Google faces multi-billion pound damages action on behalf of UK search advertisers
Geradin Partners assists Stichting Massaschade & Consument in a collective action against Sony
This week, Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC), supported by Geradin Partners, has officially launched a campaign for its collective action against Sony on behalf of Dutch PlayStation users. The case addresses Sony’s abuse of its dominant market position, which has led to inflated prices for digital PlayStation games and in-game content.
For over a decade, Sony has enjoyed a position of dominance in the game console market which has allowed it to restrict the sale of digital PlayStation games to exclusively its PlayStation Store, thereby preventing any type of competition in the sale of such games whose pricing it also controls.
As a result, more than a million consumers in the Netherlands, and many more in other markets, have overpaid for digital games – sometimes as much as 47% more compared to physical copies of the same titles. The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected consumers in the Netherlands and ensure that Sony adjusts its distribution and pricing practices in a way that no longer harms them. The case follows similar legal actions in Portugal and the United Kingdom, where courts are also reviewing Sony’s restrictive business practices, thus playing a central role facilitating more fairness and competition within Sony’s ecosystem.
Geradin Partners will serve as the lead competition law counsel in the case, working in close cooperation with Stek Advocaten and Milberg Amsterdam.
At this initial phase, Sony has been invited to engage in discussions. If these do not lead to the desired result, Sony will be challenged in court under the Dutch class action regime, the WAMCA. By now the claim has gained the support of over 15,000 Dutch consumers who have agreed to take part in it and be represented by the SMC in this procedure, and many more are expected to join in the coming weeks. If successful, this lawsuit could open the PlayStation ecosystem to competition for the first time in over a decade, leading to fairer pricing and better consumer protection.
Contacts:
Ruben Elkerbout: relkerbout@geradinpartners.com
Stijn Huijts: shuijts@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners assists Foresco in obtaining phase II merger clearance for acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten
By decision of 20 February 2025, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten by Belgian pallet manufacturer Foresco. This clearance decision follows an intensive and complex phase I and phase II investigation, in which the ACM investigated the transaction in the broader context of Foresco’s strategy of growth through a series of acquisitions. This case marks the first time that the ACM assesses a transaction as part of a buy-and-build strategy and in its decision it explains the framework that applies for cases involving such strategies. The ACM will not only consider the effects of the current transaction, but also the effects of all relevant previous acquisitions (including those that did not require notification), and it takes into account the effects of future acquisitions that are sufficiently likely to materialize.
The ACM reached the conclusion that Foresco would still face sufficient competitive pressure after its acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten, also citing the absence of negative effects resulting from past acquisitions and of clear indications that Foresco would continue to pursue its growth strategy in the Netherlands.
Geradin Partners assisted Foresco in the procedure before the ACM together with A&O Shearman. A link to the ACM’s press release can be found below.
Contacts :
Ruben Elkerbout : relkerbout@geradinpartners.com
Stijn Huijts: shuijts@geradinpartners.com
Mattijs Baneke: mbaneke@geradinpartners.com
Professor Stephan successful in carriage dispute hearing relating to his £2.7bn claim against Amazon in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal
Leading EU competition law practitioner joins Geradin Partners’ Brussels office
Geradin Partners is pleased to announce that Trevor Soames, a leading European competition law practitioner, will be joining its Brussels office at the end of January. Since 2016 he has been the managing partner of Quinn Emanuel in Brussels.
Trevor has nearly 40 years of experience in the competition field. He has first chaired many leading cases over the years in all aspects of EU and UK antitrust/competition law including mergers, joint ventures, cartels, monopolisation (abuse of dominance), state aid and associated litigation including civil damages claims and appeals. Current non-confidential case work includes, amongst others: the Microsoft Teams investigation where he advises Salesforce and Slack, the lead complainant; Corning (together with Geradin Partners), Air Canada in its Court of Justice appeal in the Airfreight case and Printeos-related litigation regarding interest recovery.
Damien Geradin, the founder of Geradin Partners, says:
“I am thrilled that Trevor has decided to join our thriving and rapidly growing competition practice. Trevor and I were colleagues at Howrey for several years, and he was a wonderful mentor and colleague. We have remained friends ever since. I cannot wait to be reunited with him. Trevor will further strengthen our law firm, which has now grown to over 30 lawyers, spread across five offices, including 12 partners. Trevor’s experience will be valued by our clients, particularly in the context of complex contentious matters.”
Geradin Partners is a law firm, specialized in competition law, tech regulation, and damages litigation. It has offices in Brussels, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Helsinki.
Contact: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Petri Rouvinen Joins Geradin Partners as Senior Advisor, Economics
We are pleased to announce that Petri Rouvinen, one of Finland’s leading economists, has joined Geradin Partners as a Senior Advisor. Besides his new role at Geradin Partners, Petri remains Research Advisor at ETLA Economic Research and Senior Advisor at The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
Petri brings to Geradin Partners significant expertise in competition economics and sector-specific regulation with particularly strong experience in technology industries. Previously, Petri has served as Professor of Practice in Sustainable Economy at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, as Senior Economist at Avance Attorneys, and as Research Director at ETLA, where he also led its subsidiary, Etlatieto, as CEO.
Petri has been a Fulbright scholar in the US, a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, and a visiting scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. He earned his Doctorate in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 2000.
“We are thrilled to welcome Petri to our rapidly growing team. In addition to his work in Finland, Petri will support us in many international cases,” says the founding partner Damien Geradin.
“Petri Rouvinen is a highly respected expert, and his extensive experience and insights will further strengthen our ability to provide high-quality analyses and solutions for complex competition law and sector-specific regulatory matters. We are very pleased to have him as part of our team.” says Mikko Alkio, partner at Helsinki and Brussels.
Contacts:
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Mikko Alkio: malkio@geradinpartners.com
Petri Rouvinen: prouvinen@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners is very pleased to announce that Patrick Teague is joining its fast-growing UK competition practice as a partner
Patrick Teague is a competition, litigation and investigations lawyer with over a decade of experience, having worked in the Antitrust Litigation team at Freshfields and in the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s Legal Service. He has extensive experience in competition-related regulatory investigations and follow-on litigation, having acted for clients in the financial services, telecommunications, broadcasting and industrial sectors in relation to both UK and multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations and follow-on litigation before the English High Court and CAT. While at the CMA, Patrick worked on various matters across the CMA’s Policy & International, Cartels, Markets and Antitrust Directorates, focusing in particular on CA98 investigations and digital market studies.
Damien Geradin, the founder of Geradin Partners says:
“I am delighted that Patrick is joining our firm. It is a further testimony to our commitment to build a first-rate competition practice in the UK. As part of our London team, he will join four former CMA officials cumulating over 25 years’ experience at senior level. No other firm combines as much CMA experience as ours. Patrick will immediately contribute to our litigation practice, which is busy handling multiple claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. But his versatility will make him a go-to lawyer for investigations and DMCC work.”
Patrick Teague observes:
“I’m very excited to join Geradin Partners as it continues its expansion in the UK and the EU. In just a short space of time it has established itself as a major player on the UK competition litigation scene, combining ambition and innovation to position itself at the cutting edge of the competition collective actions regime. The firm also works on a number of complex competition and consumer matters, making it an ideal next step for me following my time at Freshfields and the CMA. I look forward to working with the firm’s many clients on various matters across the firm’s portfolio.”
Geradin Partners is a pan-European law firm focused on competition law, digital regulation and litigation with offices in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki.
Contacts :
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Patrick Teague: pteague@geradinpartners.com
Leading tech expert joins Geradin Partners as a senior advisor
Geradin Partners, a pan-European law firm specialized in competition law, tech regulation and litigation is delighted to announce the joining of Ben Edelman as a senior advisor.
Ben most recently served as Chief Economist for Web Experiences, Strategy, and Policy at Microsoft, where he led measurement of the productivity benefits of new AI tools. Prior to that, Ben was a faculty member at Harvard Business School where he combined software engineering with legal and economic analysis, aiming to understand both how online markets function and how they might improve. Ben is an attorney, an economist, and a software engineer, positioning him to operate at the intersection of these disciplines. He holds a law degree and a PhD in Economics, both from Harvard University.
Damien Geradin says:
“I am delighted that Ben Edelman, a long-time friend, has decided to join Geradin Partners. Ben has a unique profile – at the intersection of technology, law, economics and policy – that will be of major interest to our clients. It is a privilege for Geradin Partners to attract someone of Ben’s caliber.”
Ben Edelman observes:
“Geradin Partners is ahead of the pack in combining deep technical expertise and top-notch lawyering, in particular in the tech sector. I am looking forward to helping companies with their most challenging and most strategic matters.”
Geradin Partners has offices in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki.
Contacts:
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Ben Edelman: bedelman@geradinpartners.com
Experienced Tech Lawyer Topi Siniketo Joins Geradin Partners
Geradin Partners is thrilled to announce that Topi Siniketo, one of the most experienced Finnish technology lawyers, is joining our team. Known for his expertise in artificial intelligence, technology law, and his holistic understanding of intellectual property (IP) and related law, Topi will further enhance our ability to address the most complex and cutting-edge legal challenges for our clients. Until recently, Topi was a partner at Avance, a leading law firm based in Helsinki.
Topi Siniketo has built a strong reputation advising companies at the forefront of tech innovation. His comprehensive knowledge of IP law and fast evolving EU regulations empowers clients to navigate both the opportunities and challenges posed by rapid technological advances. His insights into the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and emerging EU regulatory frameworks position him as a key advisor on regulatory compliance and strategic growth within Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Additionally, Topi will provide valuable support to Geradin Partners’ tech litigation team, helping to resolve complex legal disputes in the technology sector with a strategic and in-depth understanding of both the legal and technical issues at play.
About Geradin Partners
Geradin Partners is a leading international law firm specializing in competition law, competition litigation and digital regulation based in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki. We advise clients across Europe and beyond, offering deep industry expertise and forward-thinking legal solutions.
Contacts:
dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
malkio@geradinpartners.com
cwik@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners successful for Corendon in competition litigation proceedings against Prijsvrij before the Amsterdam Court of Appeals
Geradin Partners has successfully represented Corendon together with a team from Stek in fending of a multimillion euro claim of Prijsvrij. In 2013, Corendon terminated an agency agreement concluded with its agent Prijsvrij. Prijsvrij argued that this termination was in violation of Article 101 TFEU and therefore null and void and claimed millions in damages from Corendon. By judgment of 26 July 2017, the North Holland District Court rejected Prijsvrij’s claims in full. Prijsvrij appealed this judgement which led to several interim judgments in which both Prijsvrij and Corendon were ordered to provide further evidence of their positions.
In the final judgment of 1 October 2024, the Amsterdam Court of Appeals finds that Corendon has sufficiently proved that it operated a genuine agency system, thereby confirming the judgment of the North Holland District Court and ordering Prijsvrij to pay the procedural costs.
Corendon was represented by Ruben Elkerbout (since 2017) and Mattijs Baneke .
Geradin Partners assists Stichting Massaschade & Consument in a collective action against Sony
This week, Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SMC), supported by Geradin Partners, has officially launched a campaign for its collective action against Sony on behalf of Dutch PlayStation users. The case addresses Sony’s abuse of its dominant market position, which has led to inflated prices for digital PlayStation games and in-game content.
For over a decade, Sony has enjoyed a position of dominance in the game console market which has allowed it to restrict the sale of digital PlayStation games to exclusively its PlayStation Store, thereby preventing any type of competition in the sale of such games whose pricing it also controls.
As a result, more than a million consumers in the Netherlands, and many more in other markets, have overpaid for digital games – sometimes as much as 47% more compared to physical copies of the same titles. The lawsuit seeks compensation for affected consumers in the Netherlands and ensure that Sony adjusts its distribution and pricing practices in a way that no longer harms them. The case follows similar legal actions in Portugal and the United Kingdom, where courts are also reviewing Sony’s restrictive business practices, thus playing a central role facilitating more fairness and competition within Sony’s ecosystem.
Geradin Partners will serve as the lead competition law counsel in the case, working in close cooperation with Stek Advocaten and Milberg Amsterdam.
At this initial phase, Sony has been invited to engage in discussions. If these do not lead to the desired result, Sony will be challenged in court under the Dutch class action regime, the WAMCA. By now the claim has gained the support of over 15,000 Dutch consumers who have agreed to take part in it and be represented by the SMC in this procedure, and many more are expected to join in the coming weeks. If successful, this lawsuit could open the PlayStation ecosystem to competition for the first time in over a decade, leading to fairer pricing and better consumer protection.
Contacts:
Ruben Elkerbout: relkerbout@geradinpartners.com
Stijn Huijts: shuijts@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners assists Foresco in obtaining phase II merger clearance for acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten
By decision of 20 February 2025, the Dutch Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) has cleared the acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten by Belgian pallet manufacturer Foresco. This clearance decision follows an intensive and complex phase I and phase II investigation, in which the ACM investigated the transaction in the broader context of Foresco’s strategy of growth through a series of acquisitions. This case marks the first time that the ACM assesses a transaction as part of a buy-and-build strategy and in its decision it explains the framework that applies for cases involving such strategies. The ACM will not only consider the effects of the current transaction, but also the effects of all relevant previous acquisitions (including those that did not require notification), and it takes into account the effects of future acquisitions that are sufficiently likely to materialize.
The ACM reached the conclusion that Foresco would still face sufficient competitive pressure after its acquisition of DWP/Vierhouten, also citing the absence of negative effects resulting from past acquisitions and of clear indications that Foresco would continue to pursue its growth strategy in the Netherlands.
Geradin Partners assisted Foresco in the procedure before the ACM together with A&O Shearman. A link to the ACM’s press release can be found below.
Contacts :
Ruben Elkerbout : relkerbout@geradinpartners.com
Stijn Huijts: shuijts@geradinpartners.com
Mattijs Baneke: mbaneke@geradinpartners.com
Professor Stephan successful in carriage dispute hearing relating to his £2.7bn claim against Amazon in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal
Leading EU competition law practitioner joins Geradin Partners’ Brussels office
Geradin Partners is pleased to announce that Trevor Soames, a leading European competition law practitioner, will be joining its Brussels office at the end of January. Since 2016 he has been the managing partner of Quinn Emanuel in Brussels.
Trevor has nearly 40 years of experience in the competition field. He has first chaired many leading cases over the years in all aspects of EU and UK antitrust/competition law including mergers, joint ventures, cartels, monopolisation (abuse of dominance), state aid and associated litigation including civil damages claims and appeals. Current non-confidential case work includes, amongst others: the Microsoft Teams investigation where he advises Salesforce and Slack, the lead complainant; Corning (together with Geradin Partners), Air Canada in its Court of Justice appeal in the Airfreight case and Printeos-related litigation regarding interest recovery.
Damien Geradin, the founder of Geradin Partners, says:
“I am thrilled that Trevor has decided to join our thriving and rapidly growing competition practice. Trevor and I were colleagues at Howrey for several years, and he was a wonderful mentor and colleague. We have remained friends ever since. I cannot wait to be reunited with him. Trevor will further strengthen our law firm, which has now grown to over 30 lawyers, spread across five offices, including 12 partners. Trevor’s experience will be valued by our clients, particularly in the context of complex contentious matters.”
Geradin Partners is a law firm, specialized in competition law, tech regulation, and damages litigation. It has offices in Brussels, London, Paris, Amsterdam and Helsinki.
Contact: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Petri Rouvinen Joins Geradin Partners as Senior Advisor, Economics
We are pleased to announce that Petri Rouvinen, one of Finland’s leading economists, has joined Geradin Partners as a Senior Advisor. Besides his new role at Geradin Partners, Petri remains Research Advisor at ETLA Economic Research and Senior Advisor at The Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.
Petri brings to Geradin Partners significant expertise in competition economics and sector-specific regulation with particularly strong experience in technology industries. Previously, Petri has served as Professor of Practice in Sustainable Economy at the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, as Senior Economist at Avance Attorneys, and as Research Director at ETLA, where he also led its subsidiary, Etlatieto, as CEO.
Petri has been a Fulbright scholar in the US, a Jean Monnet Fellow at the European University Institute in Florence, and a visiting scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) in Austria. He earned his Doctorate in Economics from Vanderbilt University in 2000.
“We are thrilled to welcome Petri to our rapidly growing team. In addition to his work in Finland, Petri will support us in many international cases,” says the founding partner Damien Geradin.
“Petri Rouvinen is a highly respected expert, and his extensive experience and insights will further strengthen our ability to provide high-quality analyses and solutions for complex competition law and sector-specific regulatory matters. We are very pleased to have him as part of our team.” says Mikko Alkio, partner at Helsinki and Brussels.
Contacts:
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Mikko Alkio: malkio@geradinpartners.com
Petri Rouvinen: prouvinen@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners is very pleased to announce that Patrick Teague is joining its fast-growing UK competition practice as a partner
Patrick Teague is a competition, litigation and investigations lawyer with over a decade of experience, having worked in the Antitrust Litigation team at Freshfields and in the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s Legal Service. He has extensive experience in competition-related regulatory investigations and follow-on litigation, having acted for clients in the financial services, telecommunications, broadcasting and industrial sectors in relation to both UK and multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations and follow-on litigation before the English High Court and CAT. While at the CMA, Patrick worked on various matters across the CMA’s Policy & International, Cartels, Markets and Antitrust Directorates, focusing in particular on CA98 investigations and digital market studies.
Damien Geradin, the founder of Geradin Partners says:
“I am delighted that Patrick is joining our firm. It is a further testimony to our commitment to build a first-rate competition practice in the UK. As part of our London team, he will join four former CMA officials cumulating over 25 years’ experience at senior level. No other firm combines as much CMA experience as ours. Patrick will immediately contribute to our litigation practice, which is busy handling multiple claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. But his versatility will make him a go-to lawyer for investigations and DMCC work.”
Patrick Teague observes:
“I’m very excited to join Geradin Partners as it continues its expansion in the UK and the EU. In just a short space of time it has established itself as a major player on the UK competition litigation scene, combining ambition and innovation to position itself at the cutting edge of the competition collective actions regime. The firm also works on a number of complex competition and consumer matters, making it an ideal next step for me following my time at Freshfields and the CMA. I look forward to working with the firm’s many clients on various matters across the firm’s portfolio.”
Geradin Partners is a pan-European law firm focused on competition law, digital regulation and litigation with offices in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki.
Contacts :
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Patrick Teague: pteague@geradinpartners.com
Leading tech expert joins Geradin Partners as a senior advisor
Geradin Partners, a pan-European law firm specialized in competition law, tech regulation and litigation is delighted to announce the joining of Ben Edelman as a senior advisor.
Ben most recently served as Chief Economist for Web Experiences, Strategy, and Policy at Microsoft, where he led measurement of the productivity benefits of new AI tools. Prior to that, Ben was a faculty member at Harvard Business School where he combined software engineering with legal and economic analysis, aiming to understand both how online markets function and how they might improve. Ben is an attorney, an economist, and a software engineer, positioning him to operate at the intersection of these disciplines. He holds a law degree and a PhD in Economics, both from Harvard University.
Damien Geradin says:
“I am delighted that Ben Edelman, a long-time friend, has decided to join Geradin Partners. Ben has a unique profile – at the intersection of technology, law, economics and policy – that will be of major interest to our clients. It is a privilege for Geradin Partners to attract someone of Ben’s caliber.”
Ben Edelman observes:
“Geradin Partners is ahead of the pack in combining deep technical expertise and top-notch lawyering, in particular in the tech sector. I am looking forward to helping companies with their most challenging and most strategic matters.”
Geradin Partners has offices in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki.
Contacts:
Damien Geradin: dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
Ben Edelman: bedelman@geradinpartners.com
Experienced Tech Lawyer Topi Siniketo Joins Geradin Partners
Geradin Partners is thrilled to announce that Topi Siniketo, one of the most experienced Finnish technology lawyers, is joining our team. Known for his expertise in artificial intelligence, technology law, and his holistic understanding of intellectual property (IP) and related law, Topi will further enhance our ability to address the most complex and cutting-edge legal challenges for our clients. Until recently, Topi was a partner at Avance, a leading law firm based in Helsinki.
Topi Siniketo has built a strong reputation advising companies at the forefront of tech innovation. His comprehensive knowledge of IP law and fast evolving EU regulations empowers clients to navigate both the opportunities and challenges posed by rapid technological advances. His insights into the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and emerging EU regulatory frameworks position him as a key advisor on regulatory compliance and strategic growth within Europe’s tech ecosystem.
Additionally, Topi will provide valuable support to Geradin Partners’ tech litigation team, helping to resolve complex legal disputes in the technology sector with a strategic and in-depth understanding of both the legal and technical issues at play.
About Geradin Partners
Geradin Partners is a leading international law firm specializing in competition law, competition litigation and digital regulation based in Brussels, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Helsinki. We advise clients across Europe and beyond, offering deep industry expertise and forward-thinking legal solutions.
Contacts:
dgeradin@geradinpartners.com
malkio@geradinpartners.com
cwik@geradinpartners.com
Geradin Partners successful for Corendon in competition litigation proceedings against Prijsvrij before the Amsterdam Court of Appeals
Geradin Partners has successfully represented Corendon together with a team from Stek in fending of a multimillion euro claim of Prijsvrij. In 2013, Corendon terminated an agency agreement concluded with its agent Prijsvrij. Prijsvrij argued that this termination was in violation of Article 101 TFEU and therefore null and void and claimed millions in damages from Corendon. By judgment of 26 July 2017, the North Holland District Court rejected Prijsvrij’s claims in full. Prijsvrij appealed this judgement which led to several interim judgments in which both Prijsvrij and Corendon were ordered to provide further evidence of their positions.
In the final judgment of 1 October 2024, the Amsterdam Court of Appeals finds that Corendon has sufficiently proved that it operated a genuine agency system, thereby confirming the judgment of the North Holland District Court and ordering Prijsvrij to pay the procedural costs.
Corendon was represented by Ruben Elkerbout (since 2017) and Mattijs Baneke .