Media Mentions
2008
Benoît Keane commented on the rejection by the Irish of the new EU Treaty in the June 14 issue of theIrish Independent, Ireland's national daily newspaper. The article, titled "Where now for Ireland and the EU?" appeared on the first page of the Independent's supplement on the referendum.
Benoît Keane, Brussels, EU Competition, International
Veronica Pinotti is quoted in the June 12 issue of Global Competition Review in relation to Italy's Antitrust Authority's recent statement to the country's law makers that slow decision-making by the government and a lack of competition are preventing growth of Italy's economy. Ms. Pinotti said, "Even in markets which in principle should be liberalised, there is in fact significant lack of competition, which limits the will of global competitors to participate in these markets - the rail transport sector is a typical example."
Veronica Pinotti, Competition - Italy, EU Competition, Italy
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the May 22 edition of European Voice in relation to Microsoft's appeal against fines imposed by the European Commission for non-compliance with a 2004 ruling that it should share its code on reasonable terms with rivals and cease bundling Windows Media Player in the Windows operating system. "Industry is saying 'enough is enough'. The more the Commission insists on imposing these enormous fines, the more industry will revolt," said Mr. Torbøl. "In the absence of legal measures for private enforcement of antitrust law, the Commission has decided to take matters into its own hands and apply big fines to compensate."
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Martino Sforza was quoted in the May 7 issue of Global Competition Review in relation to Italy's Antitrust Authority's consideration of commitments offered by the country's motorway operators and recovery services, following an investigation into possible abuse of dominance in the industry. Martino agreed that motorway operators' commitments are likely to be accepted, but adds that it's "difficult to say" regarding the recovery services commitment.
Martino Sforza, Antitrust & Competition Experience, EU Competition, Italy
Veronica Pinotti was quoted in the May 6 issue of Global Competition Review in relation to Italy's Competition Authority's increase in the country's merger control thresholds. Veronica says, "The increase might lead to a slight decrease in mandatory filings, since less transactions are likely to meet the thresholds," and continues, “However, statistical data published by the authority shows that the number of transactions filed has remained constant over the past five years, notwithstanding the annual adjustment of turnover thresholds."
Veronica Pinotti, Antitrust & Competition Experience, EU Competition, Italy
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the March 27 issue of Competition Law360 in an article titled "Lower Fares, More Mergers On Horizon For Airlines", regarding the Open Skies agreement between the United States and the European Union. Mr. Torbøl discussed the benefits to travelers due to increased competition, as well as the inevitable consolidation in the market as airlines will have more incentive to merge. He concluded that, "This Open Skies agreement has brought us one step of the way. We're not all the way there to a liberalized EU-US air transport market. But already, on some routes it will allow much more competition, and that will bring prices down."
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Newly promoted partner Philip Torbøl was profiled in the January 2 issue of Global Competition Review in an article titled "McDermott Will boosts competition group in Brussels". Mr. Torbøl commented that, "The European competition practice has been booming over the last couple of years and it is an honour to follow in the footsteps of so many great lawyers."
Philip Torbøl, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition
2007
Philip Torbøl was quoted in a November 7 article in the Danish business newspaper Børsen in relation to an anti-dumping case concerning steel fasteners.
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in a September 18 article in the Danish business newspaper Børsen in relation to the European Court of First Instance's Microsoft Judgment. The article discussed the Court's rejection of Microsoft's appeal of a 497 million euro fine for abuse of dominant position that the European Commission had imposed on the company in 2004. Mr. Torbøl warned that the Commission will now feel free to use the same methodology in other cases involving companies with very high market shares.
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was interviewed in the July 4 edition of the Danish business newspaper, Børsen, in relation to the introduction of a leniency program in Danish antitrust proceedings. Mr. Torbøl explains the effect that leniency has had on cartel cases in the EU and gives his view on how the introduction of a similar system in Denmark is likely to impact new Danish cases.
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the June 27 issue of Competition Law360 regarding the European Commission’s decision to prohibit the merger between Ryanair and Aer Lingus. “We have seen mergers in the airline sector and the Commission has generally been promoting that airlines should merge,” Mr. Torbøl commented. The most recent and significant merger was Air France and KLM….The problem here is that it appears that the Commission is still looking relatively narrowly at the definition of the market and is afraid that the competition in the EU market is not strong enough to compensate for large market shares in a Member State. The fact that the parties did not withdraw the notification indicated that they were interested in appealing. In most instances, if the parties see that their merger isn’t going to go through, they withdraw their notification and abandon the merger.”
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the March 22 issue of the Danish business newspaper Børsen. He was interviewed in relation to the EU/US Open Skies negotiations, in which he is representing parties in the airline industry.
Philip Torbøl, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the 5 March edition of the Danish business newspaper Børsen in relation to the EU / US Open Skies negotiations. Mr. Torbøl is mentioned as representing parts of the European airline industry.
Philip Torbøl, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the 2 March edition of Competition Law360 regarding the agreement of a preliminary deal in the EU / US Open Skies negotiations. He was mentioned as an advisor fo the European aviation industry and spoke about the ultimate goal of having a completely open aviation market.
Philip Torbøl, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was quoted in the 6 February edition of Competition Law360 regarding the EU / US Open Skies negotiations. He was interviewed during the latest round of talks taking place in Washington, aimed at liberalizing the transatlantic aviation market and replacing current bilateral air agreements between the US and various EU Member States.
Philip Torbøl, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
Philip Torbøl was profiled in an article in the 19 January issue of the Danish business newspaper Børsen in relation to the recent expansion of the Brussels office, resulting in the largest concentration of Danish lawyers in one single Brussels law firm.
Philip Torbøl, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, International Antitrust & Competition
2006
Alasdair Bell was identified as a new member of McDermott's European Competition Practice Group in the December 21 issue of The Wall Street Journal.
Alasdair Bell, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, London
Clive Stanbrook was quoted in the April 7 issue of The Wall Street Journal regarding the decision by the EU to broaden the offensive against "golden shares." Clive commented that the use of so-called poison pills, shareholder-rights plans that were first deployed in the United States during the 1980s to make hostile takeovers prohibitively expensive, have been limited by judges.
Clive Stanbrook QC, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, EU Regulatory
Clive Stanbrook QC was quoted in the 17 March issue of Competition Law360. The Brussels office partners were interviewed for a special series on law firms in Brussels, beginning with a feature on McDermott Will & Emery/Stanbrook LLP.
Clive Stanbrook QC, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition, EU Regulatory
2005
Davina Garrod was quoted by IDG News Service on October 12 in regard to a new complaint against Microsoft which has reportedly been submitted to the European Commission by a security software provider. Last year, a Commission ruling found that Microsoft abused its dominant market position by bundling its Media Player software with its Windows OS without a legitimate business justification. Ms. Garrod commented that this ruling only applied to the bundling of the Media Player to the relevant Windows OS, "The decision is limited to the facts of the case and so does not prohibit Microsoft from bundling other products with its OS if it wants."
Davina Garrod, Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition, London
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the February 16 issue of Handelsblatt in regard to the expansion in Brussels with Clive Stanbrook QC and a team of lawyers joining McDermott.
Clive Stanbrook QC, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the February 15 issue of The Times (London) regarding our expansion in Brussels. "The firm, run by Clive Stanbrook has had a strong reputation and was a satisfying example of British excellence abroad."
Clive Stanbrook QC, Antitrust & Competition, Brussels, EU Competition
2004
Joel Grosberg was quoted in the Los Angeles Times on March 25 in response to the European Commission's precedent setting ruling regarding Microsoft. In its decision the commission directed Microsoft to offer computer makers a version of Windows without its media player but it didn't say the stripped-down Windows had to be cheaper. Mr. Grosberg agreed commenting, "If they don't have to offer a difference in price, you might as well take the Windows that has the media player in it. I don't see much impact on Microsoft's business."
Joel R. Grosberg, Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition
Scott Megregian was quoted in the March 19 issue of The Wall Street Journal Europe on the EU fines Microsoft now faces because of its imposition of sales rules and its failure to reach an accord in the Windows antitrust case.
Scott S. Megregian, Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition
Davina Garrod was quoted in the Los Angeles Times on March 16 in regard to European antitrust officials unanimously endorsing the proposed sanctions against Microsoft Corp., which pave the way for a final ruling that could force the software giant to modify its Windows operating system and reveal more about how it works. "It is unlikely Microsoft is going to get out of it now," commented Ms. Garrod. "I'm not going to rule out the possibility of a settlement, but I think it's unlikely."
Davina Garrod, Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition
The opening of the Brussels office was reported by the Daily Deal on February 5. The Deal reported that the "expansion is designed to support the firm's established European Competition and regulatory practice, and is expected to enhance the services it provides to multinational clients." On February 6, Global Competition Review also reported the opening of our Brussels office.
Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition
2002
Scott Megregian was profiled in the July 15 issue of The Lawyer. Mr. Megregian discussed McDermott Will & Emery's EU competition practice and his move to London.
Scott S. Megregian, Antitrust & Competition, EU Competition, London
2001
Scott Megregian was quoted by Legal Media Group on November 25 in an article on EU fines and that cooperation with the regulators will be rewarded with exemptions from fines in future cartel investigations.
Scott S. Megregian, Antitrust & Competition, Cartel Investigations, EU Competition, International, London
