Who gets to decide when football is played is not only relevant for fans, but for clubs and players alike. Last month, European Leagues, which represents professional domestic leagues across Europe, announced that it had extended its existing antitrust complaint against FIFA before the European Commission. The complaint now also covers FIFA´s alleged conduct concerning … Continue reading A new game to play? The antitrust challenge to FIFA´s match calendar →

It is the summer holiday season across Europe and beyond. Whether commuting to work or setting off for a vacation, drivers are likely to encounter the same familiar sight: construction sites. Many infrastructure projects are deliberately scheduled during the quieter summer months, when traffic volumes are lower, and disruptions can be reduced. For antitrust lawyers, … Continue reading Antitrust and the construction sector – a recurring story →

In economically challenging times, an increasing number of companies across sectors and industries appear to view greater consolidation as a response to mounting pressures. At the same time, calls for the creation of “European Champions” are growing louder once again. In this post, I explore to what extent European competition policy has already responded – … Continue reading Consolidation as a solution: Rethinking competition policy in Europe →

The European Commission´s revised Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) and the accompanying guidelines (Guidelines) will enter into force on 1 May 2026. While leaving the architecture of the old (2014) TTBER largely intact, the update responds to pressure points that had become increasingly difficult to ignore: Data-driven licensing models, collective negotiation dynamics, and uncertainty … Continue reading TTBER 2.0: Navigating New Rules in Technology Licensing →

Historical shifts are reshaping Europe's defence industry. Rising budgets and mounting geopolitical pressure are driving a wave of investment not seen in decades. But dealmakers navigating this landscape in Europe face a dual (sometimes even triple) challenge: Merger control and national foreign investment screening often run in parallel, each with its own logic and timeline. … Continue reading One Deal, two gatekeepers: Navigating defence M&A in Europe →

2026 has started and we are back with our blog! As many people set new resolutions for the new year, I thought this would be the perfect moment to suggest some antitrust goals for 2026. Looking back at 2025, two European Commission cases offer the ideal starting point. Both had one thing in common: The … Continue reading New year, new (and old) antitrust goals: Avoiding risks in associations →

Today is officially the spookiest day of the year: Halloween. A time when little (and not-so-little) costumed kids roam the streets for candy and horror movies haunt every TV channel. But the phrase “trick or treat” – often heard on this special day – does not only apply to all the fantastic chocolate bars and … Continue reading „Trick or Treat“ – A Halloween reflection on antitrust law →

Telling your client that their merger control filing was cleared is one of the most pleasant jobs in the life of an antitrust lawyer. Everyone involved puts in a lot of effort to provide the regulators with the necessary information to take an informed decision and usually, these decisions are final. However, in some cases, … Continue reading Contesting the Commission: How merger decisions are tested in court →

The motto ´higher, further, faster´ applies especially in the world of advertising. Whether it is on the streets, in magazines or newspapers, on TV or the internet, everyone faces advertising in daily life. It is also an essential marketing tool for many businesses, which invest millions in their advertising campaigns. Correspondingly, the demand for advertising … Continue reading Spend money to make money: Advertising projects under antitrust review →

When the German Federal Court of Justice (BGH) confirmed the German Federal Cartel Office´s (FCO) designation of Apple as a company with paramount significance for competition across markets under the German tech-“gatekeeper” rules (Section 19(a)), this attracted considerable attention both nationally and internationally. Less discussed, however, is a procedural aspect of this case, on which … Continue reading Access denied: The limits of transparency in antitrust →