EU: Freshfields promotes two antitrust lawyers

International firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has promoted three new partners to its global dispute resolution practice, and two in its antitrust, competition and trade practice. The appointments, which will take effect on 1 May 2016, are spread across the UK, US and Germany, and particularly reflect growth in the firm’s German dispute resolution practice.

In a statement, Freshfields’ London-based senior partner Edward Braham commented on the appointments noting that the “outstanding qualities” of the new partners will help strengthen the firm’s “market-leading offering”.

Katrin Gaßner, who is based in Freshfields’ new Rheinland office in Düsseldorf, Germany, was promoted to partner in the antitrust, competition and trade practice, after 10 years at the firm. Specialising in EU and German antitrust and merger control investigations, her main focus includes cartel regulation – with experience spanning every aspect of defence work from dawn raid responses, to coordination of leniency applications and settlement procedures through to follow-on damages litigation. Gaßner also advises multinational clients on antitrust risk strategies including internal audits and global compliance programmes.

Commenting on her promotion, Katrin said: “This is a truly exciting time for me personally and it’s a huge privilege to take a step up in such a great team of practitioners.”

In Washington Mary Lehner, who joined Freshfields as counsel in 2013, was also promoted in the firm’s antitrust, competition and trade practice. Lehner’s expertise focuses on representing clients before the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the State Attorneys General on the antitrust aspects of M&A, joint ventures, distribution and intellectual property arrangements, and other competitive conduct. Her previous experience includes serving as an advisor to two FTC chairs, and overseeing antitrust merger investigations as a lead attorney in the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, Mergers III Division.

Lehner noted the firm’s “flourishing US practice” and its “incomparable combination of culture and platform”.

David Broomhall, global co-head of the firm’s competition practice, stated: “Katrin and Mary are both top-quality client lawyers who have made a fantastic contribution to the group. Their promotion is very well deserved and illustrates the firm’s commitment to continuing to strengthen our global antitrust practice.”

Full content: Commercial Dispute Resolution

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.