A&O Shearman‘s Belgian competition practice regularly acts in major cartel cases and antitrust investigations initiated by the Belgian Competition Authority, as well as complex merger control reviews, including phase 2 cases. Its foreign investment control practice works closely with public law colleagues to advise on Belgian foreign direct investment rules, and along with the corporate team regularly advises private equity clients. ’Highly respected practitioner’ Dirk Arts heads the team, with experience advising in highly regulated sectors and leading on complex cartel investigations. Arts also takes the lead on the team’s state aid practice, representing multinationals in Belgian excess profit ruling cases.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Their ability to advise us on complex antitrust matters and EU regulations with an in-depth understanding of both the legal and academic facets of Belgian and European competition law.'
- 'They are very pragmatic, responsive and focused on understanding the business reality that helps to advance the case. Their understanding of and use of analytical tools to analyse financial data really sets them apart.'
Key clients
- BelOrta
- Mediahuis
Work highlights
- Represented BelOrta successfully in managing the Belgian competition law aspects of the acquisition of one of its key competitors, Belgische Fruitveiling, and successfully obtaining unconditional merger control clearance as well as a partial exemption of the suspension obligation in the context of this merger control process.
- Advising longstanding client Mediahuis, a Belgian newspaper publishing and broadcast media company, on various competition law-related matters, including transactions.