Dentons is primarily known for its expertise in state aid litigation: the team regularly acts for both plaintiffs and defendants in disputes concerning the legality of EU aid payments and primarily represents players from the transport and infrastructure sectors in review proceedings and competitor lawsuits. Matthias Nordmann's contentious skills span state aid and antitrust law, while practice head Ilka Mehdorn is considered an environmental law expert. Andreas Haak joined Pinsent Masons Rechtsanwälte Steuerberater Solicitors Partnerschaft mbB in October 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Key clients

  • BARMER Ersatzkrankenkasse
  • Bundesministerium des Innern, für Bau und Heimat
  • Duisburger Hafen AG
  • EFN eifel-net Internet-Provider GmbH
  • Landesbetrieb Information und Technik Nordrhein-Westfalen
  • NeXovation Inc.
  • Universität des Saarlandes
  • Volotea
  • Wacker Chemie
  • enercity AG

Work highlights

  • Advising duisport on EU state aid law in connection with the sale of shares in Duisburg Gateway Terminal GmbH.
  • Advising Spanish airline Volotea on a long-standing EU state aid procedure, in which the ECJ decided that the accusation of illegally received aid to Volotea for flights to Sardinia is untenable and that the European Commission must also continue to adhere to the traditional market investor test to determine whether a company is receiving state benefits.
  • Representation of EFN Eifel-Net in a constitutional complaint procedure before the Federal Constitutional Court due to excessive determination of costs in a competitor lawsuit under state aid law.

Lawyers

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Ilka Mehdorn

Other key lawyers

Matthias Nordmann