Antitrust & Competition

Our Competition law team has established a strong reputation for handling complex and high-profile cases, particularly those involving the increasingly active Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC). We routinely advise both domestic and international clients on all aspects of competition law, including the formation of selective and exclusive distribution networks in Greece.

We maintain good relations with the HCC and are well-positioned to help clients respond to its concerns and requirements. The team has handled a number of high-profile cases, including dominance and price-fixing allegations. We also support clients through the process of merger filing, including representing their interests in clearing merger control and fulfilling any commitments required. In the past, the HCC has been relatively quiet with regards to prosecuting potential cartel and dominance cases but businesses need to be alert to the evolving climate in such matters.

We advise clients on:

• applications for clearance of a merger or acquisition, or establishment of joint ventures
• abuse of dominant positions and cartels
• vertical agreements on distribution and supply of goods and services
• horizontal cooperation agreements
• state aids and subsidies
• issues arising from markets under regulation across a wide range of industries, including those subject to special regimes such as car manufacturing and mass media
• training in antitrust compliance
• handling dawn raids

Our team advised companies in the largest single fine ever (€550m) to be imposed by the commission for abuse of dominance, and in the most complex cartel case ever to reach the commission, implicating over 30 construction companies over 20 years. We have also recently worked on cases involving allegations of concerted practices, abuse of collective dominance and export bans in the publishing sector.

The practice takes a multi-disciplinary approach, combining technical expertise in competition law and administrative law with specialist experience in M&A and litigation as well as deep industry sector knowledge. This enables us to support clients across all aspects of competition matters and any litigation that results, including appealing decisions of the HCC in the administrative courts.