Dr. Jens-Olrik Murach is a partner in the Antitrust & Competition Practice Group. With more than 20 years of experience practicing antitrust law in Brussels and Germany, Jens’ practice covers the complete range of EU and German antitrust issues across a wide spectrum of industry sectors. Jens has also significant experience in handling Foreign Direct Investment Screening matters, particularly before the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. Jens also advises on EU state aid and public procurement matters.
Over the course of his career, Jens has advised on many complex and high-stakes merger control matters, both before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office, including recently advising on Telefónica Deutschland/E-Plus, Vodafone/Certain Liberty Global Assets, Tata Steel/ThyssenKrupp/JV (representing third-parties, respectively), Marriott/Starwood, TIL/PSA/PSA DGD, PepsiCo/SodaStream, and Gilead Sciences/MYR Pharma.* Jens has strong experience in managing global merger control investigations in virtually every part of the world.
Jens regularly represents companies in cartel and abuse of dominance investigations before both the German Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission, including handling leniency applications, settlement negotiations, and appeals against infringement decisions. He also has significant experience advising on vertical distribution matters and represents clients in commercial and administrative antitrust litigation before German courts and the courts of the EU in Luxembourg.
Jens is widely recognized as a leading practitioner. Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2020 rank him among the leading practitioners in the area of Competition: EU (Belgium) and cite interviewees who praise his “deep technical expertise and strong client relationship skills.” A client reports as impressed: “He takes our concerns seriously and is pragmatic.” He is consistently recommended in the JUVE Handbook (2017-2021), which has cited him as a “super antitrust lawyer” and “excellent lawyer, very pleasant to work with.” The Legal 500 Deutschland 2021 recommends him for antitrust law in Germany. The Legal 500 EMEA 2020 rates him a “key lawyer” for Competition: EU and Global in Belgium and quotes among testimonials: “Jens-Olrik Murach is always accessible and responsive, and his advice is thorough, helpful, pragmatic and prompt. He is excellent to work with.” He is also recognized by Best Lawyers™ in Germany (2022 edition) for both Competition/Antitrust Law and Litigation and Best Lawyers™ in Belgium (2022 edition) for Competition/Antitrust Law.
Jens is fluent in German and English.
* Jens advised on these matters prior to joining Willkie.