WAGNER LEGAL, Hamburg, law firm and specialist attorney/lawyer for competition/antitrust law, European law, compliance management, merger control, private enforcement etc.

Competition law firm

We are an independent German law firm specialising in German and European competition law and related legal issues.

Our work is characterised by deep, detailed knowledge, more than 20 years of experience in all areas of German and European competition law and a high level of commitment. Due to the setup of the firm we do not—as a rule—have any actual or strategic conflicts and are always driven exclusively by our clients' business and strategic objectives. This gives us a clear view of the opportunities and risks, even—in fact, especially—in complex cases.

In addition to competition law, we also advise our clients on related issues regarding EU and regulatory law and, if necessary in cooperation with specialists from our network, corporate, civil and contract law as well as intellectual property and unfair trading law. In addition, we also offer mediation services.

How others see us:

WAGNER LEGAL and founding partner, Eckart Wagner, have been consistently recommended for competition law advice by the leading handbook for evaluating and ranking commercial law firms in Germany, the JUVE Handbook, based on evaluations by competitors and clients:

Long-standing client relationship

“The Hamburg-based competition law boutique is characterised by long-standing relationships with its clients.” (JUVE Handbook 2020/21)

For many years, clients have praised the “pleasant cooperation” with WAGNER LEGAL and Eckart Wagner as a “capable and proven expert” (JUVE Handbook 2014/15)

Representation and advice at the highest level

Competitors praise WAGNER LEGAL and Eckart Wagner as:

“experienced, competent and always up to date.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19),

“experienced, competent and innovative” as well as “competent and very committed,” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17)

as well as for its, "highest standards.” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17)

International handbooks have also recommended Eckart Wagner for many years beginning with Legal 500 in 2009.

Eckart Wagner

Cartel damages

"Experienced, competent, very active, especially in damages","has been advising companies in the mineral oil industry on claims for damages for some time" (JUVE Handbook 2022/23)

“When it comes to cartel damages, the firm typically sides with claimants such as HANSA-HEEMANN or Reuter.” (JUVE Handbook 2020/21)

Eckart Wagner “is, with his team, one of the most active lawyers in litigation.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

“New players stimulate the market: WAGNER LEGAL has teamed up for one of the largest actions against the sugar cartel.”(JUVE Handbook 2016/2017)

Specialist for competition law litigation

Competitors praise WAGNER LEGAL as “very experienced in litigation” (JUVE Handbook 2020/21)

“Specialist for antitrust driven litigation.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19)

Obtained “one of the first awarding judgments in a case of cartel damage claims.” (JUVE Handbook 2015/16).

Complex interface consulting

“Competitors praise Wagner's expertise at the interface with intellectual property law as well as his industry knowledge of the toll market.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19)

“Eckart Wagner was most recently recommended for his experience interfacing with IP.” (JUVE Handbook 2011/2012)

Distribution and online platforms

“The boutique has a focus on antitrust related distribution law.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19)

“Competitors praise in particular its ‘tenacious advocacy’ for its clients and great know-how regarding online platforms.” Wagner conducted various lawsuits for Reuter, among others against Google.”(JUVE Handbook 2017/18)

Great expertise in national and international merger control cases

“The boutique also regularly advises a number of high-profile clients on merger control cases.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

“The competition law firm’s team has ample experience working with major law firms, is well connected in the market and has therefore been consulted in a number of international merger control cases.” (JUVE Handbook 2015/16)

“Its experience in international merger control is unusual for a firm of this size.” (JUVE Handbook 2014/15)

Good networking

“Due to the good network of the founder, the firm always manages to get new and large mandates.” (JUVE Handbook 2020/21)

“Sought-after cooperation partner for various law firms without their own antitrust lawyers.” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17)

Controls complex special cases

“Demonstrates time and again that the firm can navigate complex mandates, most recently advising the Federation of the German Sporting Goods Industry against rules of the International Olympic Committee.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

The fact that WAGNER LEGAL “is also confident about handling special cases is shown by the representation of mineral oil companies in the EC-Cash case. Here, enforcing damages against banks is considered to be particularly complicated.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19).

WAGNER LEGAL, Hamburg, law firm and specialist attorney/lawyer for competition/antitrust law, European law, compliance management, merger control, private enforcement etc. WAGNER LEGAL, Hamburg, law firm and specialist attorney/lawyer for competition/antitrust law, European law, compliance management, merger control, private enforcement etc.

Contact

A lot of experience with joint ventures

“Always new and large mandates, such as the work for Ehrmann, Zentis and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on a joint venture.” (JUVE Handbook 2020/21)

“Antitrust advice on joint ventures is also gaining in importance, and Wagner was able to win the chemical trader Helm as a client in this regard.” (JUVE Handbook 2017/18)

Tenacious advocacy

Persistent representation

Competitors praise its “persistent representation” of clients. (JUVE Handbook 2017/18)

“Very persistent and tenacious representation and advice of the highest calibre.” (JUVE Handbook 2015/16).

Our network

Where necessary, we work closely with leading experts from other specialised law firms in Germany and abroad. This allows us to provide our clients with full support inter alia in the following additional areas of law:

M&A/Corporate law
white collar crime
employment law
industrial property rights, unfair trade law, IP-law
litigation

Internationally, we maintain contacts with law firms in all significant jurisdictions, including the EU Member States, UK, Switzerland, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Turkey, South Africa, South Korea, Japan, China and Australia.

Through our network, we offer our clients comprehensive support on questions that involve a crossover between different areas of law and/or jurisdictions.

References

Some selected references are listed under News in more detail.

Financial sector Mineral oil sector Truck and automotive Food industry Food retail Agriculture Sports Industry e-commerce

AGES – Payment services in the toll system

Competition law advice and representation of AGES (joint venture of Shell, BP/Aral, UTA, DKV, etc.) with regard to payment services in connection with truck tolls in Germany and neighboring countries and with regard to the participation in tenders as well as vis-à-vis the operator of the truck toll, Toll Collect, and its then shareholders Telekom and Daimler respectively the Federal Republic of Germany/Federal Ministry of Transport and before the Federal Cartel Office and before courts in antitrust disputes

“Competitors praise Wagner's expertise at the interface with intellectual property law as well as his industry knowledge in the toll market.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19).

Antitrust damage claims against the German Banking Industry Committee (Deutsche Kreditwirtschaft) for excessive electronic cash merchant fees

WAGNER LEGAL’s “confidence in its competency shows in special cases such as the representation of mineral oil companies in the EC cash case. Enforcing damages against banks is considered particularly complicated.” (JUVE Handbook 2018/19).

BP/Aral and Statoil

Advising BP/Aral and Statoil on the establishment of the payment services joint venture Trafineo and representing them in merger control proceedings.

“Exceptionally, for a firm of this size, it is experienced in international merger controls.” (JUVE Handbook 2014/15).

Companies in the mineral oil industry

"Wagner's relations with the mineral oil industry, which is currently the focus of the Cartel Office, are well known. He has been advising several companies in the industry on claims for damages and distribution cartel law issues for some time now" (JUVE Handbook 2022/23)

Arbeitskreis der Belieferer von Bundesautobahntankstellen (Working Group of the Suppliers to Federal Motorway Service Stations)

Shell, BP/Aral, Phillips 66/JET, Total, ENI/Agip, ORLEN, OMV, UNITI and bft regarding fuel distribution via federal motorway petrol stations

Comprehensive services for multinational groups and medium-sized companies

BP/Aral, ENI/Agip, EG Group, Q1, Oiltanking, Hoyer, Helm and a number of medium-sized mineral oil companies on various antitrust issues

Acquisition of the bunker business of Marquardt & Bahls Group

Hoyer Group on the acquisition (merger control) of NWB (bunker business) from the Marquardt & Bahls Group

Comprehensive (antitrust) audit and assertion of damage claims

Legal audit and internal investigations at Orlen Germany
and litigation of damage claims against third parties.

A “Mittelstand” mineral oil company

Medium-sized (family-owned) mineral oil company in antitrust litigation against Shell.

UNITI and bft

Antitrust advice to the associations of medium-sized mineral oil companies UNITI and bft and compliance training.

Damage claims against the truck cartel

Representation of Hoyer in assertion of cartel damages against the truck cartel (MAN and Daimler)

Eckart Wagner “is, with his team, one of the most active lawyers in litigation.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

ACTIA Group / Kromberg & Schubert

Antitrust and merger control advice to ACTIA Group and Kromberg & Schubert, respectively leading suppliers in the fields of automotive electronics and electrical systems, on the formation of a joint venture and conduction of the merger control procedure.

“The boutique also regularly advises some well-known clients on merger control.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

Damage claims against the sugar cartel

Representation of HANSA-HEEMANN in one of the largest cartel damages claims against the sugar cartel.

WAGNER LEGAL pursues “one of the largest lawsuits against the sugar cartel.” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17)

Hansa-Heemann / Nestlé

Antitrust and merger control advice and representation of HANSA-HEEMANN in the acquisition of the mineral water business, “Fürst Bismarck,” from Nestlé

DMK – Acquisition of the Bauer subsidiary Immergut

Advising DMK on antitrust and merger control law in connection with the acquisition of the Bauer subsidiary, Immergut, and conducting of the merger control proceedings.

DMK – Divestiture of parts of its ice cream business to the Schwarz Group

Antitrust and merger control advice on the sale of parts of its ice cream business to the Schwarz Group and conducting the merger control proceedings together with the Schwarz Group.

Joint Venture of Ehrmann, Zentis and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Advising Ehrmann, Zentis and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on the establishment of a joint venture for the use of plant proteins in food products and handling the merger control proceedings for the parties

“Always new and large mandates, such as the work for Ehrmann, Zentis and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on a joint venture.” (JUVE Handbuch 2020/21)

Edeka-Hessenring

Representation of Edeka-Hessenring against the European Commission before the ECJ for access to the files of the Euribor antitrust proceedings in preparation of claims for cartel damages.

“Wagner Legal has developed another main pillar of its work in the currently important area of cartel damages. Here, Wagner Legal won another client with Edeka Hessenring.” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17).

Auchan – Acquisition of the Eastern European business of the Metro subsidiary Real

Antitrust and merger control advice to Auchan regarding the implementation of merger control obligations in the acquisition of the Eastern European business of the Metro subsidiary Real (volume € 1.1 billion).

EU merger control proceedings: Ceravis and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Antitrust and merger control law advice to Ceravis and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft on the establishment of a joint venture for chemical-free seed treatment and successful handling of the merger control proceedings before the European Commission.

Damage claims against the pesticide cartel

Representation of more than 2,000 farmers and agricultural businesses in the assertion of claims for damages against the pesticide cartel, cooperation with associations, agricultural consultancy firms, the leading litigation law firm Baumann Disputes Resolution and the gobally leading competition economists of Charles River Associates and the litigation financier LitFin,
www.psm-kartell.de.

BSI - Abuse proceedings against DOSB and IOC

Advising and representing the Federation of the German Sporting Goods Industry (BSI), including Asics, Adidas, Puma, Reebok and more than 150 other member companies, before the German Federal Cartel Office as complainant in abuse of dominance proceedings against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the German Olympic Sport Confederation (DOSB). WAGNER LEGAL successfully litigated the enforcement of the expansion of marketing opportunities for athletes and their sponsors during the Olympic Games.

“Demonstrates time and again that the firm can navigate complex mandates, most recently in advising the Federation of the German Sporting Goods Industry against rules of the International Olympic Committee.” (JUVE Handbook 2019/20)

Helm

Antitrust and merger control law advice to Helm AG, in particular on cooperation, joint ventures, distribution agreements and transactions

“Antitrust advice on joint ventures is also gaining in importance; in this area Wagner was able to win the chemicals trader Helm as a client.” (JUVE Handbook 2017/18).

Carlisle

Supervision of merger control proceedings before the German Federal Cartel Office regarding the acquisition of the liquid finishing business (spray painting business) of the US company Graco by the US company Carlisle for the trustee appointed by the US antitrust authorities. The transaction, which was cleared in Phase I, had a volume of more than 200 million euros.

Rockwell Collins

Successful handling of the merger control proceedings for Rockwell Collins, one of the world's leading aerospace companies, before the German Federal Cartel Office in connection with the acquisition of ARINC. The transaction had a volume of US$1.4 billion.

Representing Reuter as complainant in proceedings before the German Federal Cartel Office and before courts regarding the assertion of damage claims and supply and access rights against Dornbracht, Cor, Hansgrohe, Geberit and Google.

Advising Reuter on various antitrust related distribution law issues, including dual pricing, supply and access rights, purchasing groups, distribution systems, cooperation and joint ventures.

“The strongest commentary in the market was on the litigation victory for Reuter, a much-noted cartel damages decision.” (JUVE Handbook 2014/15).

Various online retailers on distribution antitrust issues

Successful enforcement of supply rights and/or damage claims and certain purchase conditions for various online retailers from different industries in negotiations with brand manufacturers.

WAGNER LEGAL was able to “win further mandates from online retailers against brand manufacturers.” (JUVE Handbook 2015/16).

“The litigation success for Reuter, which earned Eckart Wagner a lot of praise in the market, also led to a whole series of new mandates from online retailers and other companies on antitrust-related distribution law issues.” (JUVE Handbook 2016/17).

Pro Bono

The partners of WAGNER LEGAL offer legal advice to people in need for free in the framework of the community foundation ("Bürgerstiftung") "Good Local Advice" ("Guter Rat vor Ort") in the Hamburg district of Sankt Georg, where the office of Wagner Legal is located. In addition, members of WAGNER LEGAL are engaged in many other pro bono projects, including legal advice and support for refugees.