

Antitrust/Competition
A globally integrated practice
Our German Competition group is integral to Allen & Overy’s U.S.-European Antitrust group and offers German and international clients expert advice in European and German antitrust law, plus representation before the EU Commission and the German Bundeskartellamt.
We act in some of the most high profile antitrust cases and have developed a sound and practical understanding of how the European Commission works. We have good relationships with officials at all levels in Brussels, Germany and in all the jurisdictions where we practise antitrust law. You benefit from our experience of working at the cutting edge of antitrust policy.
Our focus
We regularly represent clients in antitrust proceedings and investigations, judiciary review of agency decisions and civil damage claims in Germany, all other European jurisdictions, the U.S. and worldwide, including:
- German and EU merger control proceedings; multiple filings in cross-border transactions with the relevant merger control authorities; judiciary review of agency decisions;
behavioural matters, including German and European cartel and other investigations as well as abuse of dominance cases; - private enforcement litigation (Germany being one of two preferred jurisdictions in Europe, next to the UK);
- EU state aid and EU and German public procurement matters.
We advise clients on the antitrust compliance of their business
- structuring co-operation agreements and joint ventures, distribution systems, license and other agreements
- designing and conducting tailor-made compliance training and audits, setting up and reviewing full compliance management programs.
Strategy advice
The right antitrust strategy can have a major impact on commercial negotiations and in some cases, is critical to the success of a deal. In view of the now typical follow-on damage suits, choosing the right strategy in behavioural investigations will determine the company's risk exposure and for publicly quoted stock corporations, the board's liability. A proactive antitrust strategy via third-party complaints and court actions may allow a company to stop competitors, suppliers or customers infringing its market position. In some cases this may even be required under corporate law (capital protection measures).
Clients often ask us to oversee an antitrust strategy internationally.
News & insights

News: 03 NOVEMBER 2020
Allen & Overy advises Hg on the sale of STP Group to Bregal
Allen & Overy has advised Hg on its sale of STP Group, a leading DACH-based provider of legal tech solutions, to Bregal Unternehmerkapital. The transaction is subject to approval by the relevant…
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Publications: 27 JUNE 2019
French cannabis committee unveils recommendations for medical cannabis pilot programme in France
Yesterday, the French specialised committee on cannabis (CSST), which was established in mid-2018, held its last meeting and presented its final recommendations for the implementation of a medical…
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Publications: 20 JUNE 2019
For the second time, the Italian Ministry of Defence has launched an open tender for an urgent need of cannabis for therapeutic purposes by the Florence Pharmaceutical Chemical Plant. The estimated…
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Publications: 12 JUNE 2019
Medical cannabis in France: Latest state of play
Following the penultimate meeting of the specialised committee on cannabis (CSST) established by the French National Agency of Medicine and Health Products Safety (ANSM) (see our previous blog posts…
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Global cartel enforcement report 2020
Recognition
A great pan-EMEA reach, with subject matter experts in all key areas.
Client - Chambers Europe 2017 (Competition/Antitrust)
The lawyers are very knowledgeable; they gave us a good service and good support in the matter.
Client - Chambers Europe 2016 (Competition/European Law)