Gleiss Lutz‘s partners are regulars before the European Commission and other competition authorities in cartel proceedings, acting for defendants in both investigations and damages hearings. Alongside this, the practice is also well placed to assist clients through Phase I and II merger controls before the German Federal Cartel Office. Litigator Petra Linsmeier spearheads the firm’s competition efforts, using her extensive experience in cartel proceedings to represent defendants across, inter alia, the energy and automotive sectors. Ulrich Denzel combines litigation expertise with a strong merger control practice, while Christian Steinle is noted for his capabilities in defending cartel claims, including in private proceedings, while also overseeing clients’ internal investigations and assisting them with competition law compliance programmes. Ines Bodenstein departed the firm in June 2025, moving to the BGH.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'High quality team in terms of substance and speed. Very much involved in particular in tech cases with deep knowledge about the industry.'
- 'Gleiss Lutz is a great team to work with. Even though it is relatively recent in the banking financial services sector, advice provided is always reliable and technically accurate.'
- 'Petra Linsmeier and her team provide reliable support in antitrust cases, based on a vast experience. Their network with experts in related fields helps to achieve the goals.'
- 'Petra Linsmeier's great experience representing both sides in antitrust cases is their key asset.'
- 'They have an excellent handle over their matters, an outstanding relationship with their clientele and are trusted and relied by the largest companies in Germany for the incredible quality of their work. In particular - the extent to which partner are involved on every call and on every call and the high standard of their counsel makes GL stand out amongst its peer.'
- 'Each of their individuals are outstanding practitioners for their attention to detail, their excellent client relationships and the perfect balance between being engaged with the file and allowing their local counterparts to make appropriate decisions on the ground. They are pleasure to work with.'
- 'This practice stands out for its deep and practical expertise in EU competition law. The team combines technical excellence with a deep understanding of how competition rules apply in real-world commercial contexts. One of the key strengths of the practice is the responsiveness and commercial awareness of both associates and partners.'
- 'Unique combination of deep professional experience, commercial awareness, and highly personable approach. They bring not only technical excellence and a thorough understanding of EU competition law, but also the kind of responsiveness and interpersonal qualities that make collaboration both effective and enjoyable.'
- 'Gleiss Lutz hosts the finest team of antitrust experts in Germany. They cover the entire spectrum, from antitrust, to abuse of dominance, merger control and adjacent areas (state aid, FSR) as well as cartel damages cases. Their Brussels office ensures a close nexus to the stakeholders in this field on the EU level.'
- 'We greatly appreciate our collaboration with Gleiss Lutz, which is marked by trust, responsiveness, and strategic insight. Their ability to react swiftly to complex issues, combined with their clever and solution-oriented thinking, has consistently added value to our work.'
Key clients
- Continental AG
- Daimler Truck AG
- DAZN Limited
- Deutsche Bahn AG
- Givaudan SA
- JenaValve Technology Inc.
- LEONI AG
- Mercedes-Benz Group AG
- Metair Investments Ltd.
- Robert Bosch GmbH
- Rogon GmbH & Co. KG
- S&P Global Inc.
- Andreas Stihl AG & Co. KG
- TomTom International N.V.
Work highlights
Provided advice to Continental AG in relation to the current European Commission investigation into alleged cartel activity in the tyre sector.
Represented Mercedes-Benz Group AG in the first significant parallel antitrust proceedings initiated by the EU Commission and the CMA after Brexit, relating to the recycling of cars and the conduct of OEMs and their obligations with regard to the collection, return and recycling of end-of-life vehicles.
Advised S&P Global in proceedings initiated by the Federal Cartel Office in the wholesale fuel sector, investigating how the provision of price information services affects competition in the sector.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Practice head
Petra Linsmeier
Other key lawyers
Ulrich Denzel; Christian Steinle