Dentons‘ team comprehensively covers German and EU antitrust law and is regularly instructed on merger control, cartel proceedings, market dominance issues and antitrust compliance. The practice is also experienced in issues pertaining to investment control, public procurement and state aid law. René Grafunder acts from Frankfurt and focuses on distribution antitrust law, including the structuring of distribution systems, and jointly heads the practice with Düsseldorf-based Florian Wiesner, who is well versed in drafting contracts in accordance with antitrust law. Both are also experienced in antitrust proceedings, as is litigator Jörg Karenfort, who frequently leads in cartel and abuse proceedings before the European and national competition authorities and also heads the firm’s global antitrust practice. Counsel Arne Karsten (merger control) and Bertold Bär-Bouyssière, who is experienced in cartel damages compensation proceedings and state aid law, are other key contacts. The latter divides his time between Brussels and Berlin and made partner in April 2023.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
'Very client-oriented advice. Very easy to reach, the practice has progressed excellently.'
'René Grafunder: In-depth expertise, always goal-oriented and pragmatic, excellent communication.'
'Florian Wiesner is always available for his clients and always finds resilient and pragmatic solutions.'
'Dentons has a broad antitrust team in a variety of countries. In Germany, the team around Jörg Karenfort and Josef Hainz is very renowned and large.'
'Arne Karsten: Very competent, very friendly cooperation, great accessibility and always short processing times with very good results.'
'Fast response times, well-founded and very competent advice, including across disciplines.'
'Polycentric, internationally positioned. The firm has a legal expert for all areas of law in almost every major country .'
'Good sector expertise, high commitment and accessibility. Delivers results within the specified time frame and within the agreed budget.'
Key clients
- CARIAD
- International Chemical Investors Group (ICIG)
- Silgan Holdings Inc.
- Bundesverband deutscher Banken
- OTTO Group
- Audi/HDY Group
- Munich RE/Hannover RE
- Porsche/Red Bull
- Geodis
- Stiftung Zentrale Stelle Verpackungsregister
- Yamaha Music
- EFN Eifel-Net Internet Provider GmbH
- 5NPlus Inc.
- DPG Deutsche Pfandsystem GmbH
- Merck KGaA
- STADA AG
- Aeroground und Flughafen München
- Hensoldt
- Lactalis
- Victoria's Secret
- Wacker Chemie AG
- Daimler Truck AG; NextEra Inc.
- govdigital eG
- Toll4Europe GmbH
- Hypoport SE
- Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA
- Beretta Holding S. A.
- Britishvolt
- Duisburger Hafen AG (duisport)
- Heubach
- Interzero
- Gebr. Heinemann
- CHG Meridian AG
- Cargo Partners
- USAA
Work highlights
- Advising CARIAD on the takeover of the AI specialist paragon semvox GmbH, a subsidiary of the listed automotive supplier paragon.
- Advising Silgan on concluding a settlement with the European Commission to end a long-standing antitrust investigation into metal packaging.
- Advising the Federal Association of German Banks in 12 claims for damages before the Berlin Regional Court against the BdB, including as a result of the Federal Cartel Office's B4-9/11-EC Cash/girocard case.