Administrative & Regulatory Law · European Union
Act Early on Antitrust With the Right Lawyer By Your Side
Antitrust problems are cheapest to fix before they become investigations. We match you, free of charge, with a lawyer who handles cartel, dominance and merger matters across Europe every day.
- 155+ legal services, 14 practice areas
- Lawyers across the EU & EEA
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Who this is for
In antitrust, the businesses it constrains are often the last to see a problem coming
Antitrust law exists to protect competition itself — and the businesses it is designed to constrain are often the last to see a problem coming. It prohibits cartels and other anti-competitive agreements, abuses of a dominant position, and anti-competitive mergers, and it gives regulators far-reaching powers to investigate and penalise. In Europe, the European Commission and national competition authorities can inspect premises without warning, demand documents, and impose fines that in serious cartel cases can reach into the hundreds of millions of euros. Individuals can also face consequences, and harmed parties can pursue follow-on damages claims. The rules apply across borders: conduct in one country can trigger investigations in several. Whether you suspect your company has an issue, are responding to a raid or information request, or simply want to ensure your commercial practices are defensible, early antitrust advice is almost always cheaper than the alternative.
Why companies lose control of the situation
Antitrust outcomes are decided early.
Often in the first hours.
Whether it is a leniency race, a dawn raid or a damages claim, hesitation and guesswork routinely make a recoverable situation worse.
Cartel exposure and leniency races
If your business has been involved in a cartel, being second to the door can cost you dearly. Leniency is usually available only to the first to report, and hesitation routinely turns a recoverable situation into a large fine.
Dawn raids with no warning
Antitrust authorities can enter your premises unannounced, image your servers and question staff. Without a trained response — and an understanding of legal privilege — you can inadvertently hand over material that later becomes evidence against you.
Personal liability and follow-on claims
In a growing number of countries, individuals can face penalties for cartel conduct, and once a decision is final, customers and competitors can pursue damages. The cost of a finding often extends far beyond the fine itself.
What you get
An antitrust lawyer who acts before the authority does
We only match you with lawyers who defend businesses in antitrust investigations and disputes regularly in your sector and jurisdiction.
Early risk assessment
Your lawyer reviews commercial practices, pricing and contacts with competitors to identify antitrust exposure before it becomes an investigation — so you can correct course quietly.
Leniency & cooperation
If a cartel issue is discovered, your lawyer advises on whether and how to apply for leniency or settlement, and manages cooperation to secure the best position available.
Dawn raid & investigation response
Get a rehearsed, decisive response to unannounced inspections and information requests, protecting privileged material and controlling what the authority sees and how your staff respond on the day.
Defence & damages
Represent your business in the authority’s procedure, in appeals against decisions, and in private damages claims brought by customers or competitors who allege they have been harmed.
Coverage
Antitrust lawyers across Europe
Antitrust enforcement is active at both EU and national level, and conduct in one country can trigger investigations in several. We match cases across the following jurisdictions and beyond:
Frequently asked
Antitrust — common questions
Is antitrust the same as competition law?
Yes — the two terms describe the same field. ‘Antitrust’ is the term used in the United States and increasingly internationally, while Europe tends to say ‘competition law’. Both cover anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance and merger control.
What is a cartel and why is it treated so seriously?
A cartel is a secret arrangement between competitors to fix prices, share markets, rig bids or restrict output. Cartels are treated as the most serious antitrust offence because they directly harm customers, and they attract the largest fines and, in some countries, criminal sanctions for individuals.
What is leniency and how does it work?
Leniency lets a company that was part of a cartel report it and cooperate in exchange for immunity from, or a substantial reduction in, the fine. It is usually only available to the first company to come forward, so timing is critical — a lawyer can advise on whether and when to apply.
What should we do during a dawn raid?
Stay calm, cooperate, and call your antitrust lawyer before answering substantive questions or producing documents. The authority has the right to search, but you retain rights around legal privilege and the scope of the inspection — protecting these can materially affect the outcome.
Can individuals be held personally liable for antitrust breaches?
Increasingly, yes. Several European countries impose criminal sanctions or director disqualification for cartel conduct, and even where individuals are not prosecuted, their conduct can expose the company. Individual advice is often warranted alongside corporate advice.
What are follow-on damages claims?
Once an authority finds an infringement, businesses and consumers harmed by the conduct can bring claims for compensation. These follow-on claims can be substantial and are common in Europe, so a finding against a company often leads to civil exposure well beyond the regulator’s fine.
Free case review
In antitrust, the first call is the cheapest one
Tell us about your situation — a raid, an information request, a suspected cartel or a routine review — and we’ll connect you with an antitrust lawyer who handles your sector and jurisdiction, free of charge and with no obligation to hire.