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 Competition/European Law: Belgium
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Competition/European Law: Belgium - Experts Based Abroad 

Competition/European Law: Belgium

Sources agree that Nicholas Levy is "one of the best lawyers in the market." He acts out of both the London and Brussels offices, and is frequently involved in the firm's most important multinational mandates, such as the NYSE Euronext merger. Clients describe him as "incisive and focused. His ability to evaluate the market as well as our position going forward is fantastic."

Clients are impressed with Antoine Winckler, saying: "He is extremely well respected - he can really open doors with the authorities at the highest level." He is currently representing Otis and UTC in their ECJ appeal against fines for a cartel in lifts and escalators. As well as his excellent EU law expertise, he also handles a number of French competition matters.

Francisco Enrique González Díaz led the team's work on Google's acquisition of Motorola Mobility and also advised Western Digital on its USD4.3 billion acquisition of Hitachi's hard disk drive business. Clients describe him as "outstanding, technically solid and a good litigator." He also continues to advise on Spanish matters.

Robbert Snelders "really gets to the bottom of the issues," according to clients. He successfully defended IBM in a series of high profile antitrust complaints before the European Commission related to mainframe emulation, mainframe pricing and maintenance services for mainframes.

Interviewees say Romano Subiotto QC is "very knowledgeable about competition law, and has a sound business mind." He assists clients from the UK and throughout the EU, and recently advised Telefónica O2 Czech Republic on the EC's Article 102 investigation.

Peers have the highest respect for Dirk Vandermeersch, who comes recommended for both EU and domestic competition. He recently assisted BNP Paribas Fortis with the acquisition of Fortis Commercial Finance Holding.

Christopher Cook "inspires confidence and always has a very thorough grip on the matter," note sources. He assisted Nick Levy with merger control cases for UTC and NYSE Euronext.

Commentators describe Thomas Graf as "an extremely sharp individual who understands the practical aspects of what in-house counsel need."

Till Müller-Ibold is a leading state aid specialist. Recent highlights include advising BNP Paribas on state aid matters related to its acquisitions in the former Fortis group, and assisting Alcoa with General Court and ECJ proceedings.

Stephan Barthelmess splits his time between the Brussels and Frankfurt offices. His activity includes advising Ahlstrom on merger control proceedings before the German Federal Cartel Office concerning a divestment to Suominen.

James Modrall is qualified in Brussels, New York and the District of Columbia. He receives positive reviews from clients for his ability to handle competition matters in both the EU and USA.

Following a three-year stint in Brussels, Brian Byrne has returned to the firm's Washington, DC office. International clients benefit from his deep EU competition experience.

Maurits Dolmans recently relocated from Belgium to the UK and leads Cleary's competition team in London. He remains a well-known figure on the Brussels market.

Mario Siragusa is widely considered one of the strongest EU competition lawyers of recent times. He now spends most of his time in Rome, but continues to advise on mandates with significant Brussels elements and is a regular presence in the city.

A leading light in EU and German competition, Frank Montag maintains a superb market reputation. As one source exclaimed: "He has excellent connections - he probably knows everyone!" Montag is currently advising Swiss medical manufacturer Synthes on the Phase II merger control investigation of its USD21 billion sale to Johnson & Johnson.

Onno Brouwer is a top litigator at the EU courts, and recently represented Solvay in its appeal against fines for a hydrogen peroxide cartel. Clients describe him as "highly qualified and extremely pleasant to work with." He splits his time between Brussels and Amsterdam.

Thomas Janssens advises on both domestic Belgian matters and EU-level cases such as EMI's merger filings. "He runs a very tight team and ensures you get the quality and speed of service you need," said one interviewee.

Andrew Renshaw acts for Rolls-Royce on a range of merger control mandates including its partnership with Pratt & Whitney and its joint public bid with Daimler for outstanding shares in Tognum.

Alan Ryan "brings new ideas and goes beyond what you're thinking. If you ask him for a percentage chance he'll actually give you one," notes one client. He is representing Aegean Airlines and Olympic Air in their General Court appeal against the EC's prohibition of their merger in 2011.

Domestic competition is a key area of focus for Laurent Garzaniti. He recently advised Asahi Glass on a settlement with the EC concerning a cathode ray tube cartel. "He is really great at interacting with the regulators and translating legal advice into business strategy. He has it down to a fine art," say clients.

Belgium and German-qualified Andreas von Bonin is a leading figure in state aid, and continues to advise a number of German state-owned banks on their restructuring proceedings, including Bayerische Landesbank and HSH Nordbank.

Managing partner David Broomhall has recently acted for a number of clients from the energy sector. A recent highlight includes advising ConocoPhillips on antitrust and regulatory aspects of the demerger of its refining and production arms.

New entry Rafique Bachour works on a variety of significant cases, including advising Xstrata on its proposed merger with Glencore. Clients praise his "clear understanding of our needs and the business environment in which we operate."

Thomas Wessely regularly advises German clients, such as Brenntag and Siemens, on domestic, pan-European and global competition issues.

A respected and experienced practitioner of European law, John Davies splits his time between London and Brussels.

Michael Esser divides his time between Cologne and Brussels. He is hugely experienced in both domestic and international competition law and advises an impressive selection of clients in sectors including technology, telecommunications and retail goods.

Luc Gyselen is well known for his time at the EC. He also handles domestic cases, such as assisting Kraft with a chocolate cartel investigation.

Marleen Van Kerckhove advises Cisco Systems on merger controls for the acquisition of NDS, in Europe and around the world.

Annette Luise Schild is recommended by clients as a responsive lawyer.

Silvio Cappellari is assisting Overgas with a complaint to the EC against the incumbent Bulgarian gas companies.

Axel Gutermuth has built a strong reputation for his work assisting German clients with EU law matters. Examples include advising on merger control proceedings for Bucyrus's sale to Caterpillar.  

Thomas Vinje is a leading expert on IP and IT issues in competition law. He currently advises several online companies concerning the EC's abuse of dominance investigation into Google search. Clients say he is "very practical, and able to get a good understanding of our business very quickly."

Practice head Tony Reeves assists with cases before both UK and EU authorities. He advised Citi on the Phase I and II investigations of its EMI divestments to Universal and Sony. "He's done a really good job of getting to know the business and helping us navigate the law," say clients.

A well-respected specialist in Belgian competition and EU state aid law, Johan Ysewyn is assisting the Belgian government with the Dexia bank restructuring. Sources praise him as a "solution-driven lawyer."

Oliver Bretz heads the firm's global antitrust practice, and currently splits his time between the Paris and Brussels offices.

Spanish competition head Miguel Odriozola spends an increasing amount of time advising clients from the Brussels office. EU cartel law is a notable specialism.

Clients cite the Paris-based Michel Petite as an "extremely experienced" lawyer for EU matters.

An expert in state aid, Bernard van de Walle de Ghelcke recently advised the Belgian National Railway Company on the restructuring of its freight business. As well as his highly regarded legal career he also publishes widely on the topic of EU law.

Sources are unanimous in their praise for Gerwin Van Gerven, describing him as "absolutely outstanding." Clients appreciate his reputation, saying: "You can trust he'll be able to speak with everyone at the EC - his added value is the great respect everyone has for him."

Wolfgang Deselaers assists clients before both EU and German authorities, currently advising Beiersdorf on a multi-jurisdictional cartel case which began in Germany. Clients note that he has "an executive mind - he produces documents your board can understand."

Jonas Koponen is "really excellent at driving the process step by step." He continues to represent Microsoft in its complaint against Google for abuse of dominance in internet searches. He also advises on Swedish competition matters.

Bernd Meyring frequently advises German clients, notably assisting Volkswagen with merger notification when it took sole control of MAN. "He has a very good understanding of how things develop behind the scenes at the EC," said one client.

Olivier d'Ormesson is a market-leading Paris-based practitioner, and is regularly involved in state aid cases before the European authorities.

The London-based Christian Ahlborn is recommended by commentators as a prominent specialist in EU state aid law.

The highly respected James Venit handles many of the firm's most important mandates. He recently assisted Pfizer with merger filings for its acquisition of Ferrosan and is currently leading the team's work on the Outokumpu merger investigation.

Simon Baxter recently assisted Diversey with merger control for its USD4.4 billion sale to Sealed Air. "He's able to take complex and sometimes arcane legal rules and put them into a framework our business can use," said one impressed client.

Clients say Frederic Depoortere "has a great demeanour - he is very proactive and explains things clearly." He notably advised Merck on its USD7.2 billion acquisition of Millipore.

Peers describe Ingrid Vandenborre as "impressive on merger control cases." She recently acted on merger control for Valeant Pharmaceuticals' USD3.5 billion merger with Biovail.

Clients describe John Boyce as "a safe pair of hands. He is well connected and respected yet also very unassuming, he just focuses on supporting you." In addition to advising IAG on the purchase of bmi, he has recently represented SC Johnson in the Phase II investigation of its acquisition of Sara Lee's insecticides business.

Claire Jeffs attracts widespread praise for her depth of expertise and commercial acumen. As one source enthused, she is "absolutely fantastic, extremely capable and effective. She's young but has the potential to dominate the field." She has succeeded in winning key mandates from Google and its partners and also advises on UK matters.

Philippe Chappatte heads the firm's international competition group from London and spends a considerable amount of time in Brussels. He is hugely experienced in both domestic and EU-wide competition law.  

London partner Michael Rowe is recommended by clients for his EU expertise. Recent examples of his work include the Unilever/Alberto Culver merger proceedings.

London-based practitioner Isabel Taylor is highlighted for her state aid capabilities. 

Dirk Arts is "easy to work with, great at providing relevant advice and he sticks to the issue," according to clients. A leading lawyer for domestic Belgian competition law, he also advises clients such as ABX on EU procedures such as cartel investigations.

Martin Bechtold advised Royal Boon Edam on the Federal Cartel Office's cartel investigation into revolving doors. Clients say he "has a wealth of experience and exudes calm."

Jürgen Schindler splits his time between the Brussels and Hamburg offices. He represented Google in the EuroCities abuse of dominance complaint before the German authorities.

Formerly based in Brussels, François Renard now manages the firm's Chinese competition practice from Beijing. He has long-standing experience of EU competition law.

Michel Struys splits his time between Paris and Brussels. He recently advised EDF on merger control proceedings relating to its acquisition of the remaining shares of EDF Energies Nouvelles. 

David Hull has over 30 years' experience in this field and is particularly well versed in competition matters relating to the pharmaceuticals, software and telecoms industries. He recently represented AstraZeneca in an investigation into anti-competitive practices regarding the heartburn drug Nexium.

Georg Berrisch is one of the leading litigators before the European courts. He has also appeared in other forums, this year representing Ryanair in a case before the UK Court of Appeal against the OFT and Aer Lingus.

Practice head Lars Kjølbye is a well-known figure in the competition community thanks to his previous roles at Howrey and the EC. He is representing CEZ in an EC investigation into alleged abuse of dominance in the Czech electricity market.

Miranda Cole has extensive experience in mergers and abuse of dominance cases. She is currently leading the team for Microsoft's acquisitions and investigations.

Damien Geradin is advising Slovak Telekom on a European investigation into alleged refusal to deal and margin squeeze.

Bernard Amory frequently acts on antitrust work related to the telecoms sector, and is currently assisting the E5 group of top European telecoms operators with its dealings with the EC. "He gives wise and timely advice," note sources.

Vincent Brophy practises both EU and UK competition law. He often acts for financial institutions such as MasterCard, and is currently advising Deutsche Bank on the EC investigation on credit default swaps (CDS) products. Clients value how his advice is "always to the point, and never too theoretical."

Thomas Jestaedt "is very service-oriented, and has very good relations with the authorities," enthuse interviewees. He frequently assists German clients such as SAP, whom he notably advised on merger controls for its purchase of SuccessFactors.

Alexandre Verheyden comes recommended for both domestic competition and EU law. He advises a variety of clients on antitrust matters, particularly in the telecoms sector.

Renato Antonini specialises in EU and WTO competition and trade law. He chairs the Centro Studi di Diritto Doganale Europeo, an Italian centre founded to study EU trade law.

Paris-based Eric Morgan de Rivery is well regarded for his work on complex state aid matters on behalf of French clients. 

Clients say Howard Rosenblatt "is extremely knowledgeable about this area of law and even better, passionate about it. He brings a great US perspective to proceedings and is great at managing a cross-border team." He recently assisted Eli Lilly with securing clearance for its acquisition of Johnson & Johnson's animal health business.

Javier Ruiz Calzado often assists Spanish clients with EU law cases. A key highlight saw him act for BBVA, Iberdrola and Telefónica on their General Court appeals concerning tax amortisation and state aid.

Matteo Bay's activity in this area includes handling EU matters for Italian clients, and he spends a considerable amount of time advising from the firm's Milan office. His expertise is recognised by sources in both Italy and Belgium.

Competition and trade law expert Susanne Zuehlke is well known for her work with German companies. She is a native German speaker and has practised in Berlin and Frankfurt.

Michael Egge divides his time between the Brussels and Washington, DC offices. He co-chairs the firm's global competition practice and has vast international experience, both in private practice and in-house.

John Kallaugher splits his time between London and Brussels. His recent activity includes advising US Airways on the EU competition aspects of its potential merger with American Airlines. 

Marco Núñez Müller acts from both the Brussels and Hamburg offices. State aid is a particular specialism, and he is commended for his court experience.

Marc Hansen divides his time between London and Brussels. His high-profile recent activity includes representing ArcelorMittal in the EC's prestressing steel cartel investigation.

Stephen Kinsella OBE is a well-known name on the UK and European competition scenes, particularly for his Microsoft work. Sources say he "knows our industry and our sector inside out." He is currently advising eBay on a variety of issues.

Ken Daly is a "superior analytical thinker," according to clients. He recently represented the Luxembourg football federation as an intervener in a case before the General Court.

Stephen Spinks offers a broad practice that covers EU law, trade and communications law. He successfully advised LG on the EC's investigation into an alleged LCD panels cartel.

Clients laud Kristina Nordlander as "a very bright lawyer. She's a strong communicator and has a great understanding of the regulatory regimes throughout the EU."

Commentators have the highest esteem for Jean-François Bellis, hailing him as "a person with gravitas who can really make difficult decisions." He established his reputation working for Microsoft, and he continues to represent the company in a General Court appeal against an EUR899 million fine from 2008.

Andrzej Kmiecik is an expert on the automotive sector, and recently acted for Honda on a complaint against it concerning Formula One racing. Clients say he is "unfazed in even the most complex situations."

Kris Van Hove "is very powerful, always available and leads us in the right direction," according to clients.

Ian Forrester QC is widely regarded as one of the most experienced competition litigators in Brussels. He recently advised Halcor on its appeal in the ECJ against the EC's decision in the copper tubing cartel case.

Jacquelyn MacLennan acted for Toshiba on a General Court appeal concerning a gas-insulated switchgear cartel, which succeeded in having the EUR90 million fine annulled. Clients value her "good relationship with the authorities and excellent experience."

Mark Powell represented Unipetrol and Synthos Kralupy in their successful appeal to the General Court against allegations of involvement in a synthetic rubber cartel. Clients say he "clearly has very high levels of intellectual horsepower but he'll also make his advice practical and understandable."

Younger partner James Killick continues to be involved in many of the firm's key mandates, such as advising on merger control for DuPont's USD6.6 billion purchase of Danisco, and Pfizer's USD2.4 billion sale of its Capsugel division to KKR.

Assimakis Komninos is of Greek origin and is qualified in both Athens and Brussels. His professional experience includes a two-year stint as a commissioner and member of the board of the Hellenic Competition Commission.

Pontus Lindfelt splits his time between Brussels and Stockholm and is admitted to both Bars. His clients include leading Nordic groups and European multinationals.

The venerable Claus-Dieter Ehlermann remains a highly regarded senior statesman. A former director general for competition, he has published widely on EU law issues.

Sven Völcker is a leading expert in the aviation sector, he recently advised Lufthansa on the sale of bmi to IAG.

John Ratliff is recommended for his client-focused approach.

Christian Duvernoy impresses the market with his work for clients such as Apple.

Frédéric Louis notably succeeded in annulling the EUR23 million fine against Solvay in the ECJ after 20 years of litigation.

Thomas Mueller splits his time between the firm's offices in Washington, DC and Brussels, and represents clients before the USA and EU authorities. He is a vastly experienced practitioner and co-chairs the firm's international antitrust and competition team.

Clients appreciate Denis Waelbroeck's "extensive experience at the European courts." In 2012 he represented leading French banks before the Paris Court of Appeal. The court annulled a EUR385 million fine for agreeing interbank commission rates.

Alexandre Vandencasteele recently helped Colgate-Palmolive avoid prosecution in the recent European investigation of the consumer detergents sector. "He has a deep knowledge of the law but also a strategic view," notes a client.

Julian Ellison acts on UK as well as EU cases, recently advising Edmundson on a recent merger control process before the OFT.

Mats Johnsson splits his time between the Brussels and Stockholm offices, and receives extensive praise from Swedish sources. Recent highlights include advising on the competition aspects of Grasim Industries' acquisition of Swedish pulp producer Domsjö.

Ute Zinsmeister divides her time between Brussels and Munich. She acts for major clients such as Colgate-Palmolive, Allianz and Hyundai in cases before the German and European authorities.

Greece-qualified partner Efthymios Bourtzalas's current activity includes advising private sector clients on merger control and state aid issues relating to the privatisation of various state-owned Greek entities.

Fiona Carlin chairs the firm's European competition group. "She understands the business side and she is also an economics expert," say clients.

Edward Batchelor "is very good at coming up with ideas and solutions, he is very creative," report interviewees. He recently represented Sigenia-Aubi in negotiations to lower a fine in a cartel case.

Kurt Haegeman works on both EU and Belgian domestic cases. Clients say he is "fabulous, available, user-friendly and highly valued in the local business arena." He recently represented Mitsubishi in a General Court appeal of the gas-insulated switchgear decision.

Younger partner Gavin Bushell has strong experience in Article 101 aviation cases including Star Alliance, SkyTeam and the air cargo cartel investigation.

Group head Massimo Merola is among Brussels' leading Italian practitioners. "He's thoughtful, deliberate and stays calm no matter what," say clients. An expert in state aid, he is advising Cofindustria on the increase of interconnection capacity in the Italian energy market.

Founding partner Aurelio Pappalardo is a former director-general of the Competition Commission. He continues to advise on both EU and Italian cases.

Maurizio Pappalardo practises competition and European law from both Brussels and Milan, and acts for clients in areas including international trade, cartel investigations and abuse of dominance proceedings. 

Marc Pittie is a leading French lawyer in Brussels. He recently advised Lactalis on merger clearance for its takeover of Parmalat.

Hugues Calvet is a pre-eminent Paris-based competition practitioner. He is qualified at the Paris and Brussels Bars and has experience working at the ECJ. He is particularly recommended for his skill as a litigator.

Peter Alexiadis "surprises us with brilliant ideas and brings a long-term strategic approach to the case. He also has a good sense of humour, which can be added value when you're in a long debate about very dry legal stuff," enthuse interviewees. He advises Greek clients such as Aegean Power and the EETT on European matters.

David Wood notably advised Euroclear as an intervener on the prohibited Deutsche Börse/NYSE Euronext merger. "Having worked at the EC he knew exactly what we were looking for and was able to provide us with very good insights," says one client.

Clients describe Andrés Font Galarza as "tremendously responsive. He understands our business and anticipates our needs." He specialises in vertical restraints.

Clients value Hans-Jörg Niemeyer's "knowledge, experience in state aid cases and commercial background." He regularly acts for German clients, recently representing William Prym in General Court proceedings on the fasteners cartel.

The highly esteemed Jochen Burrichter continues to advise clients on their dealings with the German and European competition authorities. He is vastly experienced in both jurisdictions and sought for his comprehensive expertise.

Düsseldorf-based Alf-Henrik Bischke is a well-respected German competition lawyer and a regular presence in Brussels. His recent highlights include advising EQT on the sale of Kabel Baden-Württemberg to Liberty Global before the German and EU authorities.

Kyriakos Fountoukakos is "strong on the merger control side, reliable and pragmatic," report clients. He continues to be involved in Greek-related matters such as a case for Coca-Cola's subsidiary Tsakiris.

Clients say Brussels managing partner Craig Pouncey "has a profound legal understanding but also a very good commercial knowledge. The way he presents his arguments is very clear." He recently represented Sun Capital before the EC in a case the Commission ultimately closed without further action.

Jacques Derenne enjoys a strong reputation in state aid, although his practice also covers general competition and EU work. He recently represented Samsung Mobile Display and Corning Holding Japan in EU merger filings relating to their joint venture.

Christopher Thomas represented the EC against KME in an ECJ case concerning fundamental rights in EU competition procedures.

Matthew Levitt acts for clients in London as well as Brussels, recently advising Northumbrian Water on EU merger control for its GBP4.7 billion sale.

Paris Anestis is of Greek origin and recognised as a leading expert for competition mandates involving Greece. He is particularly strong in the aviation and rail sectors and advises major clients such as Olympic Air and Greek Railways.  

Jean-Michel Coumes is a native French speaker and is admitted to both the Paris and Brussels Bars. He advises on French and European competition issues across a wide range of industries including life sciences, energy and aviation. 

Public procurement expert Ciara Kennedy-Loest is of UK origin and practised in the firm's London office before relocating to Brussels. She is regularly involved in high-profile national and European litigation: recent highlights include representing Alstom in a challenge to Eurostar's decision to award a high-speed train contract to Siemens.   

Team head Trevor Soames is "a really smart guy - the experience that he brings is fantastic," say interviewees. He is currently leading the firm's work on the Qualcomm Article 102 investigation.

Rising star Stephen Mavroghenis recently assisted Caterpillar with Phase I and II merger control proceedings for the acquisitions of Bucyrus and MWM. Clients highlight his pragmatic advice.

Transportation specialist Geert Goeteyn is qualified to practise in the UK as well as Belgium, and is praised for his ability to handle competition mandates involving both legal frameworks.

Clients say Edurne Navarro Varona is "very practical and keeps in mind the needs of our business." She is Spanish-qualified and often works on national cases such as the merger of Verifone and Hypercom.

Sources describe Götz Drauz as "a highly dynamic lawyer with great experience. He knows the workings of the EC thanks to his time there, which is a big advantage." Renowned for merger control, he represented Caterpillar in its acquisitions of Bucyrus and MWM.  

German-qualified practice head Michael Rosenthal is "a truly creative problem solver," say clients. Highlights include successfully defending Diätverband in the German authority's baby food investigation.

UK-qualified solicitor Paul McGeown advises on competition matters before both the UK and EU authorities. Recent mandates include advising Glencore on the merger control aspects of its bid for remaining Xstrata shares. 

Practice head José Rivas covers the full range of Brussels competition law. He also advises on Spanish law matters, recent examples include obtaining for BT the opening of an investigation by the Spanish authorities against Vodafone, Telefónica and Orange.

Anne Federle splits her time between the Brussels and Düsseldorf offices and receives praise for her ability to advise on international competition issues. She represents clients before both the EC and the German Federal Cartel Office.

Practice head Hans Gilliams is widely regarded as one of the best lawyers for Belgian domestic competition work, in addition to his EU and state aid practice. Peers describe him as "talented, smart and pragmatic."

Stéphane Hautbourg primarily assists French clients with business in Brussels. He advised Safran on merger notification for its acquisition of SNPE's solid rocket propulsion business.

Ulrich Soltész specialises in state aid cases, often assisting German clients. He recently represented Commerzbank in procedures following a capital injection and restructuring plan.

Munich partner Petra Linsmeier often represents clients in competition cases before the EC. She is considered particularly strong in the energy sector.

Philip Bentley QC practises European competition, regulatory and trade law, including state aid and public procurement.

The highly esteemed Clive Stanbrook OBE QC is best known as a cartel defence lawyer. He has years of experience acting before the EC and the ECJ.

Clients say Philipp Werner is "very well experienced and has top contacts with the German and EU authorities." He is advising Flughafen Niederrhein on a state aid investigation.

Martina Maier heads the firm's European competition group. She is qualified in Germany and a native German speaker. Recent work highlights include advising Champagne Cereals on German merger control proceedings relating to its merger with Nouricia. 

Frank Schoneveld spends an increasing amount of time advising clients from the offices of the firm's alliance partner in Shanghai, and is developing a specialism in Chinese competition law.

Wilko van Weert is building his client base in Japan, and his recent activity includes representing Nippon Express in the EU freight forwarding cartel investigation. He is a Japanese speaker and regularly lectures on EU law in Tokyo.

Riccardo Celli advises Honeywell on merger control issues such as its USD491 million acquisition of EMS Technologies.

Christian Riis-Madsen recently represented Western Digital as competition co-counsel in the acquisition of Hitachi's hard disk drive business.

Practice head Peter Wytinck "understands the business rationale and looks for solutions." A leading domestic competition lawyer, he recently advised Carrefour on a retail cartel investigation. 

Hendrik Viaene can "translate his expertise in competition law into practical business solutions," according to interviewees. A state aid expert, he is representing France Telecom in proceedings before the General Court.

Competition/European Law: Belgium (Desks Based Abroad)

Baker Botts LLP has chosen Catriona Hatton to open its Brussels office. She is the former Brussels managing partner of Hogan Lovells, and recently helped Colfax obtain merger approval for its bid for Charter International. Clients admire her "excellent judgement and strong sense of practicality."
David Anderson of Berwin Leighton Paisner "has a very strong network and is very quick at getting you what you need," according to clients. He advised all parties on securing clearance for the USD400 million acquisition by AVIC Auto of control over PCM/Nexteer.
Alec Burnside of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP advised Deutsche Börse on its proposed merger with NYSE Euronext. Clients value his "exceptional creativity, leadership style, and wider understanding of the political issues."
Frank Wijckmans of Contrast European & Business Law is a leading Belgian competition lawyer and an expert on distribution agreements. "He's commercial, down-to-earth and explains everything in language we can understand," say clients. He recently represented Gosselin in an appeal before the General Court.
Werner Berg of Crowell & Moring LLP has "a great overview of the law and an understanding of what clients need," report sources. He is advising Galderma Pharma on its acquisition of Q-Med. He often acts for German clients on EU matters.
Clients highlight Isabelle Rahman of Dechert LLP for her "exceptional attention to detail." She assisted Kellogg with competition aspects of its USD2.7 billion purchase of Pringles from Procter & Gamble.
Clients describe Bertold Bär-Bouyssière of DLA Piper UK LLP as "very responsive, experienced and knowledgeable." He regularly advises on German competition law and is currently assisting Merck with a long-running litigation before the German courts.
Sole practitioner Michael Schütte is a state aid expert best known for assisting German clients such as Deutsche Bahn and Hegemann.
José Luis Buendía Sierra of Garrigues is a leading Spanish state aid practitioner. He advises the Bank of Spain and the government's dedicated unit on the restructuring of the Spanish financial sector. "He is really helpful in a process that can be quite frustrating," note sources.
Simon Hirsbrunner of Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek is a key link for Swiss matters in Brussels, such as the state's ECJ case concerning Zürich airport. Clients appreciate his "experience and knowledge of competition and cartel law."
Damian Collins of McCann FitzGerald is the first choice for Irish clients with matters in Brussels. He deploys his expertise in telecoms for clients such as Vodafone.
Izzet Sinan of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP has many years of experience in European competition cases, particularly merger control proceedings.
Clients say Koen Platteau of Olswang "knows our business very well and is a pleasure to work with." In addition to acting for Belgacom, he advises Ferrero on the Belgian Competition Authority's investigation into alleged price fixing by grocery chains.
At Squire Sanders, Brian Hartnett recently assisted Ashland with merger filings in the EU and elsewhere for the purchase of International Specialty Products. One source states: "His substantive knowledge is matched only by his graciousness and wisdom."  
Foreign Experts
Peter Dyrberg heads the Brussels office of Advokatfirmaet Schjødt. He advises a broad portfolio of Norwegian clients on competition and EU-wide issues and receives high praise from Nordic interviewees.
Dietmar Reich leads Beiten Burkhardt's Brussels office and co-heads its competition group. He is of German origin and wins plaudits from German sources for his "hard-working and responsive" approach.
Gerhard Fussenegger of bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OG splits his time between Brussels and Vienna and is a popular choice for Austrian clients with EU issues.
Stefania Bariatti splits her time between Milan and Brussels, where she heads Chiomenti Studio Legale's competition and EU law practice. She wins praise from sources in both jurisdictions.  
Robert Bosman manages CMS Derks Star Busmann's EC and competition law practice. He focuses on Dutch and European competition issues and is described by clients as "a very experienced" lawyer.
Hans Jürgen Meyer-Lindemann recently joined Dechert LLP, where he practises German and EU competition law from the Brussels and Frankfurt offices. Sources describe him as a "very capable and easy to work with" lawyer.
Yoichi Shibasaki of DLA Piper UK LLP advises an impressive spread of Japanese clients on international merger control and compliance issues. Japanese clients are full of praise, citing his language skills and "very broad knowledge."
Mario Todino of Gianni, Origoni, Grippo, Cappelli & Partners is a leading Italian expert in Brussels. Clients say he "knows the environment very well and has very good connections in Italy."
Miguel Troncoso Ferrer of Gómez-Acebo & Pombo frequently represents Spanish clients in EU matters. Recent examples include advising Plásticos Españoles on the ECJ's industrial bags cartel investigation.  
Italian sources are full of praise for Francesco Sciaudone of Grimaldi Studio Legale. He is a key figure in the firm's Brussels office.
Gerard van der Wal of Houthoff Buruma is well known for assisting Dutch clients with competition, trade, and IP law issues before the EU authorities.
Helmut Janssen splits his time between Luther's Brussels and Düsseldorf offices. He represents clients before the German and European competition authorities.
Gabrielle Williamson recently joined Luther and splits her time between the firm's Brussels and Düsseldorf offices. She has a huge amount of experience in competition and trade law at the German and EU levels.
Stefan Perván Lindeborg heads the Brussels office of Swedish firm Mannheimer Swartling. His specialisms include merger control proceedings before the EC and the Swedish authorities.    
Robert Klotz of Mayer Brown LLP is a native German speaker and admitted to practice in both Brussels and Hamburg. He advises on German and EU competition issues, particularly in the energy and telecoms sectors.
Jens Peter Schmidt divides his time between Mayer Brown's Brussels and Düsseldorf offices and has close links to German clients. His recent activity includes advising Deutsche Post on merger notifications to the German Federal Cartel Office for several transactions.
Charles van Sasse van Ysselt leads NautaDutilh's EU and competition practice. He splits his time between Brussels and Amsterdam and is highly regarded by Dutch sources: "He is charming, experienced, clever and very good to work with." 
Christian Filippitsch of Norton Rose LLP is a fluent German speaker and works closely with a variety of German clients. He recently advised GrainCorp on the notification of its purchase of German Malt before the German authorities.
Michael Jürgen Werner of Norton Rose LLP is a well-considered German practitioner in Brussels. One client describes him as "a very high-quality lawyer - he specialises in international law and advises on all matters relating to the EU and EC."
Highly regarded trade and competition lawyer Edward Borovikov is the managing partner in Salans' Brussels office. He is of Russian origin and regularly advises Russian clients, as well as international clients with issues involving Russia.
Dutch clients regularly seek the advice of VVGB Advocaten/Avocats' Marco Slotboom, highlighting the quality of his "knowledge and service." He recently joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons.
Swedish sources are full of praise for Advokatfirman Vinge KB's Kristian Hugmark. His extensive experience in Brussels, including time spent with the EC, is particularly valued.  
Martin Johansson is a Swedish competition specialist based in the Brussels office of Advokatfirman Vinge KB.  
Charlotte Breuvart is a France-qualified partner based in Willkie Farr & Gallagher's Brussels office. She advises French and international clients on competition and corporate matters across a broad range of sectors.
Foreign Experts (Based Abroad)
Cani Fernández heads Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira's EU and competition law practice group and divides her time between the Madrid and Brussels offices. She wins exceptional client feedback and has notable expertise in the life sciences sector.  
Andrew Ward of Cuatrecasas Gonçalves Pereira handles EU and Spanish competition law, with mergers, competition investigations and regulatory advice among his key focus areas. He is based in Madrid but is a regular presence in Brussels.
The hugely respected Jonathan Branton heads DWF LLP's EU law and competition practice from the firm's Manchester office. He is a member of the Brussels Bar and regularly represents clients before the EU competition authorities. State aid is a key specialism.
Kristien Carbonez heads Liedekerke Wolters Waelbroeck Kirkpatrick's London office. She is an IP specialist and advises clients on EU-wide issues. Her considerable international capabilities are augmented by her admission to both the Brussels and New York Bars. 
Formerly a partner of Latham & Watkins in both Germany and Belgium, competition expert Andreas Weitbrecht has recently become a sole practitioner. However, he continues to collaborate closely with Latham & Watkins on major transactions. He wins praise for his excellent client service: "You are in very safe hands with him. He has a client-friendly style; his memos are clear and to the point, and he highlights all the potential risks."
Christian Wik is a leading Finnish competition lawyer based in Roschier's Helsinki office. He has previously practised in Brussels, and is particularly highlighted by sources for his international merger control experience. 
Jörg Karenfort heads Salans' global competition practice and divides his time between the Berlin and Brussels offices. Sources highlight him as a "very experienced" competition practitioner.  
The Stockholm-based Marcus Glader of Advokatfirman Vinge KB previously practised in Brussels for many years. He is an expert in EU competition law and is commended for his solution-oriented approach.
Jacques-Philippe Gunther heads Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP's EU and competition law group and divides his time between the Paris and Brussels offices. His recent activity includes assisting EDF with a number of merger notifications.

Future Events 

16th May 2013: GC Seminar, London Sponsor-backed IPOs: IPO Exits of Portfolio Companies

21st May 2013: GC Seminar, New York Hackers Are After Your Data!: Practical Ways To Reduce Data Security Breach Exposure

23 May 2013: Chambers USA Awards for Excellence 2013, New York 

24 May 2013: Launch of Chambers USA 2013, New York and online

29th May 2013: GC Seminar, New York Going Mobile: IP and Privacy Considerations

4th June 2013: GC Seminar, Houston Challenges in Creating An Effective and Coordinated Global Compliance Program

9 September 2013: Chambers Latin America Awards 2013, Miami

10 September 2013: Launch of Chambers Latin America 2014, online

3rd October 2013: Chambers Bar Awards 2013, London

 

Chambers News

10 May 2012: Chambers Europe Awards for Excellence, Amsterdam