Latham & Watkins LLP
Latham & Watkins LLP is one of the top addresses in antitrust law and impresses with industry expertise in technology and digitisation matters as well as a diverse national and international practice. The support in cartel damages compensation claims and market power abuse proceedings is among the mainstays, where the team regularly represents large players from the technology sector, such as digital platforms or telecommunications services providers, before the Federal Cartel Office, the European Commission and relevant courts. These capacities also include the expertise in current issues in connection with the § 19a GWB digitisation amendment. Michael Esser is experienced in the fintech, telecoms and e-commerce industries and focuses on digitised matters, where he is supported by Jan Christoph Höft, who is experienced in data protection law. The support in transaction-related antitrust law is another core focus and is regularly demonstrated in connection with German and international merger control; among the key contacts here are Sebastian Max Hauser and counsel Jana Dammann de Chapto, who are experienced in second-phase proceedings.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'The team impresses with its good comprehension and a good understanding of the client's economic interests. The teams at the various locations are very well networked and work hand in hand.'
'Sebastian Max Hauser: Very committed and eager to represent our interests. We appreciated their willingness to familiarize themselves with our market comprehensively and quickly.'
'Top law firm.'
'Michael Esser and Jan Christoph Höft: outstanding lawyers with many years of experience.'
Key clients
- Meta
- Lufthansa
- Volkswagen
- Vodafone
- Mastercard
- Microsoft
- Brenntag
- The Carlyle Group
- Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)
- Hg
- Silver Lake Partners
- American Airlines
- Apollo Global Management
Work highlights
- Representation of Meta Platforms, Inc. in proceedings before the Federal Cartel Office on suspicion of abuse of a dominant market position in connection with data protection and antitrust regulations.
- Advising Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) and KKR on global merger and investment control filings in relation to a strategic partnership with Vodafone for the €16 billion acquisition of Vantage Towers, a leading telecommunications tower company in Europe.
- Representation of Vodafone in damages compensation proceedings (including before the Federal Court of Justice) against Deutsche Telekom, which concern abusive practices in the use of cable ducts.
Lawyers
Leading individuals
Next Generation Partners
Dr. Jan Christoph Höft is a partner in the Düsseldorf office of Latham & Watkins and a member of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition Practice. He advises clients in all areas of EU and German competition law, representing them before the German Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission. In particular, Mr. Höft assists clients with merger control, cartel defense, and abuse of dominance matters, as well as complex antitrust litigation, including civil damages actions. With almost 10 years‘ experience in competition law, Mr. Höft has developed strong expertise in the technology, media, and retail sectors. The breadth of his cartel experience includes successful settlement discussions with the German Federal Cartel Office and defense in court and in extrajudicial proceedings against subsequent civil damages actions, which to date form the largest ever civil damages litigation in Germany.* In the area of merger control, he has successfully represented a retailer contesting a ministerial approval of a planned merger in the German retail sector.* Mr. Höft regularly writes on recent developments in competition law. *Matter handled prior to joining the firm