• Cartel defence and antitrust investigations - Cartel prosecutions are at an all time high in Europe. Coordinated competition authority raids regularly happen simultaneously in multiple countries. Companies need immediate access to experienced competition lawyers in all jurisdictions. We help clients by representing them before the European Commission, national competition authorities and the European Courts. We respond to investigations, conduct internal audits and coordinate dealings with regulators in Europe and around the world. Our EU “Dawn Raid Hotline” - +44 20 7919 1888 – is a must have in your wallet/mobile/cell in case of any raid in the EU!
• Winning the whistle blowing race - Once a company suspects anti-competitive conduct, an audit of employees and documents is essential. The company needs to identify the scale of the problem, the countries affected and options for self-reporting to mitigate sanctions. We are regularly called upon - often in the middle of a whistle blowing race - to coordinate audits across European countries and other regions. We have successfully settled cartel cases and obtained amnesties for clients from European and national authorities. Our Global Competition Toolkit is designed to help you efficiently achieve successful compliance. We also offer online compliance training, customizable by language, industry and jurisdiction. 
• Defence strategies - We coordinate the defence of investigations at national, European and global levels, working with colleagues from our Global Antitrust Group. We advise on options for settlement or reducing penalties through cooperation with the authorities. Our advocates regularly appear before the European Court of First Instance and European Court of Justice.
• Merger control - Over 90 countries have laws requiring merger control clearance of transactions. Coordination of filings and clearances is essential to getting the deal through without regulatory delays. We advise on the competition law implications of mergers, joint ventures and other complex transactions. In addition to European Commission filings, we coordinate notifications across the globe drawing on the expertise of the firm's Global Antitrust Group. We handle in-depth merger investigations and, where necessary, negotiate remedies or conditional clearances with the authorities. Our Global Merger Control Manual details filing requirements in all major jurisdictions worldwide.  To manage the process ‘across transactions’, we offer a merger control coordination service.
• Compliance programs and audits - We provide competition law compliance training, programs and auditing to clients in all industry sectors. Our team trains on auditing, raids and investigative techniques, inter alia, with police training schools and forensic investigators. Our Global Competition Toolkit is designed to help you efficiently achieve successful compliance. We also offer online compliance training, customizable by language, industry and jurisdiction.
• Distribution, licensing and other commercial agreements - We advise on the application of competition law to commercial agreements. We regularly review distribution, technology licensing, joint ventures and other cooperation agreements.
• EU Regulatory and Public Affairs - We represent commercial clients and governments in their dealings with the EU institutions and national authorities. We assist clients in influencing EU policy initiatives, advising on regulatory matters, including internal market complaints, gambling, food, pharmaceuticals, IT/telecommunications, media, e-commerce, environmental and energy law.
• State Aid and Public Procurement - The Practice advises clients, including governments, on EU public procurement and state aid matters. We assist clients with the implications of receiving state aid, preferential tax treatment and other types of aid. We represent clients in state aid challenges before the European Commission and European courts.

What Others Say About Our Team
 “An excellent choice for cartel work ... The firm’s relationship with DG Competition is an active one, with experience in obtaining immunity decisions and leniency applications in complex and difficult situations." - Legal 500, 2007 edition

"Driven by a solid array of high-profile and complex deals mainly relating to merger and cartel work, the firm has expanded over the past year and has increased its number of partners and associates. The Brussels practice has managed to build an impressive base of clients including Falconbridge, Shell and Cisco. Clients rate highly the team’s “outstanding expertise.” It has recently been assigned by an international air cargo carrier to defend it in the investigation into that sector, as well as acting on behalf of Cisco on the Cisco/Scientific-Atlanta deal.”

“Fiona Carlin successfully led the representation of Falconbridge in the Inco/Falconbridge deal. Clients praise her as “extremely commercially minded, clear and calm.” Other clients include American Standard; Mitsubishi and SHV Holdings.” - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our Brussels based team

"Far-reaching experience in merger control and cartel defence cases.” - PLC, 2008, commenting on our Brussels based team

"…expert in the niche fields of distribution agreements and contractual competition law. It excels, however, in all areas of competition law, including issues of leniency, antitrust law and merger control. Its lawyers are “some of the most committed around” and regularly contribute to academic texts on competition law… Head of the department Jörg-Martin Schultze is “an able lawyer with a quick understanding of complex issues.” His pragmatic approach has gained him praise among peers and clients alike..." - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our German team

"…the Paris branch of…titan Baker & McKenzie was widely recommended for its distribution work, though regulatory matters and cartel investigations are also particular areas of strength." - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our French team

"With a team distributed between the firm’s Madrid and Barcelona offices, it handles an array of competition matters ranging from antitrust claims to contractual agreements. For example, lawyers successfully represented Aurum in an antitrust claim filed by two of its exhibitors concerning an alleged illegal agreement or collective abuse of a dominant position undertaken by Sony, Fox Entertainment Group and Aurum. Recently it has been increasingly involved in competition litigation cases. .. Public law and competition partner Ernesto García-Trevijano enjoys a fine reputation in the market." - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our Spanish team

"This long-established outfit takes the top spot in the Chambers tables yet again, with peers stating: “The lawyers truly deserve a gold medal for the practice they have developed. It is very solid, well positioned and without complacency.” Satisfied clients report “good, specialised lawyers with a businesslike approach: they are ready to discuss issues with us, represent us well and are respected by the regulatory authorities. They are absolutely the best in this practice area.” The firm focuses on successfully representing leading Hungarian companies, and the subsidiaries of multinationals, before the Hungarian Competition Office… Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi heads the team, and is revered by peers as “the heraldic figure of the practice: he is the core and backbone of the office.” Clients appreciate the experience that he gained at the Hungarian Competition Authority, describing him as “bright and convincing, with good ideas and a thorough understanding of business.” Praise abounds for Péter Vörös, “a young lawyer with huge experience for his age.” He works for large clients on competition and customer protection issues. Clients remark: “He has a very open approach and always provides us with a number of alternatives. He really understands the needs of business, and knows both the Hungarian and the European markets very well; furthermore, he is committed to competition law - which is very rare to see in Hungary." - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our Hungarian team

"Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi Perceived as an authority in Hungary thanks to his thorough approach and great proficiency in all aspects of competition law. Recently more involved in anti-trust cases - advising on numerous cartels and abuse of dominance cases, with particular strengths and experience in the telecommunications, railway and energy sectors. Also advises on consumer protection and unfair competition." - PLC, 2008, commenting on our Hungarian team

"…takes a pre-emptive approach to competition matters, analysing foreseeable trends and advising businesses accordingly to avoid resource-consuming proceedings. Clients welcome the “corporate culture” of the firm, as it leads to “positive co-operation between lawyers and businessmen.” 
… Head of the competition department, Alexandr César has an “impressive ability to bring creative, intelligent solutions to the table.” - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our Czech team

"…Seen as deserving of marketwide acclaim, this well-established competition practice comprises two partners and four associates and is praised for its “notable activity and commercial approach .” The largest part of the competition workload results from clearance filings in M&A deals; however, the firm handles a fair share of commercial arrangements relating to anti-monopoly requirements, such as analysis of retail distribution agreements. In addition, it advises on advertising and promotion practices related to new anti-monopoly requirements. …Market sources say that Sergei Voitishkin “offers knowledge covering several jurisdictions and always adopts a viable commercial approach," adding that, “he understands what a client wants and knows how to get it.” - Chambers Europe 2008, commenting on our Russian team