Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Based in the heart of Europe for over 30 years, HSF Brussels provides global clients with commercially-focused, legal and strategic advice across the full spectrum of competition, regulation and trade law issues.

Our competition law team has a distinguished track record of delivering results for clients in the most challenging cases, navigating EU and national competition laws across Europe and globally. We advise across the full spectrum of competition law matters, including in relation to merger control, foreign direct investment (FDI), cartels and investigations, unilateral conduct, competition litigation, competition compliance, and State aid / subsidy control.

Our EU law experts have unparalleled expertise in proceedings before the European Commission and EU courts across various fields of EU law, having led in numerous high-profile cases. Our team has an excellent understanding of the workings of the EU, drawing on the experience of former secondees, officials and judges at the European Commission and EU courts.

The Brussels office is also the hub of our global international trade and WTO law practice, acting on disputes under the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and advising on market access strategies, sanctions, export controls and trade remedy matters.

We have a well-established, dynamic, and unique Brussels–Asia cross border offering, extensively advising Asia-based clients across the full range of competition law. Specifically, we have a unique offering in our cross-border Japan competition team which provides dedicated EU and international competition law advice to Japanese clients including large Japanese trading houses and corporates. This international Japan competition team comprises lawyers, including Japanese speakers, in both Brussels and Tokyo.

We pride ourselves on providing excellence in client service and being easy to work with. Central to our ethos is a commitment to act robustly to defend and promote our clients' interests.