International law firm Bird & Bird LLP has appointed leading competition & EU specialist Hein Hobbelen as a partner. Hein will divide his time between the firm's offices in Brussels and The Hague.
Hein joins from the Brussels office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer where he was Counsel in one of Europe's leading competition practices.
Hein advises on EU and Dutch competition law (including cartel, abuse of dominance, merger control and state aid proceedings), telecommunications, media& technology (TMT) regulation and EU trade defence law. His recent role has involved guiding clients through complex and high profile EU and multi-jurisdictional merger control proceedings and cartel investigations, assisting companies in dawn raids, conducting antitrust audits and establishing compliance programmes, and representing companies in state aid proceedings (particularly in relation to the media and the IT sector) as well as anti-dumping procedures.
Hein's recruitment will further expand the firm's growing competition teams in Brussels and The Netherlands. His extensive Tech & Comms and Media sector expertise will complement the capabilities of the Brussels competition team and his long-standing experience handling proceedings before the European Commission in Brussels will broaden the offering of the firm's Dutch competition practice.
Hein will also further the growth of the firm's TMT regulatory, advisory and consultancy practice in The Hague and in Brussels. His trade defence experience will also complement the capabilities of the firm's trade practice.
Anne Federle, Head of Bird & Bird Belgium says: "We are thrilled to welcome Hein to Bird & Bird. Having a Dutch competition partner with a strong Tech & Comms/Media focus and long-standing Brussels experience will strengthen the offering of our offices both in Brussels and in The Hague and will further intensify the links between our competition teams in Brussels and The Hague."
Pauline Kuipers, Competition & EU partner in The Hague says: "Hein's arrival at Bird & Bird will further boost our Dutch competition practice following the recent internal appointment of Janneke Kohlen as competition partner in The Hague. The Dutch team is delighted to have Hein on board and is looking forward to working even more closely with the competition team in Brussels."
Hein added: "Joining Bird & Bird is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to the development of the firm's dynamic and growing competition team and its respected TMT practice. I am looking forward to working with colleagues in both Brussels and The Hague and in the broader international Bird & Bird network."
