Linklaters‘ antitrust law team is integrated into the Antitrust & Foreign Investment group and is well positioned for cross-border advice thanks to the cooperation with the international network. The mainstays include the advice on merger control and interfacing investment control, dispute resolution, corporate law as well as energy law matters. Litigation, including cartel damages and abuse proceedings, as well as the support in antitrust compliance are further core strengths. Daniela Seeliger (antitrust proceedings, compliance and international merger control proceedings) and Carsten Grave (merger control and antitrust proceedings) regularly take the lead here, while counsel Kaan Gürer has expertise in antitrust investigations. Further key contacts are counsel Ingo Klauß, who is increasingly instructed on matters pertaining to market power, and David-Julien dos Santos Goncalves (merger control, antitrust and market power abuse proceedings), who joined the partner roster in May 2024.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Outstanding technical expertise, uncomplicated and precise communication, high availability and flexibility. At the same time, the partners and other contact persons are unobtrusive.'

  • 'Good international network with a good standing in many jurisdictions.'

  • 'The well-coordinated Linklaters team is outstandingly staffed in several positions in terms of expertise, availability and willingness to provide service. The colleagues work well together, always give consistent advice and are always coordinated. This makes it possible to continue discussions seamlessly and efficiently, even with different lawyers.'

  • 'Daniela Seeliger draws on her longstanding experience, but does not lecture, and develops confident and easily understandable solutions to complex problems. As a client, one has no inhibitions to simply ask questions - which usually receive equally short and pragmatic answers.'

  • 'Carsten Grave and Ingo Klauß are absolute experts in their field, but always treat their counterparts as equals. The personal interaction is extremely pleasant. They are always reliable in their statements and never lose sight of the bigger picture, even when discussing detailed questions.'

  • 'David-Julien dos Santos Goncalves: Intellectually outstanding, pragmatic and with a good feel for the needs of clients. Top-notch on a human level.'
  • 'For a large law firm, they are exceptionally responsive, accessible and have a good understanding of in-house needs - one gets clear advice.'
  • 'Christoph Barth is a great antitrust lawyer with a responsive and proactive attitude and always with a full understanding of our needs and the respective subject matter.'

Work highlights

  • Advising E.ON on eleven annulment actions brought by various municipal utilities and regional energy companies before the European Court of Justice (ECJ) against the European Commission’s approval in connection with E.ON’s acquisition of Innogy.
  • Representing Jampalnt in damages compensation proceedings against Google in connection with market power abuse in the online search and search advertising sector, following the European Commission's finding of infringements of Article 102 TFEU by Google in its Shopping and AdSense decisions.
  • Antitrust advice to and defense of Visa Europe against claims for removal, injunction and damages from several hundred banks in relation to the permission of direct customer fees in a four-party payment card procedure.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.