European Competition Law
The European competition law practice extends Crowell & Moring's unparalleled levels of quality and client service across the full range of European competition law matters - including mergers, litigation, IP/antitrust, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, counseling and sector inquiries. Based in Brussels and London, we offer a wealth of experience before the European Commission, the EU Courts and a range of national courts and regulators, to a broad client base including leading European and US multi-nationals. We pride ourselves on offering both first-class European competition law advice and a seamless service with our U.S. antitrust practice.
Mergers. Our experience includes representing clients in second stage proceedings and participating in some of the most significant transactions reviewed under the EU Merger Regulation both representing merging companies and third party interveners. We have extensive experience managing the challenges that arise in simultaneous clearance procedure before the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice/Federal Trade Commission as well as most other merger control authorities across the globe. At the EU level we have obtained clearances for transactions in industries including telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, crop protection, the automobile industry, industrial components and the Internet.
Litigation. Our practice encompasses both traditional defense litigation and a cutting-edge recovery practice. On the defense side, our attorneys are regularly involved in litigation before the EU courts in Luxemburg and in competition law-related litigation at a national level. We have also developed one of the leading recovery practices in Europe representing large industrial clients wishing to recover damages and other value from cartelists, and we currently have active cases in the UK, Belgium and Germany. We focus on developing innovative solutions that allow clients to maximize recovery while limiting upfront costs and minimizing risks.
Antitrust and IP. We routinely advise clients including a number of leading patent pools and undertakings with business critical IP across a range of IP/antitrust issues including standard setting, licensing and R&D arrangements.
Cartel investigations. We have represented clients both in international investigations before the European Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice and in national investigations before various national authorities in Europe.
Abuse of dominance investigations. We have represented companies both in investigations before the European Commission and in national investigations before various national authorities in Europe. Again, we have extensive experience defending clients in administrative fine procedures as well as bringing formal complaints
Counseling. We have particular expertise in offering business-focused advice on complex issues and "hot topics." This includes routinely counseling companies with strong market positions across the range of their activities to avoid abuse of dominance issues and advising on complex areas such as the treatment of aftermarkets and information exchange. We regularly provide advice on joint ventures and other agreements between competitors and deliver custom-made interactive compliance programs and training, including in relation to person criminal and civil liability.
Sector inquiries. We advise clients involved in sector inquiries and other industry investigations including the recent EU Pharmaceuticals sector inquiry and the UK market investigation in insolvency practices.
For more information about our European Competition practice, please contact Werner Berg, Thomas DeMeese or Rob Murray.