Brussels

Since it opened in 1985, the Garrigues Brussels office has been providing clients with highly specialized advice on all areas of EU law.

The office boasts a team of distinguished lawyers renowned for their technical excellence and proven experience in administrative and judicial procedures and proceedings before the courts and institutions of the European Union and of its Member States. Our lawyers advise clients on some of the main antitrust law matters at international level, and are recognized leaders in areas such as State aid and litigation before the EU courts, having participated in over one hundred cases.

The Brussels office offers advisory services in all areas of EU law and, in particular:

Antitrust law. Our antitrust department is regarded as a leading international practice in both Europe and Latin America.  The Brussels office remains at the leading edge of this field and has played a central role in many of the most significant antitrust cases and developments in recent years. Our lawyers habitually advise clients on the design and evaluation of commercial strategies, distribution and cooperation agreements, abuse of dominant position, control of concentrations and cartel investigation procedures. We regularly act in proceedings before the European Commission and the national competition authorities of different Member States.

State aid and state and public intervention. Garrigues has advised international organizations, EU Member States, and public and private companies on all types of matters relating to the application of State aid rules and other forms of state and public intervention. We assist clients in notification, investigation and recovery procedures, as well as in reporting, assessing and defending measures potentially constituting State aid and in relation to the grant of special and exclusive rights. 

Tariffs and trade defense measures. Our lawyers have many years’ proven experience in anti-dumping, anti-subsidy and safeguard investigations, both before the European Commission and before the trade defense authorities of third countries, such as the United States or China. We act in complex proceedings, both in representation of European industry and as adviser to exporters and importers. 

Litigation before the EU Courts. Our lawyers have acted in over one hundred proceedings before the General Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union in actions for annulment, petitions for interim measures or cassation appeals relating to antitrust matters, State aid, regulated sectors and free movement, as well as in other areas of EU law.

European Funds. Garrigues has advised public entities and private beneficiaries to help them ensure that their management of EU funds complies with the requirements of EU law. We have also represented these entities in audit proceedings conducted by European institutions.

Regulated sectors. Our Brussels team has a wealth of expertise in advising clients on regulatory issues in a wide range of sectors, including digital platforms, telecommunications, energy, transportation, financial services, gambling and postal services.

Internal Market freedoms. Garrigues regularly advises international companies and associations on matters relating to free movement of goods, freedom to provide services, freedom of establishment and free movement of capital in the Internal Market. We have extensive experience in reporting state laws and regulations restricting such freedoms to the European Commission.

EU tax law. Our Brussels lawyers regularly work alongside colleagues from our tax practice on a broad range of matters within national jurisdictions, such as state tax aid, international taxation, interpretation and litigation with respect to EU tax law.