Competition Law (UWG)
Has your company received a warning or a lawsuit, or is your company itself subject to competition law violations by a competitor?
We have 20 years of experience in competition law (UWG) and efficiently support you in enforcing or defending against competition law claims.
Therefore, do not hesitate and arrange a free initial consultation directly with our lawyers.
Competition Law Violations
The range of possible competition law violations is enormous. The examples listed are merely headings, under which extensive lists of anti-competitive actions exist:
- Unfair Business Practices
- Aggressive Business Practices
- Misleading Business Practices
- Hindrance of Sales
- Operational Disruptions
- Abuse of Economic Power
- Competition by Public Authorities
- Disparagement of a Company
- Direct Appropriation of Services
- Avoidable Deception of Origin
- Exploitation of Reputation
- Comparative Advertising
- Violation of Law
- Breach of Contract
- Misuse of Geographical Indications
- Misuse of a Company’s Distinctive Signs
- Bribery of Employees or Agents
- Violation of Trade Secrets
Peter HarlanderHarlander & Partner Rechtsanwälte „Verletzungen des Wettbewerbsrechts verschaffen dem Rechtsverletzer unfaire Vorteile am Markt und sind folglich illegal.”“
Legal Consequences
The legal consequences of a violation of competition law (UWG) are severe:
- Cessation
- Injunction
- Damages
- Publication of Judgment
In practice, the claims for cessation and publication of judgment are particularly burdensome.
Cessation is often only possible through the recall of the infringing products or by discontinuing previously revenue-generating marketing measures. The publication of judgment is usually made highly visible on the infringer’s website or in the form of costly, large-format newspaper advertisements.
Repeated competition law violations are therefore often a reason for insolvency.
Competition Law Attorneys
As competition law attorneys, we offer a comprehensive portfolio:
Competition Law Review
A comprehensive competition law review of one’s own company is of central importance for minimizing business risks, and also from the perspective of managing directors, to minimize their personal liability.
The task is even greater than it appears at first glance. Competition law violations can arise not only from the violation of competition law (UWG) itself, but also from non-compliance with other laws or technical standards.
As part of the competition law review, our lawyers therefore create a project plan for our clients, which we then work through together. If the involvement of external specialists is required, e.g., for checking the CE conformity of electrical appliances or the correct labeling of foodstuffs, we support our clients in coordinating all parties involved.
Competitor Monitoring
A violation of competition law often brings enormous advantages in customer acquisition or production costs. Therefore, fewer and fewer entrepreneurs are willing to tolerate the often truly brazen legal violations of their competitors.
For such cases, our law firm has, for example, tools for monitoring changes on websites, as well as staff for conducting mystery shopping measures, to be able to react immediately to anti-competitive business practices.
Enforcement or Defense against Warning Letters and Lawsuits
Anyone who engages in competition law disputes without the support of a specialized (!) lawyer risks the entire company in the worst case.
Competition law proceedings differ in many respects from conventional civil lawsuits. Strategy actually plays a major role here. The smallest mistakes can lead to immediate loss of the case, a counter-attack by the opponent, or other irreparable consequences.
Peter HarlanderHarlander & Partner Rechtsanwälte „In unserer Rechtsanwaltskanzlei finden Sie die notwendige Expertise, um unberechtigte Klagen abzuwehren und Ihre Mitbewerber erfolgreich in Schach zu halten.“
