About
Martin has been a partner at Freshfields since 1997 and is the former global co-leader of the Competition and Trade Practice Group and currently a member of the board of Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. He has significant experience in German, European and international competition law and has been involved in major merger cases and many national and international cartel cases, both inside and outside of the courtroom.
Over the years, Martin has carved out his own niche in cartel cases and follow-on cases as well as specialising in compliance and litigation work. He is one of Germany’s most sought-after ACT lawyers.
Martin takes an active role in all his casework, personally guiding clients through the complexities and challenges they face, making it his business to be there with them every step of the way. Clients appreciate his amiable yet diligent approach, and benefit from his tenacity and success as a proficient negotiator and litigator.
He speaks German and English.
Capabilities
VCARD
Connect
Select language
Selected experience in merger control cases
- Thyssenkrupp in its divestment of the stainless steel business to Outukumpu
- Thyssenkrupp in its attempted steel merger with Tata
- Thyssenkrupp in its divestment of the elevator business
- VW in its acquisition of a majority shareholding in Europcar
- VW in various AD ventures
Selected experience in behavioural cases
- Volkswagen and Audi in the recent „Car Emissions“ cartel case with investigations having been opened in the EU, South Korea, Turkey, Brazil and China.
- Volkswagen and Audi in investigations into End-Of-Life vehicles in the EU, the UK, China, and Korea, with pending litigation in the UK.
- An industrial OEM in several other confidential cartel investigations in Germany, Italy, France and in the EU.
- Thyssenkrupp in the Heavy Plate cartel case and in subsequent follow-on claims.
- ThyssenKrupp in several previous steel and stainless steel cases and subsequent follow-on litigation (alloy surcharges, Auto Steel).
- Thyssenkrupp Elevator in the EU cartel investigation into escalators and elevators and subsequent litigation before the European Courts and in follow-on damages cases.
- Infineon in the EU “SmartCard” investigation and litigation.
- Chiquita in two international cartel leniency cases.
- Tchibo in the German Roast Coffee Case.
- Solvay in its hydrogen peroxide damages follow-on damages litigation.
- Schaeffler Group in the EU bearings case and related follow-on claims.
- Knauf in the Plasterboard investigation by the EU and subsequent EU litigation.
- Otto Fuchs in the Aluminium Forges investigation and German criminal litigation as well as follow-on litigation in Canada.
- Webasto in the EU parking heater cartel investigation and subsequent follow-on claims in Europe and Canada.
- Several other automotive suppliers in international cartel investigations.
- Hoechst in the MCAA EU investigation.
- Etex in the German roof tiles case and litigation.
- Werhahn in the German flour cartel case.
- Celanese in EU cartel investigations into sweeteners and chemical products.
- Sumitomo Chemical in the EU Vitamins cases.
- Mitsui in the EU bio fuels investigation.
- Bayer in several EU rubber cases.
- Pergan in an EU cartel investigation and subsequent EU litigation.
- Primagas in the LPG case including the most extensive criminal German cartel litigation
- Continental in the Marine Hose EU and UK investigation.
- Continental in an EU car parts investigation.
- SGL Carbon in three EU/US investigations into graphite and carbon electrodes/specialty graphite and subsequent EU litigation.
- Kiekert regarding the EU investigation into Closure Systems.
- on in the EU investigation into Gaz de France Ruhrgas, including subsequent EU litigation.
- Winkhaus in the EC door and windows hardware case.
- Dohle/HIT in ongoing food retail related administrative litigation before the BGH.
Dr. Martin Klusmann
Feldmühleplatz 1
Düsseldorf 40545