Crowell & Moring Expands Brussels Office With Addition of Four New Lawyers

New Hires Enhance Firm's Antitrust Capabilities

Washington, D.C. – September 29, 2005: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the addition of four new lawyers to the firm's Brussels office, including leading antitrust partner Dr. Werner Berg, who joins from the German law firm Gleiss Lutz. The news comes just one week after Crowell & Moring added two former Pinsent Masons partners, Paul Finlan and Gary Laitner, to its London office. The six new additions within the last week bolster the firm's European presence, particularly in Brussels where the office of 18 lawyers will gain increased strength in antitrust, international trade, intellectual property, and privacy practice areas.

“Our new additions are an answer to increasing client demands in areas like antitrust and intellectual property. We are particularly excited to develop a deeper set of capabilities for clients with interests in Germany through the addition of Werner, who brings more than 10 years of hands-on experience,” said Crowell & Moring partner Emmanuel Gybels, who heads the Brussels office.

Berg's practice focuses on the entire spectrum of European Union and German antitrust law, including the area of merger control and international trade. Crowell & Moring's longstanding German clients include major automobile manufacturers and leaders in the aerospace, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries.

Additional hires to the Brussels office include three associates, Dr. Volker Soyez, Benito Boone, and Jan Dhont. An antitrust lawyer, Soyez also hails from Gleiss Lutz. Boone is a former legal advisor for the Belgian Public Health Department who joins to support the firm's leading Intellectual Property Group. And Dhont, formerly with Hunton & Williams, will practice in the firm's Privacy & Data Protection Group.

“Crowell & Moring is a truly unique U.S. firm because it thrives on a culture of genuine teamwork and is uncompromising in its pursuit of client service. Our clients require a depth and breadth of expertise that can achieve results internationally, and I am proud be a part of this team,” said Berg.

Peter Vandeghinste, Competition Law Counsel at Nestlé S.A., said, “I have regularly turned to Werner as a trusted advisor on matters of critical importance. He anticipates what's next and offers legal counsel with the business goal in mind. Crowell & Moring will surely benefit from his experience.”

Crowell & Moring LLP is a full-service law firm with approximately 300 attorneys practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, corporate, intellectual property and more than 40 other practice areas. More than two-thirds of the firm's attorneys regularly litigate disputes on behalf of international corporations, start-up businesses, and individuals. Crowell & Moring's extensive client work ranges from advising on one of the world's largest telecommunications mergers to founding the nation's leading victims of terrorism practice. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm has offices in Brussels, California and London.