State Aid
The law governing the aid that governments in the 27 EU Member States provide to the private sector is an increasingly important specialist area within EU competition law. Few can match our breadth and depth of experience. In fact, we helped to set the legal framework for state aid in the EU.
The recent spate of bank mergers and rescues has highlighted the importance of this area of law and has raised challenging issues around the interaction of state aid, merger control and government action to protect financial stability. Our international antitrust team has been at the heart of these issues.
Our understanding of the Commission's position in this area is reflected in our selection to update the Directorate General for Competition's report on the Application of the EC state aid law by the Member State courts, having drafted the original report in 1999.
We advise clients throughout the complaint or approval process, and where required provide representation before the national and European courts.
We have wide experience of acting for governments and other public sector bodies, as well for aid beneficiaries and lenders on a variety of complex financial transactions giving rise to state aid issues.
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News and insights
Publications: 04 April 2024
Approval of the Executive Regulations to the Egyptian Competition Law
The Cabinet of Ministers in Egypt has recently approved the Executive Regulations accompanying the newly revised Egyptian Competition Law.
Publications: 02 April 2024
Antitrust in focus - March 2024
This newsletter is a summary of the antitrust developments we think are most interesting to your business. Thomas Masterman, partner based in London, is our editor this month. He has selected:
Publications: 02 April 2024
In a much-anticipated opinion, Advocate General Nicholas Emiliou (AG) has advised the European Court of Justice (ECJ) to set aside the General Court (GC)’s Illumina/GRAIL judgment.
Publications: 05 October 2023
EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation brings significant compliance burden for private capital firms
New framework will require financial sponsors to introduce complex data-gathering mechanisms to track ‘financial contributions’ from third countries at fund and asset level.
Recognition
Depth of expertise and skill, particularly for international companies operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Chambers Global 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
Has a solid network, so their approach to cross-border matters is very strong.
Chambers Global 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The lawyers work with colleagues across Europe to keep us compliant with competition regulations.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The team handles cross-border matters well, knowing that they need to manage different approaches in different jurisdictions.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The network is something we appreciate; they work well as one team across borders.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)