27/08/09

Two new transfers for Arnold & Porter in Brussels

Arnold & Porter LLP announced today an expansion of its competition practice in Europe with the addition of partners Annette Schild and Silvio Cappellari and counsel Stephanie Birmanns in the firm's Brussels office.

"We are extremely fortunate to be able to expand our footprint in Europe with this talented team," said Arnold & Porter Chair Thomas Milch. "Annette, Silvio, and Stephanie will strengthen the breadth and depth of our competition practice in Europe for our clients who have complex and demanding international business needs."

"Annette, Silvio, and Stephanie are top-notch competition lawyers who consistently achieve remarkable results for their clients," said William Baer, head of Arnold & Porter's global antitrust/competition practice. "Their wide ranging experience and talents will enable Arnold & Porter to do more for our clients and significantly enhance our ability to handle high-stakes horizontal mergers, cartel matters, and abuse cases before the European Commission and the competition authorities of Member States."

In her prior position, Ms. Schild served as managing partner for the Brussels office of a major international law firm. She has 17 years of experience in private practice in Brussels, New York, and Washington, D.C., and has a strong record in merger and acquisition transactions. She successfully defended numerous companies in investigations of their proposed mergers by EU, German, and French authorities and has conducted several high-profile cartel cases, with in-depth experience in the nuclear, aerospace, power generation, (petro) chemical, media, mining, and medical industries. Her recent matters include the representation of Siemens in its acquisition of Austrian VA Tech; BASF in the takeover of Engelhard and in its acquisition of Degussa's Construction Chemicals business; Areva in several merger control matters, including its acquisition of Alstom's Transmission and Distribution business and its joint venture with Urenco, as well as in several cartel investigations and an appeal to the European Court of First Instance. Ms. Schild received training at the University of Tübingen and studied at Harvard Law School and the Fletcher School for Law and Diplomacy before moving into private practice. She is recognized as a leading lawyer in competition and European law in Chambers Global 2009, Chambers Europe 2009, and Global Competition Review's "Women in Antitrust" for 2009.

Mr. Cappellari's practice focuses on European and German competition law, including high-profile mergers and acquisitions and international cartel cases. He has practiced in Brussels and Washington, D.C., and has substantial experience in the energy, pharmaceuticals, transport, and media industries. His recent matters include the representation of Cargolux in a cartel investigation under Article 81 EC and a complaint under the European State aid rules; advising CVC Capital Partners in its acquisition of DSI Holding GmbH; representing Siemens in its $3.5 billion acquisition of UGS Corp; assisting Novartis in the sale of its medical nutrition and baby food divisions to Nestlé and in its acquisition of Hexal AG; and preparing complex complaints under Article 82 in the energy sector. Mr. Cappellari trained at the University of Göttingen and holds an LL.M. from Columbia University. He is also recognized as a leading lawyer in competition and European law in Chambers Global 2009 and Chambers Europe 2009.

Ms. Birmanns has represented clients in high-profile merger control and cartel cases before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office.  She has significant experience in the chemicals, pharmaceutics, paper and transport industries. Her recent matters include representing SimonsVoss Technologies in its proposed sale to Assa Abloy before the German Federal Cartel Office and the Higher Regional Court; Renolit in its acquisition of Solvay's industrial foils business before the European Commission, as well as Siemens, BASF and P.H. Glatfelter Company in various acquisitions.

"Annette, Silvio, and Stephanie will greatly expand our Brussels team, allowing us to assist a broader client base in the EU market," said Marleen Van Kerckhove, head of Arnold & Porter's European competition practice and its Brussels office. "They have extensive experience in industrial, chemical, energy, media, transportation of commercial goods, pharmaceutical, and private equity industries, among other areas, which will solidify our capabilities in key economic sectors."

On behalf of the newly arriving team, Ms. Schild said: "Silvio, Stephanie, and I are delighted to join Arnold & Porter, and its preeminent competition practice. Our team's depth and experience will mesh well with Arnold & Porter's highly regarded European group. We are excited as well by the opportunity to work closely with Bill and Marleen, both of whom we respect tremendously."

Arnold & Porter's Brussels office opened in 2003 and has grown to include partner Luc Gyselen, who previously headed DG COMP's Food and Pharmaceuticals and its Financial Services units within the European Commission; counsel Axel Gutermuth, who has significant experience in merger control and other competition matters in the EU and Germany; counsel Niels Christian Ersbøll, who has broad competition law experience, in particular in the maritime sector and in merger control; and a team of associates. Two London-based European competition partners, Tim Frazer and Sue Hinchliffe, also work closely with the Brussels team.

Arnold & Porter's Antitrust/Competition Practice Group

There are 94 antitrust/competition lawyers practicing in the area of antitrust and competition in the U.S. and Europe. They represent clients in a wide variety of complex and critical antitrust/competition matters including mergers and acquisitions, major litigation, and criminal and civil government investigations. Arnold & Porter's European practice complements its renowned antitrust practice in Washington, D.C. and other U.S. cities. The firm's lawyers in Europe work closely with their U.S. colleagues. Lawyers in the antitrust group have held significant senior government positions, including Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC); General Counsel of the FTC; Director of the FTC's Bureau of Competition; Deputy Assistant Attorney General at the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ); and Chief of the Communications and Finance Section at the Antitrust Division of DOJ. The firm's antitrust/competition practice is recognized internationally for its excellence and regularly tops the list in Chambers USA, Chambers Europe, Chambers Global, International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, Practical Law Company, and the GCR 100.

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