Competition and EU law

It is essential for companies and associations to avoid competition law infringements. To this end, we develop and implement compliance programmes to prevent breaches of competition law or, for example, breaches of the prohibition on corruption without incurring unnecessary costs or hindering employee initiative.

We also carry out audits in order to investigate any potential infringements – taking into account any relevant criminal law issues. In doing so, we can draw on the broad interdisciplinary expertise of our firm, that we have bundled in our Corporate Compliance Sector Group.

Experience includes

• Development and implementation of compliance systems, training programmes and e-learning for more than 40 businesses and associations
• Conducting internal investigations for several German industrial companies both in order to avoid legal issues and for the clarification of concrete grounds for suspicion

Lawyers
Publications

Companies that breach competition law may owe damages to customers, suppliers or competitors. We support companies in asserting such claims or defending themselves against them. To this end we combine our competition law expertise with the many decades of experience that Kapellmann has in indemnity law and procedural law.

Experience includes:

• Representing public sector as well as private companies against the so-called “Truck Cartel“
• Other recent matters have included competition proceedings in the areas of fire hydrants, postal services, payment services, tracks, batteries, beer and sugar

We support both beneficiaries and providers of State aid in the legally compliant structuring of such aid. Where requested, we also make any relevant notifications to the EU. We represent our clients in investigation proceedings before the EU Commission, always with the goal of avoiding demands for repayment and developing future arrangements that are in compliance with State aid law. In this, the proximity of our Brussels office to the EU institutions puts us at a distinct advantage.

The state aid practice is regularly in demand for infrastructure projects related to construction law, where the firm is one of the market leaders. Closely linked to the antitrust practice, it is also well networked in Brussels and with German authorities, including at state level.
JUVE Handbook 2024/25

Leading law firm for State aid law; 'Specialised team in the field of EU state aid law based in Brussels, among other places, with correspondingly extensive experience in dealing with the EU institutions based there. Good understanding of municipal needs'; ’Very competent advice on EU state aid law from Christian Wagner and Valentine Lemonnier. Very personalised approach and fast response time; extensive experience through regular advice to public institutions and companies'.
Legal 500 Germany 2025

Awarded 'Top Business Law Firm 2023' for state aid law
FOCUS-SPEZIAL Deutschlands Top-Anwälte 2023

Experience includes

• Regular provision of advice to several Federal States and municipalities on the legally compliant design of their public services e.g. through acts of entrustment
• Supporting private investors in the public funding of investment projects
• Advising numerous international commercial airports, including in pre- and main examination proceedings at the EU Commission

Lawyers
Publications

DOWNLOADS
Factsheet State aid law

We advise companies, associations and public institutions on all aspects of EU law, which will become increasingly significant in the future. This also includes regulatory issues concerning the European internal market such as product safety, standardisation and financial services.

Our office lies at the heart of the EU-quarter in Brussels. All our lawyers there are very familiar with the Brussels rules and processes. As a German medium-sized law firm, we understand the interests of our clients well and represent them before the Brussels institutions – regularly also before the EU courts.

The well-established Brussels team of the firm, which is well established in Germany in construction law, is convincing with an experienced EU litigation practice. Good contacts with European authorities, good links to German practice.
JUVE Handbook 2023/24 and 2024/25

Recommended law firm for European law
Handelsblatt/Best Lawyers® "Deutschlands Beste Anwälte 2024"

One of the most recommended law firms by in-house counsels for European & international law
kanzleimonitor.de 2021/2022

Experience includes

• Representing the Federal Republic of Germany before the European Court of Justice in its defence against the demerger of Deutsche Bahn AG pursued by the EU
• Ongoing advice to companies and associations on issues surrounding internal market law and financial regulation
• Representing clients in anti-dumping procedures
• Issuing several legal opinions on EU product safety law for federal authorities
• Representing clients in proceedings before the European Court of Justice and the Court of First Instance

Lawyers
Publications

DOWNLOADS
Factsheet EU law