Quack_Ulrich

Ulrich Quack

Quack_Ulrich

Ulrich Quack

Partner

Berlin + 49 30 20 22 63 25

Ulrich Quack chairs the German Antitrust and Competition Practice and co-chairs the German Energy Industry Group. Mr. Quack has practiced both EU and German antitrust, competition and merger control law for nearly 30 years and has advised and represented German and international clients in numerous proceedings before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office, in appeal proceedings before the German and European courts, in private antitrust litigation, and in cartel investigations. His practice encompasses all aspects of EU and German antitrust, competition and merger control law and covers a wide range of industries.

One focus of Mr. Quack’s practice is the energy sector, specifically the natural gas industry. In the energy sector, Mr. Quack advises and represents producers, suppliers and infrastructure operators in particular on German and EU energy regulation and antitrust, competition and merger control law. His long-standing experience in the energy sector dates back to the beginning of the liberalization of the German energy markets in the early 1990s.

Professional Activities

Mr. Quack is a member of the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht (Antitrust Law Society in Germany).

Experience

  • Represented Linde AG on all aspects of EC merger control law in connection with its EUR 12 billion acquisition of the United Kingdom-based BOC Group plc, the largest takeover in Linde’s corporate history and one of the largest foreign transactions ever undertaken by a German company, which was cleared by the European Commission after a Phase I investigation.
  • Represented Linde AG in connection with the subsequent divestitures, including the sale of BOC Gazy to Air Products, the severance of the Asian joint ventures with Air Liquide and the sale of Linde Gas UK to Air Liquide, as well as in relation to various other transactions, including the acquisition of Spectra Gases Inc. from the Dietz family, the sale of BOC Edwards’ component business to CCMP Capital, the sale of BOC EPS to IMA, and the approximately EUR 4 billion sale of KION Group GmbH to Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners.
  • Advising and representing Wintershall in numerous merger control, antitrust, regulatory and litigation matters.
  • Represented TUI AG in EC merger control proceedings with regard to the merger of TUI’s tourism business with First Choice PLC, combining First Choice’s business and the major part of TUI’s tourism activities in a new listed company by the name of TUI Travel PLC. Moreover, Mr. Quack advised and represented TUI AG with regard to the EUR 1.7 billion acquisition of CP Ships, some other acquisition projects and as a third-party intervener before the German Federal Cartel Office in the merger control proceedings regarding the acquisition of LTU by Air Berlin.
  • Represented Deutsche Telekom AG before the European Commission and before the EC Court of First Instance in an appeal against a fine imposed by European Commission decision based on allegations that DTAG had violated Article 82 EC by maintaining a price squeeze between its retail and wholesale prices in the local loop.
  • Represented and advised an international natural gas supplier with regard to antitrust issues in connection with the formation and restructuring of several international joint ventures.
  • Provided antitrust law and regulatory advice to international energy companies with regard to contemplated transactions in Germany and abroad.
  • Provided regulatory advice to an international natural gas supplier on all aspects of German energy regulation, including proceedings before the German Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur).

Recognition

  • Ulrich Quack is recommended by JUVE Handbuch consistently since 2006/2007 as a “Leading Lawyer” in antitrust and merger control. Peers praise him as a “tough opponent in the courtroom” and “one of the most capable antitrust lawyers in Germany.” Mr. Quack has also been named “Leading Senior Partner” since the 2013/2014 edition.
  • Recommended for the third consecutive year by JUVE Handbuch for public commercial law–administrative and constitutional law as well as energy law–regulatory, most recently in the 2022/2023 edition (“brilliant,” – peer review).
  • Chambers Global and Chambers Europe (since 2003) also consistently rank Mr. Quack as a “Leading Lawyer” in competition/EU law in Germany, (“He is experienced, very precise in his statements, has a good feeling for outcomes and can be quite creative in thinking about what we can try out.", 2023.).
  • Recommended by Legal 500 Germany as a “Leading Lawyer” in dispute resolution–commercial disputes (2018–2020) and regulated industries–energy (2014-2018) as well as antitrust law since 2014. “Very good understanding of the relevant economic framework and objectives in transactions. Good ideas, thoughtful and goal-oriented approach to authorities and thus able to achieve the best possible results. Precise knowledge of the specific market conditions for us (2022).”
  • Recommended by Legal 500 Germany in 2021 and 2022 for commercial law.
  • Ranked in Handelsblatt Best Lawyers® in Germany List since 2009 for competition, antitrust, merger control and regulatory law and since 2023 for M&A. Mr. Quack was named “Lawyer of the Year” for competition and antitrust (2018) and for regulatory law (2019).
  • Named by Germany's WirtschaftsWoche in 2019 and 2020 as a “Top Lawyer” for antitrust law.
  • Named by Who's Who Legal as a global leader (2019–2022) and national leader for Germany for competition law (2019–2022). “He is considered an authority on market power issues, merger control and vertical and horizontal agreements.”
  • Awarded the Global Competition Review, GCR Litigation of the Year Award 2014 for representing Deutsche Bahn AG in the “Rail cartel” proceedings.
  • Named in the Competition & Antitrust Expert Guide 2020 as “Top Competition and Antitrust Law Expert.”

Insights & News

View all of Ulrich's insights & news

Credentials

  • Education

    • Second State Exam, Berlin, 1986

    • First State Exam, Freie Universität Berlin, 1983

  • Admissions

    • Berlin

  • Languages

    • English

    • German

Credentials

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