Matthew Levitt

Partner

[email protected]

Brussels

P: +32.2.891.7360
F: +32.2.891.7400

London

P: +44.20.7726.3453
Matthew Levitt

With the globalisation of competition law and enforcement, Matthew Levitt helps clients navigate the increasingly challenging international antitrust environment. He helps clients develop and deliver the joined-up strategies which are essential when faced with the growing power of antitrust authorities globally and their increased ability to coordinate enforcement activity in international investigations and merger clearance processes. Cited in the 2018 editions of Legal 500 as having ‘a better understanding of commercial needs than other lawyers’ and Chambers 2018 as 'a "very good competition lawyer" who is "very thorough in investigation."' Mr. Levitt has over 20 years' experience.

Once described as “an excellent and highly intellectual performer - very charismatic, but tough if needed” (Chambers Global, 2008), Mr. Levitt handles international and EU cartel investigations and coordinates multi-jurisdictional merger filing processes. He coordinated the international merger clearance process for a major U.S. technology platform, obtaining unconditional phase 1 clearance in the EU for a strategically important acquisition.

He has been involved in most of the significant EU and UK competition law cases concerning the maritime sector including the formation of P3 and 2M shipping alliances, the container shipping price signalling investigation, the maritime car carriers investigation, the opposition by DFDS to the Eurotunnel/SeaFrance takeover, the investigation of the International Association of Classification Societies, the merger of Maersk and P&O Nedlloyd, and the annulment of the €273m fines on the TACA parties.

Mr. Levitt has extensive experience in the energy sector, advising on the EU regulatory aspects of the Shah Deniz gas pipeline project, the EU Power exchange investigation, and handling mergers in the utilities, water, ports and infrastructure sectors. He has also handled several ground-breaking cartel and abuse of dominance cases in the European Courts including the Masterfoods / van den Bergh ice-cream cases and Woodpulp III.

Mr. Levitt is described by clients in Legal 500 EMEA (2020) as having ‘…vast experience of our industry and understands the competition law issues in that specialized context. His knowledge of the people and processes in the regulatory arena is impressive. What sets him apart from competitors is a lack of excessive ego and an ability to communicate effectively with clients and regulators, as well as an ability and willingness to apply the appropriate amount of effort to the task at hand.’

"Matthew Levitt has defended major companies in EU cartel investigations in various sectors, including shipping and technology. A client reports: "I am very happy with the service level, his competence and his expertise."

Chambers Global-Belgium-Competition/European Law 2022

Related Experience

Merger control

  • A multinational technology giant in coordinating the international merger clearance process for a strategically important acquisition, obtaining unconditional phase 1 clearance in the EU
  • One of Denmark’s largest conglomerates in coordinating the international merger and FDI clearance processes for several multi-billion-dollar acquisitions
  • Obtaining EU, Chinese, Chile, Ukrainian and Turkish merger clearance for APM Terminals on its joint venture with Bolloré for the operation of a container terminal in Ivory Coast
  • Representing a major U.S. chemicals company on the acquisition of a Dutch chemical company, and obtaining German clearance
  • Maersk in the establishment of the P3 and 2M shipping alliances, the biggest shipping alliance in the world*
  • Representing Kuwait Petroleum International in obtaining EU merger clearance for the acquisition of Shell's entire retail, supply and distribution, logistics and aviation fuel businesses in Italy*
  • Representing A.P. Møller-Mærsk, Maersk Line, APM Terminals and Svitzer in obtaining EU and international merger clearances for numerous transactions, including the 2M VSA (the world's largest liner alliance), the acquisition of Brostrøm AB to form the world's largest product tanker company, the establishment of a joint venture with Eurogate to own and operate the Jadeweser container terminal, numerous other transactions for APM Terminals requiring merger clearances internationally, and the sale of the Norfolkline ferry and logistics business to DFDS*
  • Representing DFDS in connection with UK Competition Commission's investigation into the sale of part of its Irish Sea ferry business to Stena, and in connection with the UK investigation relating to the sale of SeaFrance to Eurotunnel, which was ultimately appealed to the Supreme Court*
  • Advising Industry Funds Management on the acquisition of German regional transmission system operator 50Hertz Transmission GmbH (50Hertz) from Vattenfall Europe AG.*
  • Advising Smith International in the EC Merger Regulation notification of the @Balance joint venture with Shell.*
  • Representing Northumbrian Water plc on the merger control aspects of its sale to CKI*
  • Representing Citigroup in obtaining EU and Chinese merger clearance for the acquisition of five DP World terminals in Australia*
  • Representing the consortium comprising Prudential, Morgan Stanley and others on the merger control aspects of its acquisition of Veolia Water UK*
  • Advising JAB on the sale of its Bally fashion business to a Chinese buyer, and assisting in the international merger control process*
  • Representing Babcock & Brown on the acquisition of PD Ports and its later recapitalization*
  • Representing Wallenius and Wilhelmsen on their acquisition of part of Hyundai Merchant Marine to form the world's largest vehicles shipping group, and on subsequent transactions*
  • Representing Granada plc in connection with the sale of its catering business to Carlton plc*
  • Representing Statoil in Case M.3230 - Statoil/BP/Sonatrach/In Salah JV*
  • Representing Royal P&O Nedlloyd on its acquisition by Maersk to form the world's largest container shipping company*
  • Representing Hapag-Lloyd AG on its acquisition of CP Ships*
  • Representing P&O Nedlloyd in relation to the formation of the Euromax terminal in Rotterdam, and Royal Nedlloyd on the acquisition of P&O's shareholding in P&O Nedlloyd*
  • Representing Prime Infrastructure in relation to the restructuring of its port assets.*

Investigations & Litigation

  • Carlsberg, the leading Danish beer company, in bringing damages claim exceeding several hundreds of millions of Euros claim against one of its competitors in the Dutch courts
  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen and EUKOR Car Carriers on a class action brought by Mark McLaren Class Representative in the UK's specialist competition court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and a related appeal in the Court of Appeal on precedent-setting issues relating to the UK's class action regime
  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen and EUKOR Car Carriers in defending a multimillion pound damages brought by Jaguar Land Rover in the UK's specialist competition court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal
  • DFDS, one of northern Europe’s biggest ferry operators in the parallel investigations by the UK's CMA and the French competition authority into a capacity sharing agreement with P&O on the Dover-Calais route
  • Several European electricity transmission operators in appeals to the EU’s Court of Justice, General Court and the Board of Appeal of the Agency for Coordination of Energy Regulators
  • World Shipping Council, the US-based association of the world’s leading liner shipping companies in relation to the EU and CMA reviews of the block exemption for shipping consortia
  • An International trade association in quasi-judicial appeal proceedings relating to the expulsion of a Russian member on the basis of UK and EU sanctions
  • A leading Norway-based power exchange in a formal complaint to the EC which alleges abuse of dominance in relation to wholesale energy trading
  • A prominent Danish pharmaceutical company in bringing a formal abuse of dominance complaint to the CMA
  • Wallenius Wilhelmsen and EUKOR Car Carriers in the European Commission's investigation of the maritime car shipping sector and in coordinating their worldwide defence strategy before over 10 other jurisdictions in one of the most international cartel investigations ever brought*
  • Maersk in the European Commission's investigation of alleged 'price signalling' in the liner shipping sector*
  • Acting for the International Association of Classification Societies, a de facto standard setting organization, in the Commission's investigation into ship classification, which was initiated by dawn raids under Articles 101 and 102 TFEU and closed on the basis of mutually acceptable commitments*
  • A major consumer products supplier in defending the OFT's investigation of alleged hub & spoke arrangements in the grocery sector*

*Prior to joining Baker Botts

Awards

 

Awards & Community

Recognised in Chambers Global, Belgium-Competition, 2021-2024

Recommended by The Legal 500 EMEA, 2020 & 2021

Competition, Who's Who Legal, 2022

Competition/European Law - Belgium, Chambers Europe, 2011-2023

Endorsed in PLC Which Lawyer, European Union, EU Competition, 2012

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Digital and UK Antitrust

Baker Botts in partnership with Concurrences is delighted to host a webinar titled Digital and UK Antitrust on Monday 22 March at 2.30pm (GMT).