Dentons is instructed by clients requiring guidance through cartel investigations, and is also sought after where corporates need to navigate merger control proceedings, including for joint ventures and investments into other companies. Beyond this, the team also advises its clients on FDI and FSR guidelines, and assists them in maintaining compliance with these and other German and EU competition law regulations. Jörg Karenfort heads the firm’s global competition team, while René Grafunder leads the German practice, both frequently appearing in cartel and abuse of dominance hearings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'René Grafunder is an excellent lawyer, extremely down-to-earth and exceptionally service-driven towards his clients.'
- 'Proactive and responsive. Very practical and hands-on. Very professional. Solid legal advice.'
- 'René Grafunder. Proactive and responsive. Very practical and hands-on. Very professional. Solid legal advice.'
- 'Dentons has a strong antitrust practice in Germany.'
- 'René Grafunder is not only highly competent and experienced, he is also a very nice person and a sympathetic adviser.'
Key clients
- Bundesverband deutscher Banken
- Silgan Holdings Inc.
- Merck KGaA
- World Economic Forum
- Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the State of Baden-Württemberg
- Yamaha Music
- CARIAD
- Jacobs Solutions Inc.
- Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA
- airBaltic
- Chongqing Millison
- Audi
Work highlights
Advised Porsche on all competition and investment control law aspects in relation to its acquisition of a stake in Varta and Varta's subsidiary V4Drive.
Advised the Ministry of Science, Research and Art of the State of Baden-Württemberg on the establishment of a network consisting of the University Hospitals of Mannheim and Heidelberg.
Advised airBaltic in relation to Lufthansa's acquisition of a minority stake in it.
Lawyers
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Practice head
Jörg Karenfort; René Grafunder