Christian Duvernoy > WilmerHale > Brussels, Belgium > Lawyer Profile
WilmerHale Offices
BASTION TOWER
PLACE DU CHAMP DE MARS 5
BE 1050 BRUSSELS
Belgium
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Christian Duvernoy
Work Department
Antitrust and Competition; Antitrust Litigation; Cross-Border Investigations and Compliance; Cybersecurity and Privacy; Energy, Environment and Natural Resources; Environmental Enforcement and Litigation; Intersection of Antitrust and IP; Investigations; Life Sciences
Position
Partner-in-Charge of WilmerHale’s Brussels Office
Career
Christian Duvernoy has been based in the firm’s Brussels office since 1990, where he serves as partner-in-charge. His practice focuses on the application of EU competition law and regulation in a diverse range of sectors, including IT/IP, financial services and manufacturing industries. Mr. Duvernoy represents clients before the European Commission in merger clearance proceedings and antitrust investigations, both into alleged collusion among competitors and the conduct of dominant firms, often involving IP-related issues. He also advises more generally on EU market access issues, including product standards and industry-specific regulatory requirements.
Mr. Duvernoy has been involved both in clearance and in opposition proceedings concerning a number of significant communications and information technology mergers (Oracle/PeopleSoft; Telia/Sonera; PPC/Wind; MCI/WorldCom and WorldCom/Sprint; and Vodafone AirTouch/Mannesmann). He advises on all aspects of competition law, including cartel investigations and conduct restrictions faced by dominant firms, as well as in state aid proceedings. Mr. Duvernoy led the team that represented Red Hat in the EU’s antitrust investigation of Microsoft; defended auto parts suppliers and a leading investment bank in cartel investigations; and represented information technology companies in a broad variety of proceedings, including FRAND disputes.
Mr. Duvernoy’s market access practice often raises complex regulatory and legislative issues concerning EU health, safety and product standards. It includes advising clients on the regulatory aspects of e-commerce services, such as EU data protection requirements, online selling and marketing rules and consumer protection issues. In EU legislative proceedings, Mr. Duvernoy works with clients to establish a persuasive evidence-based record in support of their positions.
From 1988-1989, Mr. Duvernoy was an intern with the European Court of Justice (Cabinets of Judge Thomas O’Higgins and Advocate General Sir Gordon Slynn) and the Legal Service of the European Commission (Competition Team).
Languages
French, German, English
Memberships
District of Columbia
New York
Brussels (Associate member)
Education
JD, University of Michigan Law School, 1988
AB, Harvard University, 1984
Lawyer Rankings
Belgium > Competition: EU and global
WilmerHale is most highly regarded for its proficiency handling mandates at the intersection of competition law and specific regulatory regimes, particularly transport and data privacy. Recently, the team has been involved with major merger control, unilateral conduct, and state aid matters. Christian Duvernoy, Frédéric Louis and Anne Vallery are the trio of dedicated partners on the ground in Brussels.