Antitrust and Competition law

  

Antitrust/competition law is becoming increasingly important for large and medium-sized companies, start-ups, industry associations and public sector companies. Violations of antitrust law can have considerable drawbacks for companies, such as substantial fines and claims for damages, the invalidity of contracts and significant harm to reputation. The prevention of antitrust violations is therefore an elementary component of corporate compliance management.
 

Rödl & Partner advises German and international companies competently and comprehensively on all aspects of German and EU antitrust law and, if necessary, represents them in court, out of court and before antitrust authorities. The focus is always on the company and its individual antitrust issues and risks. Where it makes sense for our clients, we draw on the extensive experience of other practice groups at Rödl & Partner.
 

Rödl & Partner's services in antitrust law include in particular:

  

Antitrust compliance

• Identification of antitrust risks, risk analyses, antitrust audits
• Introduction or development of compliance management systems
• Training and workshops for employees and managers
• Guidelines and codes of conduct
• Preparation for dawn raids
• Self-cleaning
• General antitrust advice

  

Transactions, merger control & investment control

• Antitrust law in M&A proceedings (contracts, due diligence etc.)
• Assessment of antitrust risks and feasibility studies
• Conducting and coordinating national and international merger control proceedings
• Investment control under foreign trade law

  

Antitrust law in the supply chain

• Distribution systems in compliance with antitrust law, including online distribution models
• Contracts with suppliers, distributors or other buyers
• Antitrust aspects of license agreements

  

Cooperation agreements

• Advice on the establishment of joint ventures
• Cooperations with competitors, R&D cooperations
• Activities with industry and sports associations
• Non-compete agreements

  

Damages & litigation

• Representation in and out of court in antitrust damages claims, both on the plaintiff's and defendant's side (follow-on actions)
• Other antitrust disputes (supply, injunctive relief, damages, claims for information and surrender)

  

Cartel proceedings

• Representation in administrative proceedings before cartel authorities
• Leniency applications
• Support during dawn raids by cartel authorities
• Legal challenge of decisions by cartel authorities
• Complaints to cartel authorities regarding conduct of third parties in violation of antitrust law

  

Internal investigations

• Advice on strategy in the event of an investigation or suspicion of a violation of antitrust law
• Investigation of facts relevant to antitrust law, interviewing employees and other parties involved, document review, e-discovery
• Preservation of evidence

  

Market power

• Assessment of the existence of market power
• Developing antitrust law compliant solutions for companies with market power
• Enforcement of claims for supply, injunctive relief and damages against companies with market power