Competition law

Competition law pervades every aspect of doing business in Europe, from the conclusion of a relatively simple distribution agreement to the planning of a complex cross-border merger. As a consequence, each business that is active in Europe is continually faced with the challenge of conforming its commercial objectives and practices to the EU competition rules. EU competition law’s far-reaching commercial impact and ever-evolving nature means that specialist legal advice is indispensable to any company doing business in Europe. A company that conducts its business without careful consideration of the EU competition rules does so at its own peril.

Van Bael & Bellis is widely acknowledged as having one of the leading practices in EU competition law. Over the past thirty years, members of our firm have been involved in many of the seminal cases in the field and have advised a wide range of multinational clients on all aspects of competition law, including merger control, joint ventures, cartel investigations, the establishment and operation of distribution systems, the licensing and use of intellectual property rights, abuses of dominant market positions and state aid.

As a result of this depth of experience, Van Bael & Bellis is able to offer its clients a complete service across the whole field of EU competition law, including in complex transactions, major litigation, contractual drafting, filings and advisory work. Our firm’s multinational team of competition lawyers has as its goal identifying the legal solutions that best meet our clients’ commercial objectives. Our firm also regularly represents clients in competition cases before the European Commission and the EU Courts, and our broad national diversity means that we routinely handle cases before national competition authorities, national courts, and arbitral panels as well.

Van Bael & Bellis’ "Competition Law of the European Community"  now in its fifth edition, remains one of the leading reference sources in the field for companies, law firms, competition law authorities and universities.

Van Bael & Bellis’ competition law practice is consistently one of the most highly rated in the independent research carried out by the top legal directories.

The firm continues to be highly recommended by Global Competition Review for both its EU and Belgian competition law practices. Other publications, including Legal 500, PLC Which Lawyer?, Chambers Europe and Global and IFLR 100 all rate the firm among the foremost experts in competition law, recommending no fewer than six of the firm’s partners as leading individuals in their field.