Competition & Regulation

Bart de Rijke + 30 other experts

Strategic competition advice for multinational clients, globally

… in enforcement actions and transactions, with an emphasis on Europe. Active across almost the entire spectrum of Competition and Regulatory law, our large, integrated Amsterdam/Brussels-based team handles multiple complex matters in parallel fashion.

We have experience in obtaining clearance of complex merger control cases involving potential remedies before the European Commission and other competition agencies worldwide. Our team has handled many high-profile, data-intensive cartel cases before the European Commission, and has a track record of getting fines annulled before the European Courts.

We have extensive experience of taking the lead in cross-border matters with tight cost control measures in place, and efficiently coordinate merger filings, often in numerous jurisdictions, worldwide. We are involved in all pending civil cartel damage actions in the Netherlands, and work closely together with our civil litigation specialists to assist our clients in their most complex matters.

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Global Competition Review's 'European Law Firm of the Year 2021'

2021
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EXPERTISE ANCHORED AT THE HEART OF EUROPE

Our cross-border capability in Europe is second to none.

Over the years, we have earned a reputation for getting enforcement actions neutralised and complex transactions cleared. We collaborate closely with those law firms which form part of our network of Best Friends and together form one of the largest European competition practices in Brussels. We cover all of the major European jurisdictions and are ranked as the best by the legal directories in each of these jurisdictions.

More than 175 Lawyers
40+ Brussels-based lawyers
Across 7 EU Member States

Our Brussels Office

The team are legally sharp, practical and no-nonsense... the advice is always very precise. They understand what we want as a client.

Chambers Europe, 2021

Insights

18 April 2024

Anticipating the EU Regulation on Standard Essential Patents: what lies ahead?

On 28 February 2024, the European Parliament (EP) approved the European Commission's proposal for a new regulation on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). Despite substantial criticism (see, for example, our article), the EP left the core elements of the Commission's proposal unchanged. The draft SEP Regulation will now need to be reviewed by the EU Council, with the overall duration of the further legislative process mostly depending on whether the Council will move forward with this before the European elections in June 2024. Considering the probable upcoming shifts in the SEP landscape, this article outlines the potential ramifications of the current draft SEP Regulation (as amended by the EP) once it has been enacted.
11 April 2024

Navigating the European digital landscape – our updated guide

2023 was a year of unprecedented change in the area of digital regulation – with platforms, search engines and other online intermediaries being designated under the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act, the adoption of the Data Act and the Chips Act, and the entry into force of many other acts adopted in 2022.
29 February 2024

EU revises Market Definition Notice: shaping and re-shaping digital markets

In the ever-evolving digital markets landscape, the European Commission has continually refined its approach to defining relevant markets, especially concerning multi-sided platforms and digital ecosystems. The Commission's release of the Revised Market Definition Notice in February 2024 marks another significant step in this ongoing process, aiming to adapt to the dynamics of these fast-moving markets. In this article, we explore the key updates outlined in the notice and its implications for defining relevant markets in the context of multi-sided platforms and digital ecosystems, drawing insights from pertinent cases.