Michael J. Esser
Partner
Brussels / Düsseldorf
michael.esser@lw.com
PRACTICES
- Antitrust & Competition
- Communications
- Connectivity, Privacy & Information
- Litigation & Trial
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Private Equity
- Technology Transactions
- White Collar Defense & Investigations
INDUSTRIES
- Entertainment, Sports & Media
- Financial Institutions
- Technology
EDUCATION
- Dr. jur., University of Hamburg, 1993
- Second German State Exam, University of Hamburg, 1993
- LL.M., University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1988
- First State Exam, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Bonn, 1987
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
- German
- English
- French
PROFILE
Widely recognized as one of Germany’s leading antitrust lawyers, Dr. Michael Esser advises clients on German and European competition matters ranging from complex merger clearances to global cartel investigations and litigation.
Michael draws on more than two decades of experience at the forefront of high-profile antitrust procedures to deliver favorable outcomes for prominent German, European, and international companies, with a focus on the technology, fintech, telecommunications, and e-commerce sectors. Regardless of the matter at hand, Michael harnesses his sophisticated technical knowledge and strong agency relationships to resolve issues involving antitrust enforcers and courts worldwide.
A sought-after writer on competition topics, Michael regularly contributes to prominent legal publications. His work includes serving as a co-editor of the antitrust journal Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht (NZKart).
EXPERIENCE
Michael’s experience includes, among others, advising:
Merger Control
- DuMont on antitrust aspects of the:
- Sale of Mitteldeutsche Zeitung media group
- Sale of Hamburger Morgenpost
- REWE on the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office merger review process of Edeka/Kaiser’s Tengelmann; and in the proceeding of the ministerial approval (before the German Ministry for Economics) and the subsequent litigation before the Court of Appeals*
- Liberty Global on the acquisition of the German cable companies Kabel BW and previously Unitymedia, including the proceedings before the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court*
Cartel Investigations & Litigation
- NEC in the European Commission’s investigation into DRAM semiconductors, the first settlement of a horizontal cartel case with the Commission*
- A technology company on possible cartel investigations in a number of product markets
- An infrastructure company in an investigation by the Federal Cartel Office and the public prosecutor’s office regarding alleged anti-competitive agreements in bidding procedures for the public award of construction projects
- A satellite operator in a proceeding concerning the allocation of satellite frequencies for on-flight internet services
*Matter handled prior to joining Latham