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Dr. Josef Hainz

Dr. Josef Hainz

Partner

Dr. Josef Hainz

Partner

Berlin

D+49 30 2 64 73 241

Local time

Dr. Josef Hainz advises clients on all matters of European and German competition law. Based in our Berlin office, Josef assists in behavioral (antitrust and cartel) investigations and merger control proceedings by the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office as well as in coordinating multinational merger-control proceedings.

Josef advises clients from a wide range of industry sectors, including telecommunications, automotive, healthcare and life sciences. He has particular expertise in the energy sector, with a focus on oil- and gas-related matters as well as renewables (mainly onshore and offshore windfarms) and EV-related projects. He regularly speaks and publishes on competition law topics and is a lecturer for German and European competition law at the EBS Law School in Wiesbaden.

Experience

Leading global automotive company: Multi-jurisdictional merger control and antitrust advice in relation to the creation of a joint venture that is to develop and operate EV charging infrastructure in North America, incl. notifications to inter alia the European Commission.
Leading global automotive company: Merger control, FDI and antitrust advice with a view to the creation of a joint venture to manufacture battery cells, coordinating seven merger control notifications as well as a CFIUS-filing.
Global energy companies: Advice on multi-national merger control aspects related to the creation of a joint venture that develops and operates the first commercial full-scale CCS-Cycle, including several merger control notifications inter alia to the European Commission.
PAO Gazprom: Representing Gazprom in a complex antitrust investigation by the European Commission into allegedly abusive practices in the upstream gas market in several Central and Eastern European countries. Assisting Gazprom in the ongoing implementation of commitments negotiated with the European Commission and in subsequent proceedings following a third-party appeal at the European Courts (Cases T-616/18, T-399/19 and C-255/22).
Leading energy company: Advice on multi-national merger control–related aspects in the context of the project company for the development and operation of an LNG-Terminal as a joint venture with another global energy company.
Leading international energy company: Assistance in an investigation by the European Commission of possible anticompetitive conduct in European gas markets.
BASF: Advice related to multinational merger control proceedings related to e.g. the sale to Lone Star of BASF’s construction chemicals business.
International energy company: EU competition law advice related to LNG long-term supply contracts among other matters.
Leading international company in the nuclear sector: Advising in various EU competition matters, including in an antitrust proceeding before the European Commission.
Enbridge Inc.: Assisting with multi-jurisdictional merger control–related aspects of Enbridge’s acquisition of a 49.89 percent stake in the 500MW offshore-windfarm “Hohe See.”
CommerzReal: Merger control advice with a view to the acquisition of a wind park portfolio.
Q-Energy: Merger control advice re. the acquisition of a portfolio of 16 wind parks in Germany (total capacity 109 MW) from MEAG.
Intermediate Capital Group (ICG): Merger control advice with a view to the acquisition of a majority stake in the fiber optic network operator TNG.
Infracapital: Advising on merger control–related aspects of the acquisition of all shares in fiber network operator Breitbandversorgung Deutschland (BBV).

Recognition

JUVE Handbook Commercial Law Firms recommends Josef in the areas of competition and antitrust (“experienced in cartel proceedings, always trusting cooperation,” competitor, 2024/2025; “always has non-legal interests in mind as well,” competitor, 2023/2024; “impressive expertise on energy topics, eye for details, extremely customer-oriented approach,” client; “always keeps track of things in large mandates,” competitor, 2022/2023). Josef is also recommended by Lexology (formerly Who is Who Legal) and ranked as an “Acritas Star” in Acritas’ Stand Out Talent survey. He is described as having “extensive knowledge in the regulatory area, he’s a very pleasant advisor, and he gets to the point” (2020). His clients consider him to be an “excellent antitrust lawyer with many years of experience in handling complex cases” (The Legal 500 Deutschland 2023). Moreover, Josef has been named “Top Lawyer 2021” by WirtschaftsWoche and “Lawyer of the Year for Competition and Antitrust Law” in Germany by Best Lawyers and Handelsblatt in 2022.

Insights

Articles

Co-author, “Schadensersatz für jedermann: Anspruchsberechtigung bei kartellbedingt überhöhten Subventionen,” Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb, February 7, 2020, Issue 02, pp. 83-86
Co-author, “Rabattgewährung im Einkauf,” BIP, 2018
Co-author, “EU Competition Rules in the Insurance Sector: A Different World in Change,” Journal of European Competition Law & Practice, 2016
Co-author, “Die neue DICO-Leitlinie “Kartellrechtliche Compliance” – Zugleich ein Diskussionsbeitrag zu vergaberechtlichen Selbstreinigung und kartellrechtlichen Bußgeldbemessung,” CCZ – Corporate Compliance Zeitschrift, 2016
Co-author, “Indirekter Informationsaustausch in Hub and Spoke-Konstellationen - Der Teufel steckt im Detail,” Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht, 2012
Co-author, “Fusionskontrolle bei Zusammenschlüssen im Zuge von Gebietsreformen,” Wirtschaft und Wettbewerb, 2011
“The German Federal Court of Justice clarifies the requirements of the reduction of the termination period according to Article 3(5)(b) Reg. 1400/2002 (Renault Nissan Deutschland),” e-Competitions Bulletin, October 2010
“The German Federal Court of Justice specifies the relation between the primary and secondary distribution agreements in light of the short termination period according to Article 3(5)(b) Reg. 1400/2002 (Renault Nissan Deutschland),” e-Competitions Bulletin, June 2009
“Federal Cartel Office clarifies its approach towards an alleged oligopoly according to Sec. 19 para. 3 ARC on the German retail petrol markets in a decision prohibiting the acquisition of 59 petrol stations in Saxony and Thuringia (Total/OMV),” e-Competitions Bulletin, April 2009
“The Impact of EU Competition Law on Russian Business,” The Moscow Times, published March 18, 2008

Books

Co-author, Handbuch Kartellrechtliche Schadensersatzklagen, Chapter on settlement agreements, Fachmedien Recht und Wirtschaft, 2nd edition, 2021
Co-author, Handbuch Moderecht, Chapter on vertical restraints, Beck-Verlag, 2019

Activities and Affiliations

Presentations

“(De)Globalisierung – Fusionskontrollrechtliche Herausforderungen in einer sich ändernden Welt,” 12th DKN Kartellrecht Summit, November 7, 2024
“Mehr als nur Nachhaltigkeit(?) – die neuen Horizontalleitlinien der Europäischen Kommission,” 59th FIW Academy, September 28, 2023
“COP26: Perceptions from the World and Implications for Canada,” Panel discussion at the Alberta Chamber of Resources, 2021
“Regulatory Roadblocks on the Way to ESG Heaven,” ICC Make Climate Action Everyone’s Business Forum at COP 26, 2021
“Die Compliance Defense gem. § 81d Abs. 1 S. 2, Ziff. 4 und 5 GWB,” DICO-Forum 2021
“Regulatory challenges and investment opportunities,” Dentons online event: Energy storage technology, 2021
“Competition, State Aid and Investment Screening: A global guide for business in post-COVID-19 markets,” Dentons online event, 2020
“Verbandssanktionenrecht – Auswirkungen und Herausforderungen für das Kartellrecht,” DICO-Forum 2019
“Review of abuse of Dominance Developments, Competition Law and Regulation in the Energy Sector,” Brussels, 2018
“Kartellrechtliche Besonderheiten bei der Einschaltung von Handelsvertretern,” Berlin, 2016
“Kartellrecht im Einkauf,” Nürnberg, 2016
“Kartellrechtsrisiken bei Vergabeverfahren,” Berlin, 2015
“Kooperationsvereinbarungen, Kartellrechtskonforme Gestaltung von R&D, Einkaufs- und Standardisierungs-Kooperationen,” Berlin, 2014
“Joint Bidding - Kartellrechtliche Risiken im Rahmen von Bietergemeinschaften,” Berlin, 2014
“Introduction to European Competition Law - Policy objectives and fundamental concepts,” Korea University, School of Law, Seoul, 2013
“Preisgestaltung in Hub-and-Spoke Konstellationen,” Berliner Kartellrechtskreis – Regionalveranstaltung Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht, Berlin, 2012

Memberships

Member, Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht
Member, IBA
Member, DICO, AK Kartellrecht

Prior and Present Employment

Dentons (formerly Salans), Berlin, 2007 to date
Research assistant, Johannes-Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 2002-2004

Contact information

BerlinLocal time

D+49 30 2 64 73 241

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Areas of focus

Education

Legal clerkship, 2005-2007, Berlin and Windhoek

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 2005, Dr. iur.

University of Glasgow, 1998-1999, Legal studies

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 1996-2002, Legal studies

Admissions and qualifications

Admitted to the bar, Germany, 2007

Languages

English
French
German

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Dr. Josef Hainz

Dr. Josef Hainz

Email me

Download vCard

Experience

Recognition

Insights

Articles

Books

Activities and Affiliations

Presentations

Memberships

Prior and Present Employment

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