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O’Melveny & Myers LLP offers seamless antitrust and competition representation in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Members of our practice group routinely represent clients before antitrust and competition agencies around the world. Our 70-plus antitrust and competition lawyers include former high-ranking regulators who maintain close contact with the enforcement agencies, providing clients with invaluable insights into governmental decision-making processes and agendas.
Operating at the European Union’s (EU) political and legislative center, the Brussels office focuses on EU and national competition law, as well as trade and sector regulation. Our lawyers are qualified in key Member States, have in-depth experience and knowledge of national laws and procedures, speak local languages, know the national authorities, and are accustomed to coordinating complex cross-border projects in the EU and beyond.
Since its establishment in 2004, the Brussels office has been involved in a series of high-profile cases covering all main areas of EU competition law (mergers, Article 82 and cartel cases), achieving headline-grabbing results for our clients. For example, we recently achieved Phase I European Commission (EC) clearances for the Norwegian energy group Norsk Hydro ASA in its merger with Statoil ASA, an estimated US$30 billion (€22.5 billion) deal; for TUI AG in its acquisition of First Choice to create the world’s leading travel group; and for the Delta/Northwest airline merger, creating the world’s largest airline. In none of those cases was a Phase I clearance the outcome many anticipated. We also represent Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. against Intel Corporation in one of the largest antitrust cases ever commenced, combining litigation and regulatory skills across the globe.
Combining its US, European and Asian antitrust knowledge, O’Melveny is well situated to advise on the transnational implications of deals. This is a critical aspect of international business as globalization continues and as antitrust authorities around the world conduct parallel merger inquiries, as well as monopoly and cartel investigations. Few firms can match our consistent strength across these three major economic areas.
What Others Say About Us
- Legal Business, publisher of the Legal 500 directories and European Legal Experts guide, awarded us the title of “Competition Team of the Year” 2007 for securing an EC Phase I merger clearance in TUI/First Choice.
- Chambers Global and Chambers Europe (2008) comments on our Brussels office: “This distinguished office has built a reputation for itself in only two years, through its involvement in some of the most high-profile mergers.” They also make note of the Antitrust/Competition Practice’s “global strength” as well as the “sheer intellectual capability, creativity and incredible perseverance” of our antitrust lawyers.
- Legal 500 consistently recommends our Antitrust/Competition Practice for matters involving competition and trade. The 2008 United States volume quotes clients who commend the Firm’s competition practice as “exceptional” and “of the highest quality”. The editorial continues: “With a global team…situated on both coasts of the US, as well as in key foreign jurisdictions, including Brussels and London, O'Melveny & Myers offers highly integrated, big-picture antitrust advice across the board, from transactional advice, to regulatory investigations and private litigation.”
- Global Competition Review’s “Who’s Who Legal 70” (2008) considers us one of the world's 70 leading law firms and notes that our competition practice is “among the largest and most respected anywhere.”
Key Facts
- Global reach – offices and antitrust lawyers in China, Japan, Europe and the United States give us global coverage of the major economies
- Renowned leadership – our practice leaders have established global reputations
- Regulatory insight – we have senior experience gained with US and EU regulators and retain close contacts, through Tim Muris (US FTC Chairman from 2001 to 2004), Rich Parker (Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition from 1999 to 2001) and John Cook (UK Office of Fair Trading and UK governmental experience)
- Resources – with more than 70 antitrust lawyers worldwide we can handle efficiently major, complex, cross-border cases and antitrust litigation, however demanding
- Range of skills – we offer effective representation whatever the challenge: criminal proceedings; treble damages and class actions; appearances before regulatory bodies including EC oral hearings; and judicial review in the EU Courts
- Record of success – the results we achieve for clients speak for themselves – see “Success Stories” for some notable recent victories
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