Competitive Edge: Competition & EU Law - July/August 2025
Written By
Partner
Netherlands
I am a partner in our NL office, based in The Hague, where I was one of its founding lawyers in 2001.
Partner
Denmark
I'm a partner and co-head of our international Competition & EU group. I also lead the Competition & EU team in Denmark. I have a particular focus on applying competition & EU law as a tool to achieve specific and measurable business objectives for our clients.
Keeping you up to date on Competition & EU law developments in Europe and beyond.
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In Focus
The transition to Australia’s new merger regime begins, but is it fees-ible for all businesses?
Australia's long-awaited shift from voluntary to mandatory merger control is now underway, with voluntary notifications available from 1 July 2025 and compulsory filings starting 1 January 2026. The ACCC has finalised notification thresholds capturing acquisitions with combined Australian revenue of $200 million or acquirer revenue of $500 million, alongside significant filing fees ranging from $56,800 for Phase 1 to up to $1.6 million for complex Phase 2 reviews.
In-house teams face critical transition period decisions - continuing with informal clearances risks delays if transactions aren't approved before the mandatory regime kicks in. With Australia joining the global trend toward stricter merger oversight, understanding these new requirements is essential for companies' M&A planning. For detailed threshold calculations and strategic guidance, read the full article.
Read the full story
A Merger of new ideas and concepts – the EU’s revision of its Merger Control guidelines
The European Commission's first comprehensive review of merger guidelines in two decades has been kicked off and aims to modernise the framework to address today's digital and sustainability-focused business environment. It also signals a potentially dramatic shift that will directly impact your organisation's M&A strategy, as it will influence how M&A transactions are assessed and structured going forward.
The proposed changes present both challenges and opportunities - while requiring more thorough preparation and documentation, the updated guidelines could also provide clearer pathways for demonstrating pro-competitive benefits, including sustainability and innovation synergies.
The public consultation on these issues is underway (until 3 September), but understanding the direction of travel will help your legal team navigate the evolving regulatory landscape more effectively and identify the best strategies for future transactions. Read the full article to stay ahead of these important changes in EU merger control.
AI & Competition law survey
Take this 2-minute survey to help us tailor our AI & Competition law content to your needs
As AI continues to reshape markets and regulatory landscapes, we want to ensure that our insights remain relevant to your practice. Please take 2-3 minutes to complete our quick survey on AI and competition law priorities. Your responses will help us develop more targeted content, events, and resources.
We'll be happy to share a summary of the key findings with the survey participants.
Updates from our jurisdictions
EU
Review of the Digital Markets Act is underway
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Anthony Rosen or David Wouters.
Belgium
Het sop is de pattaten niet waard (The juice is not worth the squeeze) – Belgapom offers commitments to change its potato benchmark price model
Read the full story
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Baptist Vleeshouwers or Claire De Neve.
Staying Ahead by Looking Back: Insights from the Belgian Competition Authority’s 2024 Annual Report
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Baptist Vleeshouwers or David Wouters.
Czech Republic
Czech NCA launches sector inquiry into EV charging market - shifts focus towards automotive
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Martin Taimr, Vojtěch Chloupek or Matej Šinkovic.
Finland
Asphalt sector investigation reflects growing trend of private residence inspections
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Katia Duncker, Petteri Metsä-Tokila or Maria Karpathakis.
France
Landmark French decision confirms no-poach agreement can breach competition law
Read the full story
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Elsa Mandel Benichou and Thomas Oster.
Germany
German Football's 50+1 Rule Withstands Competition Law Challenge: German Federal Cartel Office Issues Guidance on Compliance Requirements
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Stephan Waldheim or Gitty Narymany Shandy.
Hungary
Hungary Temporarily Expands FDI Screening Powers with Extended Deadlines and Pre-emption Rights
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Gabor Kutai.Italy
Bioplastic Sector under antitrust scrutiny: Italy fines Novamont and Eni over 32 million for abuse of dominant position
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Federico Marini Balestra, or Bianca Maria Gorlero.
Netherlands
Patience Rewarded: ACM Conditionally Approves Acquisition of RTL Netherlands by DPG Media
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Pauline Kuipers or Quirijn Mohr.
Poland
Agricultural machinery cartel charges in Poland
Read the full story
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Marcin Alberski or Stanislaw Szymanek.
Spain
CNMC targets the public sector with new consultation on damages claims
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Candela Sotes.
UK
Where is the CMA headed: A strategic shift towards growth and investment
Read the full story
If you need more information or further guidance in this area, please contact Saskia King, Tenisha Cramer or Flora McCarthy.
Events and webinars
In-Person seminar in Finland for in-house counsel
Inside the Raid: Tips and tricks for developing a Dawn Raid protocol
20 August | 8:30 - 10:15 | Bird & Bird Helsinki
Join us for a practical breakfast seminar designed for in-house lawyers navigating the complex landscape of competition law enforcement!
With increasing scrutiny from the European Commission and the Finnish Competition and Consumer Authority (FCCA), the risk of unannounced inspections - so-called “dawn raids” - is rising across industries.
Drawing on recent experience assisting in an EU dawn raid, our team will outline key differences between Finnish and EU inspection practices. We’ll also hear from a colleague in our Danish office, who will share valuable insights from his time as in-house counsel at a listed Nordic company. Presentations will be delivered in Finnish and English.
This session offers hands-on guidance to help you prepare for and respond to dawn raids. Please register by 13 August to secure your spot for this in-person only event.
More information here
Register for the free seminar here
Webinar
EU Manufacturing Resilience and Strategic Autonomy: from Buzzwords to Business Impact
16 September | Online
Join our Competition and Trade partner Hein Hobbelen and Regulatory & Public Affairs advisor Paolo Sasdelli for this essential discussion on how EU manufacturing resilience and strategic autonomy are transforming competition and trade defence policy.
As these concepts move beyond policy rhetoric into practical implementation, in-house counsel must understand their strategic implications. Our experts will examine critical developments including evolving EU trade defence mechanisms, the Electric Vehicle case as a potential harbinger of increased intervention, proposed changes to merger reviews, and the possible emergence of European Champions in strategic sectors like telecoms.
The 1-hour webinar will conclude with three key takeaways for in-house counsel and a Q&A session. Don't miss this opportunity to understand how these policy shifts will impact your company's operations and strategic planning.
Find out more here
Register for the free webinar
Informa course
CompLaw: Summer School
8 - 12 September
Cambridge, UK | Downing College
Led by top legal experts, this all-inclusive residential 5-day course will provide you with a firm understanding of the core principles of EU and UK competition law and economics, and their practical application.
The speaker lineup includes Bird & Bird competition experts
- Anne Federle, presenting on Hard Core Cartels & the EU Leniency Programme and
- Dr. Saskia King, chairing the day on Merger Control and presenting a Practical Guide to Merger Proceedings as well as a case study and a session on Navigating the Competition Process.
ERA - Academy of European Law
Summer Course on AI, Digital and Information Technology Law in the EU
15 - 19 September | Online
This course provides a thorough introduction to European information technology law and digital law, with a focus on emerging technologies such as AI and Internet of Things, and EU initiatives on access to data in the digital environment.
Partner Pauline Kuipers will teach a session on 19 September, dedicated to AI in the Digital Single Market, on DMA, competition law in the IT, AI and in the digital sectors.
More information here
Conference
LEAR Competition Festival 2025
23 - 25 September | Rome, Italy
The LEAR Competition Festival is a prestigious three-day international event in Rome that brings together leading competition law experts, economists, and practitioners to discuss cutting-edge antitrust issues and the crucial role of economics in competition policy.
Our London-based partner Dr Saskia King will speak on the panel Key Red Flags Before You Merge: Avoiding the Gun-Jumping Trap. Her presentation will address critical compliance challenges facing businesses today, exploring warning signs of potential gun-jumping violations and providing practical guidance for companies navigating pre-merger integration planning.
More information here
Bird & Bird news
Rome-based partner appointed advisor to European Economic and Social Committee
Congratulations to our Rome-based partner Federico Marini Balestra, who has been appointed advisor for the European Economic and Social Committee's work on Quantum Strategy. In this role, he will help the EESC define a strong strategy to reinforce Europe's position in this critical sector of the digital economy.
