Antitrust litigation
Global antitrust litigation leaders.
For many years we have been involved in almost every major European cartel case and numerous other high-profile antitrust claims, including in the US and across Asia.
Our leading practitioners have helped shape the law through their work on landmark cases, and interaction with legislators and regulators. A history of acting for clients in cartel investigations has given us the unique advantage of bringing our litigation skills into play from the start of any case, thereby managing and controlling litigation risk from the outset: right from a dawn raid, through the regulatory process, and beyond to any civil damages claims.
This experience, combined with our expertise in commercial litigation, public law, white-collar defence and compliance, has enabled us to establish an unmatched reputation for successfully defending clients. This includes coordinating the global defence of antitrust litigation involving multiple jurisdictions and claimants.
As well as being regarded as tough courtroom opposition, we recognise that timely settlement at an appropriate stage of litigation is often a desirable outcome, and we are known for offering the strategic and tactical skills to settle at an appropriate stage whether through mediation, arbitration or negotiation.
Given these strengths, our clients look to us to act as strategic advisors helping them to manage and reduce their international exposure whenever antitrust litigation looms.
Client successes
Acting for ABB in relation to litigation arising out of cartels concerning gas insulated switchgear, power transformers and power cables in numerous jurisdictions including England, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands and Israel.
Acting for DB Schenker Rail in the first private competition damages claim ever to reach trial in the Competition Appeal Tribunal in England.
The claim was brought by the liquidator of Enron in a follow-on action to an abuse-of-dominance finding, though damages were not recovered by Enron.
Defending Holcim in a claim brought against it by Cartel Damage Claims before Dusseldorf’s Higher Regional Court in relation to Germany's cement investigation, the first German class action-type damages claim.
Advising thyssenkrupp on the co-ordination of multiple proceedings across jurisdictions including Austria, Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands in the elevators cartel case.
This involved novel indirect purchaser claims and admissibility of umbrella claims (including a reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union on these issues), limitation periods, jurisdiction over foreign parties, joint and several liability, and disclosure of documents on the European Commission's file.
Co-ordinating Volvo/Renault Trucks’ multijurisdictional defence of litigation arising from its participation in the trucks cartel.
Defending Mastercard against one of the first major opt-out collective actions under the new regime introduced by the UK’s Consumer Rights Act 2015.
The action was brought on behalf of a class of around 46 million UK consumers for a total of £14bn in damages, the largest claim ever brought before the UK courts. Read more about the litigation in our case study.
Disputes, litigation and arbitration
- Administrative and public law
- Antitrust litigation
- Banking and financial services
- Commercial litigation
- Construction and engineering
- Environment
- Global investigations
- Human rights
- Intellectual property and data
- International arbitration
- Product liability
- Public international law
- Regulatory
- Restructuring and insolvency
- Securities and shareholder litigation
- White-collar defence and corporate crime
Ninette Dodoo パートナー
Beijing
Onno Brouwer Partner & Joint head of Global Antitrust Litigation Group
Brussels, Amsterdam
Dr. Martin Klusmann パートナー
Düsseldorf
Dr. Thomas Kreifels コンサルタント
Düsseldorf
Andrew Ewalt パートナー
Washington, DC
Eric B. Bruce US Head of disputes, litigation and arbitration, and global investigations
Washington, DC, New York
Eric Mahr Joint Head – Global Antitrust Litigation Group
Washington, DC
