The European Commission has issued its first fine in a no-poach case in the labor market, and its first sanction of the anti-competitive use of a minority share in a competing business. With the fine of EUR 329 million, the Commission joins the ranks of a number of high-profile antitrust enforcers worldwide that have targeted HR-related infringements. The Commission’s first intervention is also likely to encourage other EU regulators to follow suit and is an important reminder of the need to carefully manage antitrust risk (specifically information flows) where a company holds a minority shareholding in a competitor.

In the past few years, enforcement against restrictive labor market agreements has become a priority for many competition authorities worldwide. As a result, certain HR practices are in the spotlight of antitrust enforcers and may result in significant fines or even criminal liability. For more information, please read our briefing document, International Antitrust Onslaught against HR practices: Act now to stay ahead of the game.

The transition to a carbon-neutral economy is a seismic shift on a global scale, leaving no sector untouched. The urgent strategic, operational and reputational challenges are considerable, but so are the opportunities for growth. We are happy to invite you to
Transform Powerfully: Baker McKenzie Energy Transition Dialogue
Navigating your energy transition journey: Opportunities and challenges for suppliers, industrials and other market players
Thursday, 25 January 2024, 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm CET
Baker McKenzie, Neuer Zollhof 2, 40221 Dusseldorf, Germany

The Antitrust Law Update will take place on 26 September 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm CET. Please note this event will be held in German only.

The Antitrust Law Update will take place on 26 September 2023 from 10:00am to 4:00pm CET. Please note this event will be held in German only.

On 5 April 2023, the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection published the government draft of the 11th amendment to the Act against Restraints of Competition. Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck described the amendment as “one of the biggest reforms of competition law in recent decades”, which – in the words of Federal Minister of Justice Dr. Marco Buschmann – is intended to give the German Federal Cartel Office more “teeth”

On 22 March 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority published a press release according to which it investigates whether Proximus had abused a dominant position by acquiring edpnet. Although the acquisition did not have to be notified, the BCA feels compelled, with reference to the European Court of Justice’s (ECJ) landmark Towercast judgment, to review the transaction under abuse of the aspect of dominance. The BCA is thus following up on recent considerations regarding more effective control of so-called “killer acquisitions”, i.e., the protection of competition against innovation-inhibiting mergers of large, strong companies with small, innovative competitors, which do not require merger control notification due to the low turnover of the target company.

On 21 September 2022, colleagues from the German Baker McKenzie offices will host a webinar exploring current developments in German and European Antitrust Law. The event will be in German only.

In this event, we will give you a comprehensive overview of the most important developments of the last year in German and European antitrust law. Please note that this event will be held in German only.

With global acknowledgement of the spiraling negative impact of carbon emissions on the planet, many countries are swiftly launching efficient, low-cost hydrogen-based solutions for the future mobility industry and have agreed to accelerate zero-emission vehicles at the recent COP26 conference. The goal is to have climate-friendly techniques on road vehicles, synthetic fuels and, for the aviation and maritime sectors, developing a hydrogen transport and distribution infrastructure, as well as expanding the network of hydrogen refueling stations.