Bird & Bird
Client SatisfactionBird & Bird‘s competition and EU practice group leverages its experience of the technology, telecoms, aviation, automotive, and sports sectors alongside competition and trade law expertise, supporting clients with the application of the Digital Markets Act, as well as in competition litigation before EU courts. José Rivas and Hein Hobbelen co-head the team: Rivas a go-to for state aid matters, and Hobbelen boasts particular experience of the technology and communications fields. Baptist Vleeshouwers is also recommended.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'We have worked principally with Hein Hobbelen and Baptist Vleeshouwers from Bird & Bird's Belgium office. Both Hein and Baptist are client-focused attorneys with great knowledge of antitrust / competition law issues.’
‘José Rivas easily and quickly understands the issues and can come up with clear and detailed answers which can be implemented easily from a pragmatic point of view.’
‘José Rivas has deep understanding of global antitrust laws and practices and is literally leading antitrust/competition law practice across the world.’
‘Quick understanding of complex issues, good knowledge of the client's structures thanks to many years of co-operation.'
‘Strong ability to manage client's expectations; strong coordination of complex regulatory project. A superb team.’
‘Hein Hobbelen, with his mixture of antitrust, regulatory and telecom background, is a superb lawyer.'
‘Hein Hobbelen is an excellent partner. Very good with clients, very commercial and with great technical skills.’
‘Hein Hobbelen is a great lawyer and an even better moderator. Always able to provide the insight for the audience in front of him.’
Key clients
- xAI
- Securitas
- Burberry
- FIFA
- Kontoor Brands
- Panasonic
- John Deere
- Carpatair
- Aegean Airlines
- Air Products PLC
- PHINIA
- BorgWarner
- SES
- New Skies Satellite B.V.
- Boehringer Ingelheim
- Ottobock
- ACE
- European Thermal Paper Association
- CLEPA
- EXTR:ACT
Work highlights
- Representing the complainant in the Commission’s investigation into Apple's in-app purchase terms for e-books and audiobooks.
- Representing Securitas successfully as the leniency applicant in the Belgian Competition Authority’s investigation into the Belgian security and guarding sector.
- Representing Romanian airline Carpatair uccessfully before the General Court (Case T-522/20) in its request for annulment of the Commission's decision which found that measures adopted by the airport of Timisoara to the benefit of Wizz Air did not constitute aid.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
José Rivas, Hein Hobbelen