Field of expertise antitrust
Size can be a problem.
At least if you did not consult us in advance.
The pursuit of larger economic units which may be desirable from an economic perspective often results in complex antitrust issues. We provide comprehensive advice to our clients on matters ranging from strategic planning to merger control proceedings. Additional focal points of our practice are antitrust proceedings and compliance programmes.
»Germany's Top Lawyers«, experts for antitrust law: Hans-Joachim Hellmann
(Handelsblatt, issue no. 204 of October 21/22, 2011)
»25 Top Firms for Antitrust Law«, SZA Schilling, Zutt & Anschütz, Hans-Joachim Hellmann
(Wirtschaftswoche, issue 44, October 31, 2011)
Range of services Antitrust
- European and domestic merger control proceedings
- Antitrust proceedings before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office
- Competitive assessments and antitrust audits
- Compliance programmes and other preventive measures
- Antitrust law concerning distribution and marketing
Merger Control
Corporate acquisitions, mergers, the foundation of joint ventures and comparable transactions require the involvement of antitrust experts from an early stage in order to identify antitrust risks and prepare any necessary filings with the relevant antitrust authorities. We advise domestic and international clients in all merger control matters and represent them in merger control procedures before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office. We combine longterm expertise with experience in numerous fields of business. We ensure the smooth implementation of the transaction by individual strategic advice and effective handling of the matter. Of course, our range of services also includes antitrust risk analysis in an early stage of a transaction.
Antitrust Proceedings
Antitrust proceedings are a further focus of our practice. We represent businesses before the European Commission and the European Courts as well as before the German Federal Cartel Office and the domestic courts. In cartel cases our practice group has especially extensive experience. We have defended international and German clients in numerous administrative cartel cases and court proceedings on a European level. These cases include, inter alia, cartonboard, district heating, vitamins, newsprint, carbonless paper, industrial bags, fittings and freight forwarding. Domestic antitrust proceedings are also significant. We have represented companies from many fields of business before the Federal Cartel Office and the competent Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) and have successfully conducted settlement negotiations with the antitrust authority, e.g. in the wellknown décor paper cartel case.
Compliance
In light of exorbitantly increasing fines and the high risk of detection due to successful leniency programmes of the antitrust authorities, we also render advice on measures preventing antitrust violations. We offer antitrust compliance programmes individually tailored to the needs of our clients. Our range of services includes comprehensive audits as well as trainings, seminars, workshops and any other measures required to maintain antitrust compliance within a business.
