Global Competition Review Ranks Howrey Among “Elite” Competition Firms in Brussels

According to the survey, "Howrey LLP has been one of the most successful US firms in penetrating the Brussels market. Practice head, Trevor Soames, credits the collegiality of the partners with much of the group’s success. Its 17 partners and two counsel consult closely on major cases, which allow them to exchange information effectively, and to do away with the traditional structure of one partner heading a team of associates. Perhaps the biggest testament to the firm’s excellent record this year was its instruction by Microsoft to handle the European Commission’s investigation of the alleged tying of Internet Explorer with the Windows operating system. It is also defending Qualcomm against allegations of abuse of dominance in the licensing of wireless telecommunications technology and the sale of chipsets. The Brussels practice, which includes Who’s Who nominees Julian Joshua, Damien Geradin and Götz Drauz, among others, is also actively involved in several investigations before the European Commission, advising Samsung Electronics in the DRAM investigation and United Airlines in the air cargo cartel investigation. Meanwhile, it played a major role in InBev ‘s US$52 billion acquisition of Anheuser-Busch and Schering Plough’s 11 billion acquisition of Akzo Nobel’s human and animal health businesses."

Howrey submitted information for the GCR survey on its practice and market position in the Brussels legal community. The firm also provided information based on the cases listed within the survey write-up. Upon receiving firm information, reporters from GCR conducted in-person interviews with the firm’s Brussels partners. Finally GCR conducted an extensive fact-checking operation followed up with interviews with other Brussels-based attorneys who would have knowledge of Howrey’s antitrust expertise as well as contacting client references. In researching its findings, GCR concluded that, "in Brussels, multinational firms rule supreme, but lawyer reputations coupled with a strong firm brand also play a large role when it comes to being selected by in-house counsel. Howrey is fortunate to maintain both strong attorney and firm reputations."

According to the survey the Brussels competition bar is identified as being the busiest in the world "thanks to the relentless efforts of the European Commission to ensure there is enough work to go around to feed an ailing global economy," the survey notes.

Howrey’s Brussels office opened in September 2002, with Trevor Soames leading a group of some 15 lawyers and economists from many different countries. Since then it has grown to about 50 lawyers with a significant client list and case load. "I am delighted with this recognition," Soames said, "and consider it a tribute to all the colleagues who helped build the Brussels office over the past seven years, and to the unequivocal support we have received from the firm and practice leadership. This is, indeed, a shared honour and we are very appreciative of it. We will continue to grow here in Brussels and elsewhere in key Europe antitrust centres."

Howrey currently has six offices and more than 120 lawyers in Europe.