Hausfeld Rechtsanwälte LLP > Berlin, Germany > Firm Profile

Hausfeld Rechtsanwälte LLP
Walter-Benjamin-Platz 6
10629 Berlin
Germany

Germany > Antitrust

Hausfeld Rechtsanwälte LLP boasts longstanding expertise in cartel damages and also supports clients in matters pertaining to digital antitrust law, distribution antitrust law, market dominance, compliance as well as internal investigations. The practice head trio consists of Thomas Höppner and Alex Petrasincu, who both regularly act in cartel damages proceedings, and Ann-Christin Richter, who is well versed in market dominance issues; the latter also covers matters at the interface with IP law and was appointed to managing partner at the end of 2024, replacing Petrasincu in this role. The competencies in antitrust litigation were strengthened with the arrival of René Galle in September 2024, who joined from A&O Shearman.

Other key lawyers:

Testimonials

‘The firm has developed unique know-how in Germany in dealing with large cartel damages proceedings for companies and for “claims aggregators”. They have repeatedly broken new legal ground through their advice.’

‘Alex Petrasincu: Outstanding antitrust lawyer with a quick grasp of the matter, clear formulation (oral and written), extremely client-oriented.’

‘Thomas Höppner: His knowledge and experience in dealing with market abuse by GAFA companies is unique in Germany.’

‘Ann-Christin Richter: Outstanding antitrust lawyer, has extensive know-how in managing large-scale litigation with a large number of claimants.’

‘The Hausfeld team has extensive knowledge of the freight forwarding business, market changes and also good negotiation skills.’

Key clients

alfaview

BMW Group

Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger (BDZV)

Corint Media

Dachser

Deichmann

Informationsgemeinschaft zur Feststellung der Verbreitung von Werbeträgern (IVW)

Jet Tankstellen Deutschland

Juris Dynamic/ProTRC

Koch

Idealo & Ladenzeile

Medienverband der freien Presse (MVFP)

Organisation der Mediaagenturen (OMG)

PostNord

Qwant

Rewe Group

Titan Beta

VAUNET – Verband Privater Medien

Waberers

Zentralverband der deutschen Werbewirtschaft (ZAW)

Work highlights

  • Advising a legal service provider in the course of the so-called assignment model in damages claims against Google for anti-competitive practices regarding advertising technology (AdTech).
  • Representation of the German press publishers’ associations (BDZV and MVFP, formerly VDZ) and the French internet search engine Qwant in the Google Android proceedings, including before the EU Commission, the General Court as well as the ECJ.
  • Representation of various large corporate groups in the individual enforcement of damages claims in individual litigation against those involved in the so-called truck cartel.

Media > Entertainment Tier 4

Hausfeld Rechtsanwälte LLP regularly represents digital companies, collecting societies and broadcasters in contentious media antitrust matters and is well versed in copyright disputes. The team also covers the interface between advertising and competition law and advises on copyright issues in connection with AI models. Practice head Thomas Höppner is renowned for his experience in German and European antitrust law; he also advises clients from the media and broadcasting sectors on regulatory issues.

Practice head(s):

Key clients

alfaview

Antenne Bayern

Barely Digital

Bundesverband Digitalpublisher und Zeitungsverleger

Corint Media

European Magazine Media Association

Global Savings Group

Informationsgemeinschaft zur Feststellung der Verbreitung von Werbeträgern

Initiative Urheberrecht

Idealo & Ladenzeile

Markenverband

Medienverband der freien Presse

Organisation der Mediaagenturen

Qwant

REGIOCAST

RTL Radio Deutschland

Titan Beta

TrueCaller

VAUNET – Verband Privater Medien

Verband Schweizer Medien

Zentralverband der deutschen Werbewirtschaft

Work highlights

  • Representation of the German online advertising industry in landmark proceedings against Apple before the Federal Cartel Office due to anti-competitive conduct by Apple in connection with the so-called App Tracking Transparency Framework.
  • Advising European TV broadcasters on the intended standardisation process for cross-media advertising measurement.
  • Representation of the German press publisher’s associations (BDZV and ZV) in a complaint procedure under state aid law before the EU Commission against the public broadcasters ARD and ZDF due to concerns regarding compliance with the so-called ‘state aid compromise’.

The firm: Hausfeld is a leading disputes-only specialist law firm with offices on both sides of the Atlantic. It pioneered competition damages actions in Europe and is recognised as an innovator in the legal market. Its team comprises highly experienced litigators with a proven track record in competition and commercial — including financial services, shareholder claims, technology and insolvency – litigation.

The firm regularly acts for a number of the world’s largest organisations. Its ability to offer flexible engagement structures, enables clients to pursue claims with a level of cost risk best suited to their circumstances. The firm’s conflict-free platform means that it can take instructions where many other firms cannot. It has considerable expertise in doing so for high profile and high value disputes. In Germany, Hausfeld has offices in Berlin,  Düsseldorf and Hamburg.

Types of work undertaken
Competition litigation: 
Hausfeld is widely recognised as one of the leading plaintiffs’ practices for antitrust litigation, especially antitrust damages actions and antitrust law in the digital sector, especially in proceedings concerning the abuse of market power by leading global technology companies (Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook).  The firm represents major international and small and medium-sized companies in the most important antitrust proceedings on a national and European level. Hausfeld’s antitrust practice regularly wins awards. Among others, in 2020 Global Competition Review recognized Hausfeld’s pan-European work on the Trucks cartel as “Litigation of the Year – Cartel Prosecution”. In addition, Hausfeld was nominated for “Antitrust Law Firm of the Year” by legal publication Juve in 2018, and won the Juve award for “Law Firm of the Year for Dispute Resolution” in 2019 inter alia due to its work in antitrust litigation.

Commercial litigation: The highly regarded Commercial Litigation team  has an excellent track record of litigating complex, high-value commercial and capital markets disputes. The firm has been substantially involved in the handling of the “diesel scandal” in Germany and is claiming damages on behalf of 35,000 VW buyers. Moreover, the practice has established a strong reputation with large shareholder lawsuits and proceedings in the field of commercial and product liability law.

Technology: Hausfeld is one of the leading law firms in the technology and media sector. The firm is recognized for its expertise in resolving disputes relating to the abuse of market power by Google, Amazon, Apple & Co and advises on fundamental regulatory issues in the digital sector at national and European level. The team represents well-known technology and media companies and associations from Germany and Europe.

Department Name Email Telephone
Antitrust/Competition Litigation Dr. Alex Petrasincu [email protected] +49 211 81 999 200
Antitrust/Competition Litigation; Technology & Data Breach Dr. Ann-Christin Richter [email protected] +49 40 22 8985 110
Antitrust/Competition Litigation; Technology & Data Breach Prof. Dr. Thomas Höppner [email protected] +49 30 322 903 001
Commercial & Financial Services Litigation Dr. Wolf H. von Bernuth [email protected] +49 30 322 903 001
Commercial & Financial Services Litigation Dr. Philipp F. Hardung [email protected] +49 211 81 999 200
Antitrust/Competition Litigation Dr. René Galle [email protected] +49 40 22 8985 110
Photo Name Position Profile
Thomas Höppner photo Prof Dr Thomas Höppner Partner
Wolf von Bernuth photo Dr Wolf von Bernuth Partner
Number of partners : 6
Number of other fee-earners : 26
:
English
French
German
Danish and other Scandinavian languages