The Legal 500

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has been among the top firms for antitrust advice ‘for the past 20 years’. The team again underlined its top tier status, advising E.ON regarding an investigation by the EC Commission into an alleged market sharing arrangement, and Chiquita Brands in cartel and multi-jurisdictional leniency proceedings (coordinated globally from the firm’s Cologne office). Bayer instructed the team in relation to cartel follow-on damages claims brought in the UK High Court following an EC Commission decision. Helmut Bergmann and Martin Klusmann provide ‘outstanding counsel’, Ulrich Scholz has ‘great energy sector expertise’, Uta Itzen displays ‘in depth knowledge’ and is ‘always available’, and Gerhard Wiedemann’s expertise is ‘without question’. ‘Way above the rest’, say clients, with ‘speed, integrity and expertise that is worth every penny’.

‘By far the strongest capabilities in the market’, Gleiss Lutz has impressive depth and breadth, with ‘outstanding practicioners’ at numerous offices, among them the seasoned Rainer Bechtold and Ingo Brinker, who are ‘very good in all respects’. Syngenta International instructed the team on the acquisition of Monsanto’s sunflower seed business and the coordination of worldwide merger control notifications, and Nokia Siemens Networks/Juniper on a joint venture, merger control and review of compliance with antitrust law in more than 40 countries. Procter & Gamble, Siemens and Daimler are further clients. Martin Raible gets ‘straight to the point’, and clients value Matthias Karl’s ‘pragmatic and hands-on approach’.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP thrives on Dirk Schroeder’s outstanding reputation as ‘certainly one of the best in Germany’, who is ‘able to handle unprecedented situations and to convince authorities and courts’. The firm advised The Dow Chemical Company on worldwide antitrust matters regarding its $1.63bn sale of Styron Business to Bain Capital, and Whirlpool in EU merger control proceedings on the acquisition of the trade mark rights of a German household brand from Otto. It also represented Medtronic in merger control proceedings before the Federal Cartel Office regarding its acquisition of Invatec, Fogazzi and Krauth Cardio-Vascular. Romina Polley and Silke Heinz, who displays ‘excellent knowledge’ and renders ‘very practical’ advice, are recommended. Clients highlight the team’s strong cooperation between the Cologne and Brussels offices.

Despite lacking a vast international network, Hengeler Mueller was again involved in some of the more interesting cross-border cases in 2010, among them representing BHP Billiton in German merger control proceedings regarding the establishment of a production joint venture with Rio Tinto in Australia. It also represented Austrian Airlines in parallel merger control and state aid proceedings, and Akzo Nobel in damage claim proceedings initiated by CDC against members of the bleaching cartel. Jochen Burrichter is rated as ‘exceptionally strong’, and Horst Satzky as ‘excellent’.

Linklaters LLP has particular expertise advising pharma sector and energy sector clients, including the representation of Vattenfall before the EU Commission and the Federal Cartel Office in connection with the sale of Nuon Deutschland. The team represented Deutsche Post subsidiary First Mail in injunction proceedings, and Beiersdorf in proceedings initiated by the German Federal Cartel Office regarding the exchange of sensitive information with other cosmetics industry companies. The firm provides ongoing advice to Hypo Real Estate Holding in connection with the state aid investigation led by the European Commission. Energy competiton law and cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings have been a major source of work. Wolfgang Deselaers and Daniela Seeliger are recommended.

Allen & Overy LLP again underlined its cross-border capabilities, acting for Biomet regarding a worldwide production and marketing cooperation with Renishaw, and Abu Dhabi MAR on an EU merger control case and worldwide notifications regarding the acquisition of Blohm + Voss. A European food company instructed the team in a cartel case regarding pricing coordination and information exchange in the processed meat sector. The ‘outstanding’ Ellen Braun is recommended in a team that renders ‘high-quality advice’.

CMS Hasche Sigle’s large team of specialists covers a wide range of sector groups, including energy, consumer goods, banking and media. Highlights included representing Baerlocher and foreign subsidiaries in EC cartel fine proceedings regarding heat stabilisers, and defending Rossmann/Schlecker in cartel fine proceedings concerning alleged sales price fixing. Clients are ‘very satisfied with the service level, industry knowledge and the hands-on mentality’. Harald Kahlenberg heads the team that includes the ‘very visible’ Tim Reher and the ‘pragmatic’ Markus Schöner, who displays ‘in-depth knowledge’.

Clifford Chance’s practice is set up according to sector groups, with a particular expertise in the healthcare and energy sectors. Regarding merger control work, highlights included advising T-Mobile UK on setting up a joint venture with Orange UK. Melitta instructed the team regarding the German cartel proceedings in the coffee roasters cartel case, and the firm also advised Aachener Chemische Werke Rostock/Rockwood in EU cartel proceedings regarding heat stabilisers. Joachim Schütze and Marc Besen are recommended.

Hogan Lovells International LLP was strengthened through its merger, particularly in the area of media cartel law, where Eckhard Bremer is visible. Insurance sector expert Martin Sura displays ‘outstanding industry knowledge’ and is ‘extremely customer focused’. Highlights included providing antitrust advice to ExxonMobil regarding the sale of the German district heating business to RWE, and merger control advice to Apollo/BC Partners regarding the sale of cable network operator Unitymedia to Liberty Global.

Latham & Watkins LLP advised on merger control proceedings, including merger control advice to Apollo Global/BC Partners regarding the €3.5bn sale of Unitymedia. BayWa instructed the team in the acquisition of Frucom Hamburg, and The Carlyle Group was advised on the acquisition of Open Link. Cases involving claims for damages under antitrust law have been a significant source of work for the team, headed by Marco Núñez Müller and Andreas Weitbrecht, who both split their time between Germany and Brussels.

Noerr LLP has an excellent reputation advising on claims for damages matters, with the ‘outstanding’ Kathrin Westermann particularly noted. The team provided merger control advice for HUK-Coburg, defended Arkema against a damage claim, and continues to advise CEMEX regarding the damages claim of CDC against various cement manufacturers. SKW Stahl-Metallurgie instructed the team regarding the defence against a fine for alleged price and quote fixing. Karsten Metzlaff and Alexander Birnstiel head the team.

‘Very impressive work, over and over again’; the comparably small firm Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte has an excellent reputation nationwide, and features not only ‘assertive’ figurehead Albrecht Bach, but also several ‘impressive’ young lawyers who are held in high esteem. Healthcare and energy are particular areas of expertise, and the team advised EnBW on a stake in VNG, Evonik Power Minerals regarding a joint venture; further clients include GSK and CDC.

WilmerHale offers a well-rounded practice, acting for both international and national clients, frequently working with integrated teams from its vast network. Highlights included advising Deutsche Lufthansa and subsidiaries on merger control matters and the worldwide filing regarding the acquisition of Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines, and two German mills on investigations of the German Federal Cartel office. The firm also advises TUI and Deutsche Telekom on a continuing basis. Ulrich Quack heads the team that includes the recommended Hans-Georg Kamann.

Bird & Bird LLP added Düsseldorf and Brussels-based Anne Federle from Linklaters to the team in a move to enhance the group’s international footprint. Highlights included advising Nokia on the antitrust aspects of international patent law disputes, and Eiffage on the acquisition of Faber Group. It also provides ongoing advice to Delphi on merger control matters. Jörg Witting heads the team that has a particular strength in advising on IP-related matters.

‘Very well connected to the German Federal Cartel Office and the Commission’, Jones Day has particular expertise in international merger control matters, with Brussels-based Thomas Jestaedt and Carsten Gromotke, in Frankfurt, frequently recommended. UPM instructed the team in an EC merger control procedure regarding the acquisition of an interest in Euro Waste, and a cross-border team advised SAP on its $5.8bn agreement to acquire Sybase. It also advised Patriarch Partners on the recapitalization and takeover of a majority interest in Dura Automotive Systems.

Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP added the highly regarded Alexander Rinne, his team and a significant client base, moving over from SJ Berwin LLP. Through the move, the firm has established a European antitrust practice, and already acts for household names such as Dallmayr, Humana, Nordmilch, Telefonica/O2 and ProSiebenSat.1.

The ‘fast and efficient’ team at Schulte Riesenkampff is particularly recognised for its advice to banks such as Deutsche Bank. BAG is a client in merger control matters, Faurecia instructed the team on the acquisition of Plastal, and the firm acted for Hansen & Rosenthal in cartel proceedings. Josef Schulte and the ‘experienced’ Christoph Peter are recommended. Clients rate the ‘great cost-performance ratio’.

Shearman & Sterling LLP’s antitrust offering is headed by Brussels and Düsseldorf-based Hans Jürgen Meyer-Lindemann. The recognised team works closely with the London office, and frequently acts on international high-profile matters such as advising Sal Oppenheim on EU merger control matters regarding the sale of its asset management business to Deutsche Bank, and Novartis on the acquisition of the specialty generic injectables business of EBEWE Pharma.

Boutique firm Glade Michel Wirtz – Corporate & Competition has built up a significant client base of household names such as Henkel; Markus Wirtz’s team represents clients from various industries. Recent matters included representing HDI-Gerling in relation to an alleged industrial insurance cartel, and the Institute of Public Auditors in Germany regarding collective insurance coverage offered by various insurers.

Haver & Mailänder has a good reputation for distribution law-related antitrust advice, with Peter Mailänder and Ulrich Schnelle particularly visible in a team that acted for Friedrich Scharr regarding liquefied gas cartel proceedings. Heraeus and Konecranes instruct the team on merger control issues.

Heuking Kühn Lüer Wojtek’s team has been strengthened by the arrival of Frederik Wiemer from Allen & Overy LLP; the team also includes the respected Rainer Velte. The team is regarded for its energy sector knowledge, advising Stadtwerke Hannover on merger control proceedings and the acquisition of shares in a joint power plant. Audi, Dalli-Werke, and the existing shareholders of Edscha all instruct the team.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP frequently advises on merger control matters with international teams from its global offices, including advising Merck in the acquisition of all shares in Millipore Corporation. Another highlight was advising on worldwide notifications regarding Pacific Centric Group’s acquisition of AIG’s asset management business. Counsel Horst Henschen heads the team.

The ‘experienced’ team at Taylor Wessing has seen an increase in compliance-related work (Mitsubishi Paper is a client), and has been involved in the high-profile food industry cartel case, representing a major food retailer in relation to investigations by the Federal Cartel Office. NetCologne instructed the team on the acquisition of cable networks from Telecolumbus. Marco Hartmann-Rüppel is recommended.

‘Not overly cautious regarding risk evaluation’, White & Case LLP receives praise for its ‘young and dynamic’ team, headed by Börries Ahrens, who displays ‘excellent negotiation skills and risk assessment capabilities in dealings with authorities’. Allianz instructed the team in merger control proceedings regarding the establishment of a joint venture company with ING Real Estate in Hungary. It also acted for Scientific Games Corporation on merger control issues regarding the acquisition of Wincor Nixdorf’s lottery business.