Lars Kjølbye’s practice focuses on complex cases in all areas of EU competition law, including abuse of dominance, restrictive practices, merger control, State aid, and energy regulation. He has advised clients on a number of landmark matters in recent years.

Mr. Kjølbye has extensive experience in a wide range of industries, including electronics and software, energy, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, transport, and consumer products.

Prior to private practice, Mr. Kjølbye spent ten years at the European Commission’ s (EC) Competition Directorate General where he held several prominent positions. As head of the Energy and Environment Unit he led the completion of the energy sector inquiry, prosecuted several major abuse of dominance cases, and contributed extensively to the EC proposals for the third gas and electricity liberalization package. He was also involved in drafting Regulation 1/2003, which established a new procedural framework for applying Articles 101 and 102 TFEU, and the accompanying guidelines and notices. Mr. Kjølbye also served as a référendaire at the European Court of Justice.

Mr. Kjølbye is the former Managing Partner of the firm’s Brussels office and is widely recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner in Europe. Chambers, GCR’s Who’ s Who Legal, and Best Lawyers in Belgium frequently list him as one of the leading lawyers in his field.

Mr. Kjølbye advises international companies in all areas of EU competition law. A selection of his recent cases includes the representation of: 

  • Microsoft in the US$8.5 billion acquisition of Skype* 
  • EDF in the £12.5 billion acquisition of British Energy* 
  • Microsoft in its complaint against Motorola Mobility concerning abuse of standards-essential patents* 
  • Microsoft in its complaint against Google regarding abusive practices in online search markets* 
  • Microsoft in the European Commission investigation in relation to the alleged tying of Internet Explorer with Microsoft’s Windows Operating System* 
  • Expedia in complaint against Google regarding abusive practices in online search markets*
  • AstraZeneca in an abuse of dominance investigation by the European Commission*
  • Czech electricity generator ČEZ in an abuse of dominance investigation by the European Commission into the Czech electricity market*
  • Major European energy companies in abuse of dominance and state aid investigations by the European Commission

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham
 

Bar Qualification

  • Brussels Bar - E List
  • Denmark (Advokat)

Education

  • LL.M. in European Law, King's College London, University of London, 1991
  • Law Degree, Aarhus University, 1990

Languages Spoken

  • English
  • French
  • Danish