EU antitrust lawyer Jens Peter Schmidt joins Noerr in Brussels

20.01.2020

Noerr strengthens its Brussels office by adding a renowned antitrust specialist to its ranks: Jens Peter Schmidt will be joining the partnership on 15 February 2020. The hire reflects the strategic development of Noerr’s Brussels office.

Jens Peter Schmidt joins Noerr from Mayer Brown, where he was the managing partner of its Brussels office, and co-heading the firm’s European antitrust and competition practice. Covering the entire spectrum of German and EU antitrust law, a focus of his counseling concerns merger control risk analyses and complex merger control notifications before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office. Jens Peter also represents clients in cartel case investigations, structures compliance programs, and provides assessments of vertical and horizontal arrangements, including information exchanges. He also advises on state aid issues.

“We are pleased to have gained such a high-profile, internationally highly respected Brussels-based antitrust expert who has an excellent feel for the market and always has an eye for cross-practice cooperation,” says Fabian Badtke, head of Noerr’s antitrust and competition practice.

Opened in 2014 with Dominik Wendel at the helm, Noerr’s Brussels office concentrates on antitrust, state aid and distribution matters. Now with the new co-heads Dominik Wendel and Jens Peter Schmidt, Noerr will expand the range of services to other EU regulatory issues.

“This hire is not only significant for our antitrust practice,” emphasises Alexander Ritvay, Noerr’s co-managing partner. “Our Brussels office is a key component of our international set-up and strategy as a European law firm. With Jens Peter Schmidt on board, we will strategically develop this office further and increase its headcount.”

It is of key importance for the firm to combine the competencies of its established regulatory practice groups with the services offered in the Brussels office. “Jens Peter Schmidt is therefore the ideal partner to achieve this goal,” adds Alexander Birnstiel, co-head of Noerr’s regulatory department.

Jens Peter Schmidt emphasises: “Noerr’s collaborative culture and spirit, its independence combined with a distinct concentration on qualitative growth have anchored Noerr in the ranks of the top European law firms. Noerr’s multidisciplinary approach in conjunction with its recognised expertise in business models of the digital economy have convinced me. I also look forward to becoming part of its highly respected antitrust practice. I am confident that in close collaboration with the other market leading practice groups we will successfully develop the Brussels office.”

In addition to its office in Brussels, Noerr has a presence in eight other jurisdictions throughout Europe, as well as in New York. In Germany, the firm offers its services at six locations, with its most recent office opened in Hamburg in 2017.

Noerr’s antitrust practice, which is headed by Fabian Badtke, advises on all antitrust and state aid issues, in particular on merger control, antitrust proceedings, cartel damages, dominant position abuse issues, compliance and investigations. The practice group’s expertise is particularly known for complex cross-border merger control proceedings (including EU merger control proceedings), defending against and asserting cartel damages claims, and in relation to digital economy issues.