Christoph Stadler

Christoph advises domestic and foreign companies in all areas of European and German competition law.

Christoph has more than 20 years' experience in German, European and foreign merger control cases. He advised Hochtief on the acquisition of a shareholding in Philipp Holzmann, Hoechst on its merger with Rhône-Poulenc to form Aventis, and RWE on its acquisition of VEW and Essent, as well as on the sale of its Dea petrol stations to Shell. More recently, he advised EADS on the reorganization of its shareholder structure, Tönnies on the acquisition of another slaughterhouse company (which was eventually prohibited), Rheinkalk on the acquisition of limestone quarries, Metro on the sale of the Eastern European activities of Real and Vodafone on the acquisition of Unity Media and other assets from Liberty Global.

Advice on compliance issues is a core part of Christoph's practice. He has been active in numerous internal investigations, some of them unrelated to competition law. For instance, he is part of a Hengeler Mueller team advising Robert Bosch GmbH in the diesel emmissions matter.  In cartel cases, his practice covers the complete range of potential issues, including prevention, immunity applications, defence in cartel proceedings, negotiation of settlements, and appeals against cartel fines before domestic and European courts. Recent matters include cartels in the FMCG sector (roasted coffee, chocolate, sausage products, flour) and in steel. Christoph also advises and defends clients in cartel damages cases, for instance in cases relating to household detergents, CRT, and drugstore goods.

Christoph is a trusted advisor to several large companies in unilateral restrictions to competition (e.g. rebate design, long-term supply agreements). He recently represented an allegedly dominant company before several domestic courts against claims of abusive discrimination. He is also advising the hotel booking platform HRS on its conflict with the Federal Cartel Office and several European competition authorities.

Since 2006, Christoph has served as a Member of the Board and Treasurer of Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht, the association of German-speaking competition lawyers. He is honorary professor of Universität Osnabrück Law School, where he has been teaching since 2011, following an earlier teaching assignment at Bucerius Law School. Since 2011, Christoph has been a member of the "Committee" of the European Competition Lawyers Forum, a sounding board of practitioners for the European Commission.