With almost 30 years of experience in competition law, Sven Völcker guides clients through complex merger and antitrust procedures. He is a member (and former Co-Chair) of the firm’s Global Antitrust & Competition Practice.

Sven advises clients on the full range of competition law issues and represents them before the European Commission and competition authorities around the world in complex regulatory proceedings. He is recognized as one of the leading merger control practitioners in Brussels with the ability and experience to successfully handle complex merger investigations. With more than 25 cases before the EU courts, he is also an experienced litigator and able to defend his clients’ business interest beyond the authority level if needed.

Sven is an Honorary Professor at Göttingen University. He speaks and writes on a variety of competition law issues, including merger control. 

Sven’s matter highlights include: 

  • Obtaining Phase II EU clearance for Novelis’ acquisition of Aleris  
  • Obtaining unconditional Phase II approval in Germany for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s acquisition of Olink
  • Acting for Siemens AG in obtaining EU (unconditional clearance in Phase II) and global clearances for its acquisition of Dresser-Rand
  • Obtaining EU clearances in complex merger proceedings, including Tetra Laval/Sidel*, Oracle/PeopleSoft*, Verbund/ Energieallianz*, Lufthansa/Brussels Airlines*, Lufthansa/Austrian Airlines* (Phase II), Cisco/ Tandberg*, IAG/British Midland*, Omnicom/Publicis, Sirona Dental Systems/Dentsply, Biscuit International/Continental Bakeries (Phase I)
  • Obtaining unconditional Phase I and Phase II merger clearances before the German Federal Cartel Office, including Thermo Electron/Kendro* and Continental/Veyance 
  • Representing companies in EU investigations into the enforcement of standards-essential patents
  • Representing clients in several global cartel investigations, including Air Cargo and LCD*
  • Representing clients in a number of high-profile cartel and merger appeals before the EU courts in Luxembourg, including Wabco, Tetra Laval*, and an international airline

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham 

Bar Qualification

  • Brussels Bar - E List
  • Rechtsanwalt (Germany)

Education

  • LL.M., Harvard Law School, 1996
  • Second State Exam, Hamburg Regional Court of Appeals, 1995
  • Dr. jur., University of Bonn, 1994
  • First State Exam, Cologne Supreme Court, 1991