Competition & EU

Competition authorities no longer focus solely on traditional cartel agreements. Increasingly, attention shifts to vertical relationships, such as those between suppliers and distributors.

The growth of online sales raises new questions. Which distribution model fits your business? Do you choose selective distribution or a more open model? And to what extent can you influence pricing, exclusivity and contractual terms? The cartel prohibition remains highly relevant here. There is often a fine line between what you can and cannot share with competitors, for example on pricing or customers.

At the same time, companies increasingly collaborate on innovation and sustainability. These initiatives offer opportunities, but also come with limits under competition law. In the case of structural collaborations, such as mergers and acquisitions, notification to competition authorities may be required. The key question is: how do you stay on course in a changing environment?

Navigating within clear boundaries

Our specialists advise on all aspects of competition law, state aid and the Public Enterprises (Market Activities) Act (Wet Markt & Overheid).

We help you make the most of opportunities within the rules while keeping risks under control. We also provide compliance programmes and dawn raid training, and assist during investigations and inspections by authorities.

Our expertise

• Cartel prohibition
• Distribution relationships
• Compliance and dawn raids
• Civil claims following breaches of competition law (follow-on claims)
• Concentration regulation by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) and the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa)
• Abuse of dominant position
• State aid law
• Public Enterprises (Market Activities) Act

Who do we work for?

We work for public authorities (for example on state aid), companies (in relation to distribution, collaboration and investigations) and businesses involved in M&A transactions. Industry and professional organisations are also part of our client base.