Companies are facing increasing risks in relation to competition law and sectoral regulations. To help our clients address these growing challenges with the most efficient and pragmatic solutions, our team is composed of lawyers, economists and (former) authority and court representatives.
Our multidisciplinary team assists companies and represents them before the European Commission, the Belgian Competition Authority, the Belgian Regulatory Authorities, the EU and Belgian courts, as well as the competition or regulatory authorities of neighbouring countries, in matters related, among others, to EU/national antitrust, merger control, foreign subsidies, FDI, State aid and sectoral regulations. The team also coordinates multi-jurisdictional proceedings and merger filings with law firms active in other Member States and non-EU countries. Lastly, the team is specialised in complex EU and national litigation in regulated sectors such as energy (network codes and REMIT), transport and telecom (digital markets act and electronic communications code).
MERGER CONTROL
We assist our clients in multi-jurisdictional analyses, and we represent them before the European Commission and the Belgian Competition Authority in merger control cases (in case of notification or third-party intervention). In this respect, our team’s profound knowledge of economics allows us to assist our clients in preparing their notifications and in collecting all relevant data (be it in cooperation with the clients’ economic advisors or operational managers).
ANTITRUST
The team’s antitrust capabilities cover cartels, restrictive agreements, abuse of dominance and abuse of economic dependency. We assist our clients in ensuring that their projects are compliant as well as during sectoral or antitrust investigations initiated by the European Commission or the Belgian Competition Authority. Additionally, we have a considerable amount of experience in handling litigation relating to damage actions resulting from anti-competitive practices and regulatory infringements.
STATE AID
Our multidisciplinary team represents both public authorities and companies in State aid proceedings before the European Commission and national and EU courts. We use our profound knowledge of economics and sectoral approach to advise clients on all State aid aspects: submission of notification forms, drafting of complaints, answering complex information requests from the European Commission, the reduction of State aid-related risks and compatibility assessments of proposed aid schemes with EU State aid rules.
FOREIGN SUBSIDIES AND FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENTS (FDI)
We also assist our clients in multi-jurisdictional analyses related to foreign subsidies and direct investments, and we represent them before the European Commission or the Belgian Interfederal Screening Commission (ISC) in case of notification or request for ex officio investigations. In this respect, our team’s expertise allows us to assist our clients in preparing their notifications and in collecting all relevant data and to defend them in case of a litigation before a court.
DISTINGUISHABLE FEATURES
Cooperation with authorities and litigation
Based on our long-standing experience, we have built a strong relationship with competition authorities and regulators, both at national and EU level. We have also gained in-depth expertise in litigation (all our lawyers regularly plead before EU and national judges). Moreover, two members of our team have previous professional experience at the European Court of Justice.
Economics
Our team includes two lawyers, who also have a degree in economics and who are responsible for the economic approach in our files. This multidisciplinary approach and synergy between both lawyers and economists within the team is unique in the market. It enables us to conduct economic analyses while guaranteeing the confidentiality of the case as well as its LPP protection. It also facilitates the selection of economic consultants and the coordination and cooperation with them on specific files. The client’s operational staff (engineers or economists) can be put in direct contact with the team when their input is required.
Sector focus
With team members having worked and been involved in some specific industries, we also have an in-depth understanding of highly regulated sectors such as energy (network codes and REMIT), financial services, insurance, retail, telecom (digital markets act and electronic communications code) and transport (air, automotive and rail). This enables us to fully understand our client’s business and provide them with relevant advice. We also act in relation to decisions adopted by regulatory bodies. Lastly, we regularly act before the Board of Appeal of EU agencies, such as the European Union Agency for the Cooperation of Energy Regulators (ACER).
Recognitions
Legal 500 2024 - Competition: EU and Global
The team at Strelia brings a strong litigious focus to its competition work, regularly representing clients in procedures relating to damage actions resulting from anti-competitive practices and regulatory infringements. On the non-contentious side, the group handles cross-border merger control analyses and filings, as well as providing project compliance advice. Key contact Pierre Goffinet 'is pragmatic and truly adds value'.
'Extensive experience in competition law.’
‘Strelia combines cross-border expertise with a deep understanding of EU competition law.’
‘Pierre Goffinet is a standout performer and a pleasure to cooperate with. He has a great willingness to dive deep into complex matters and to work at very short notice.’
‘Pierre Goffinet is an expert. He is pragmatic and truly adds value and understands economic, financial and business rationale.’
‘Pierre Goffinet is strong in many aspects, he worked for the Belgian Competition Authority and therefore knows how they work and act, he has a strong economic background and he is not only a competition lawyer but also a regulatory expert, which gives him a quite unique standing in the Belgium antitrust lawyer community.’
Legal 500 2024 - Competition : Belgian Law
With a particular focus on highly regulated sectors – including energy, insurance, retail, telecoms and transport – Strelia regularly appears before the Belgian Competition Authority on merger clearance cases, as well as handling notifications and third-party interventions. The team is also well known for litigating damage actions resulting from anti-competitive practices and regulatory infringements before domestic courts. Pierre Goffinet leads on much of the work, supported by counsel Laure Bersou and associate Mediona Shehu.
'Availability and knowledge of the subject.’
‘Extensive experience in competition law, including within the Belgian Competition Authority.’
‘Pierre Goffinet is a standout performer and a pleasure to co-operate with. He has a great willingness to dive deep into complex matters and to work on very short notice.’
‘The lawyers of Strelia, in particular Pierre Goffinet and Laure Bersou, are very professional, highly qualified and very good at analysing complex technical legal/economic matters.’
‘Pierre Goffinet and Laure Bersou are two lawyers with outstanding qualifications, experience and insight in complex legal and economic matters. They work together very well which gives confidence, a more informal and reliable overall feeling as a client.’
Legal 500 2023 - Competition: EU and Global
Strelia advises a number of clients, including several leading names in the aviation sector, on merger control proceedings and compliance issues, as well as representing in high-stakes litigation relating to cartel allegations, private enforcement, and vertical and horizontal agreements. In a standout case, the firm represented Air Belgium in state aid proceedings before the European Commission, securing €4.8m in damage compensation following the Covid-19 pandemic. Pierre Goffinet, a highly experienced competition practitioner with a successful record in arguing cases before European courts, heads up the team, which also features Laure Bersou, a counsel who regularly handles competition cases in regulated sectors.
‘A firm that offers a whole range of services needed by companies.’
‘Pierre Goffinet and his staff all have the knowledge and availability to provide exceptional service to their clients.’
Legal 500 2023 - Competition: Belgian Law
Strelia continues to expand its share of cases before the Belgian Competition Authority, advising on merger control proceedings, cartel and behavioural investigations, and interim measures applications, as well as representing clients, which include Belgian subsidiaries of major names in retail as well as public sector organisations, in antitrust litigation relating to investigations and regulatory infringements. Pierre Goffinet heads up the team, specialising in work for network industry clients, with counsel Laure Bersou a key name for abuse of dominance and cartel proceedings in regulated industries such as energy and telecoms alongside senior associate Pauline Van Sande.
‘Offers a wide range of services to companies.’
‘Pierre Goffinet has extensive experience and knowledge in the energy sector.’
‘Unique knowledge of the energy sector combined with outstanding mastery of the legal rules surrounding it.’
‘Pierre Goffinet is very reactive, knows his job, and is extremely pleasant to work with. Undoubtedly one of the best on the market.’
Legal 500 2022 - Competition: Belgian Law
Strelia established its competition practice with the arrival of Pierre Goffinet and his team from DALDEWOLF in August 2021; team members have a strong record in competition advice in the regulated communications sectors as well as high-level competition litigation relating to cartels, follow-on damages, and private enforcement. The team acts for a combination of private and public sector clients, including competition regulatory bodies, healthcare and aviation companies. Counsel Laure Bersou is another key member of the practice, with expertise in regulated industries and cartel work.
‘The experience in the domain, reflected in the outstanding quality of their output. Availability and speed of service is excellent’
‘Pierre Goffinet never misses an aspect, his work is of the highest quality, always very complete and to the point. Discussions with him are always very interesting, dynamic and give you a whole new perspective and energy to continue the work.’
‘I have a long lasting relationship with Pierre Goffinet and his team. He is a brilliant practitioner, a very nice personality and has an in-depth knowledge in competition law, including, but not limited to on the transport and energy market, the latter being more or less unique.’
‘Perfect knowledge of the Belgian competition authority and how it works. Hyper-reactive team, impeccable follow-up, efficient, pragmatic and so pleasant and close contact.’
‘Pierre Goffinet’s dual economic and legal role allows for a more pragmatic approach to cases, and the support goes beyond simple legal support. A global understanding of the client and his expectations, a sharp accompaniment in a warm and confident working atmosphere.’
‘Pierre and his team are one of the best on the market.’
‘Pierre has an economic background as well as a law background, which gives him an advantage in dealing with complex competition law issues on regulated markets such as energy markets.’
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