Competition / Antitrust

Our firm has considerable experience in the Baltic States in competition and EU law as well as in state aid matters.

Our clients in this practice area are industry leaders in various sectors including food products and consumer goods retail, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, energy, construction, transport and banking.

Clients seek our assistance with contract reviews, competition law compliance support in their marketing and commercial activities, training and mock dawn raids, guidance in case of investigation by the competition authorities, and merger clearance. We also represent clients in appeals against the decisions of the competition authorities and in competition law related disputes with other market participants.

Our expertise extends from practice to legislation—we have actively participated in the development and drafting of competition-related regulations.


Horizontal & Vertical Agreements
Abuse of Dominance
Dominance in Retail
Compliance
Cartel Investigation
Leniency Programmes
 Dawn Raids & Preparation
Merger Control
Joint Ventures
State Aid
Competition law related disputes and litigation

  • Acting for the Estonian largest cable operator Starman in negotiations with TV network operator Levira regarding establishing a digital terrestrial television network using Levira’s masts.
  • Advising the largest Lithuanian company in the transport sector, AB Lietuvos geležinkeliai, on its position in the Lithuanian / European market with respect to competition law issues. Special focus was placed on issues of abuse of dominant position, cartel regulation in the freight and passenger transport sectors.
  • Advising an international cleaning technologies retailer on various competition law issues concerning the distribution of their products in the Lithuanian market.
  • Advising a major international pharmaceutical company on complex issues of competition clearance in connection to the intended acquisition of a pharmaceutical company, AB Sanitas.
  • Revising agreements between an international retail chain and approximately 600 of its suppliers to meet the specific requirements of the Latvian Competition Law for retailers.
  • On behalf of an international retail chain, lobbying for changes in the amendments to the Latvian Competition Law in Parliament and before the European Commission.
  • Advising risk capital investments provider, the Estonian Development Fund, in establishing effective management tools for implementing venture capital mechanisms in accordance with venture capital guidelines developed by the European Commission and the EC treaty provisions on state aid.
  • Representing an international construction company in competition related criminal proceedings at the Competition Authority. As a result all charges were withdrawn under the Estonian non-formal leniency rules.
  • Advising the Estonian largest cable operator Starman at the Competition Authority in a dispute concerning access to the ducts of the incumbent operator.
  • Representing Henkell Group, a leading European supplier of sparkling wines, wines and spirits, in Estonian merger control proceedings in acquiring the shares of AS Budampex.

Publications