance and merger control
We advise companies on:
- Antitrust compliance
- Restraints in distribution contracts and collaborations between competitors
- Merger control
We possess long-standing experience in complex and mission-critical cases.
Selected cases in which we are or have been acting for our clients:
- Handling antitrust damages claims of more than EUR 1 billion for transport companies harmed by the truck cartel
- Representing large retail companies in antitrust damages actions against German banking associations relating to cartelized merchant fees for the electronic cash system, as well as against Mastercard relating to excessive interbank fees
- Assisting an automobile manufacturer in bringing antitrust damages claims against suppliers
- Pursuing antitrust damages claims for a major international energy provider against members of the so-called "power cables" cartel
- Defending a leading German company against antitrust damages claims
- Defending an internet company in an investigation by a European antitrust authority
- Acting for Immowelt in a novel preliminary injunction proceedings against ImmoScout based on the "market tipping" paragraph in German antitrust law
- Representing numerous German and international providers of comparison shopping sites in damages proceedings against Google with a total volume of over EUR 1.5 billion
- Pursuing antitrust damages claims for a legal service provider against Google based on anti-competitive practices in the field of advertising technology (AdTech) within the framework of an assignment model in favor of injured website providers
- Representing NetDoktor in the successful enforcement of antitrust injunctive relief claims against the cooperation between the Federal Ministry of Health and Google
- Acting for several energy companies in asserting antitrust damages claims against members of the so-called ethylene cartel
- Assisting a leading furniture retailer in civil litigation relating to an anti-competitive clause against takeovers from competitors (poison pill)
- Ongoing antitrust compliance advice to a global manufacturer of consumer electronics
For years, our antitrust and competition practice has been recognized by leading industry publications and independent legal rankings for its outstanding expertise and successful representation in complex national and international proceedings. You can find our awards here.
With offices in several European countries and a strong international network, we provide
Information on the antitrust practices in our offices in Europe and the US can be found here:
Belgium
The Netherlands
France
Sweden
United Kingdom
United States
