Our competition team combines deep experience in EU law with a practical, business‑focused approach. We represent clients in high‑stakes investigations, merger filings, and litigation before the CJEU.

245+

antitrust investigations

820+

merger filings

€232.5B+

state aid advised

75+

jurisdictions

Antitrust & Cartels

Defence in European Commission and Belgian Competition Authority investigations. Leniency applications, settlement negotiations, and appeals.

  • Cartel defence
  • Leniency applications
  • Abuse of dominance (Art. 102 TFEU)

Merger Control

EU and Belgian merger filings, Phase II investigations, remedies, and gun‑jumping advice. Coordinated multi‑jurisdictional filings.

  • EU Form CO
  • Simplified procedure
  • Remedies & commitments

State Aid

Advice on public funding, R&D&I aid, regional aid, and services of general economic interest. Notifications and complaints before the Commission.

  • GBER notifications
  • SGEI framework
  • Recovery proceedings

Distribution & Agreements

Vertical restraints, distribution agreements, and franchise systems. Compliance with EU competition rules and BERs.

  • Vertical Block Exemption
  • Agency agreements
  • Selective distribution

Compliance & Audits

Competition compliance programmes, dawn raid simulations, and internal audits. Training for management and sales teams.

  • Compliance programmes
  • Dawn raid preparation
  • Contract audits

Litigation & Appeals

Representation before the General Court and Court of Justice of the EU. Annulment actions and appeals against Commission decisions.

  • CJEU proceedings
  • Interim measures
  • National appeals

The three pillars

Antitrust Cartels, abuse of dominance, leniency
Merger control Notifications, Phase II, remedies
State aid Notifications, complaints, recovery

Competition team

Dr. Sophie Dubois – Partner, head of EU competition
Jan Pauwels – Merger control, Phase II
Matthias Vandenbroeck – Antitrust, leniency
Karim Alami – Litigation, CJEU
+ 5 dedicated competition specialists

"Pauwels Law Group successfully defended us in a complex cartel investigation, securing a 40% fine reduction. Their deep knowledge of EU procedure and the Commission's practice was decisive."

— General Counsel, international manufacturing group

Global network

We coordinate multi‑jurisdictional filings with trusted competition firms worldwide, including the US, UK, Germany, France, and China.

EU merger control FTC/DOJ CMA (UK) Bundeskartellamt

Recent competition insights

Foreign Subsidies Regulation: first enforcement cases
Vertical Block Exemption Regulation: key changes
Digital Markets Act: gatekeeper obligations
State aid for green hydrogen projects