Brussels: In the News

EU Considers Self-Initiated Trade Case Against Chinese Telecom Firms
April 4, 2012 — Inside US-China Trade

Brussels-based International Trade Group partner Laurent Ruessmann speaks to Inside US-China Trade about the European Commission's consideration of an anti-subsidy and possibly an antidumping investigation into sales of mobile telecommunications network equipment by China's two largest telecom companies.

According to Ruessmann, there would be concerns on two levels. He notes that one level is the technical aspect, since an ex officio case is not a "short cut on the technical justification for a case: you still need evidence of dumping, subsidies and causation." The other level is political, "because this is something that has not been done before and because you are talking about an extremely sensitive sector."

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Revising EU Trade Rules to Build a More United Europe
March 20-26, 2011 — New Europe

Laurent Ruessmann, Brussels-based partner and head the firm's European Trade practice, writes about building the unity of Europe through international trade.

According to Ruessmann, “the challenges for Europe brought on by the globalization of supply chains, the constant development of new products and technologies, and the changing policies of individual countries, are the same challenges that will provide important opportunities for building the unity of Europe in the domain of international trade.”

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Class action’ ook bij ons al mogelijk
June 10, 2009 — De Tijd (author Willem de Bock)

Emmanuel Gybels, managing partner of Crowell & Moring's Brussels office who focuses his practice on litigation, commercial and corporate law matters, was featured in De Tijd commenting on the increasing trend towards class actions in Europe following the Belgian Fortis trial. Gybels explained how an increasing number of private parties - especially in the UK and Germany - are importing the US model and asking for collective damages for antitrust infringements, and in particular cartels. According to Gybels, European Commission's Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes' recent statements encourage this.

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Het merk Merckx: als je naam doet kopen
June 5, 2009 — De Tijd (author Erika Racquet)

Crowell & Moring Brussels-based Intellectual Property Group partner Flip Petillion is featured in De Tijd for his comments on the protection of domain names in the framework of a brand protection strategy. The article presents the successful protection of the domain name by Crowell & Moring of a very well-known Belgian cyclist Eddy Merckx. In the article, Petillion explains the process of brand protection, and indicates that a domain name is nowadays more important than a brand name or a logo. As a result of Petillion’s efforts, Eddy Merckx Cycles is able to claim the domain names merckx.com and Eddy-merckx.com.

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French Banking Merger Receives EU Clearance
February 25, 2009 — Global Competition Review

Crowell & Moring LLP Antitrust Group Brussels-based counsel Sean-Paul Brankin is featured for his comments on the European Commission’s clearance of banker and insurer Crédit Mutuel's proposed acquisition of credit company Cofidis.

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Kroes Addresses Parliament on Banking Crisis
October 7, 2008 — Global Competition Review

Crowell & Moring Brussels office Antitrust Group counsel Sean-Paul Brankin is featured for his comments on the European Commission's response to the current banking crisis.

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Competition: Collective Redress: Commission to Distance Itself from US Model
April 9, 2008 — EUROPOLITICS

Crowell & Moring Brussels office partner Thomas de Meese is featured in EUROPOLITICS for his comments on whether Europe can create its own system of collective redress. On April 3, 2008, the European Commission issued a White Paper on preliminary proposals for a new European basis for collective damages claims.

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Brussels Enters the Fray Over Class Actions
March 27, 2008 — Financial Times

Managing Partner of Crowell & Moring’s Brussels office, Emmanuel Gybels, is featured for his comments on the idea of group damages claims (a.k.a. class actions) that are slowly taking root in Europe. This is a result of the European Commission’s recent request for views on principles that could guide the development of a pan-European "collective action" system.

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