Qualifications & Expertise

Our competition law expertise stretches back almost 40 years. With some 140 competition lawyers, thereof more than 25 in Germany, the competition practice group of the CMS organisation is present in more than 20 European jurisdictions and in China.

We aim to provide our clients with pragmatic solutions, not merely to list risks. What sets our competition lawyers apart is their thorough understanding of economic interests, their focus on specific industries and years of experience acquired in numerous proceedings before European and German competition authorities and courts.

We have an excellent working relationship with officials at the German competition authorities and the European Commission. With our Brussels office we always have an ear on the ground and are well placed to represent our clients' interests before the European Commission. Having competition lawyers in more than 20 European jurisdictions within the CMS organisation enables us to offer our clients a unique pan-European perspective for their cross-border and international businesses and projects.

Our competition lawyers are highly regarded experts who publish widely in their field.

Main Focus

• Merger control
  - European Commission
  - German Federal Cartel Office
  - EU-wide and worldwide coordination of multinational proceedings
• Cartel proceedings / fine proceedings such as
  - Assistance during dawn raids
  - Representation in cartel proceedings
  - Leniency applications
  - Settlement proceedings
  - EU-wide and worldwide coordination of multinational proceedings
• Litigation
  - Courts of the European Union
  - German Courts, including civil law damages claims ("follow-on-claims")
• Abuse of dominance such as
  - Prices and rebates
  - Refusal to supply
  - Representation in proceedings for abuse of dominance
• Distribution such as
  - Distribution systems
  - Internet distribution
  - Selective distribution
  - Allocation of customers or territories
• Cooperation agreements such as
  - Joint venture agreements
  - Research and development agreements
  - Joint purchasing agreements
• Compliance such as
  - Setting up and implementing compliance programs
  - Competition law training
  - Competition law audits
• Regulated markets such as energy (electricity, gas), telecommunications, water, etc.