Kurt Haegeman

Kurt has extensive experience in advising consumer goods, luxury & fashion and cosmetics clients, and clients from other industry sectors, on complex multi-jurisdictional antitrust matters, including antitrust investigations focusing on horizontal and vertical conduct, dawn raid defence and leniency strategy. Kurt's team has a particularly strong track record in developing successful defense strategies for clients that are involved in antitrust investigations.

Kurt assists consumer goods, luxury & fashion and cosmetics clients regularly in the development, roll-out and policing of Europe-wide distribution systems, and he has particular expertise in advising on selective distribution and ecommerce management.

Kurt has been at the forefront of Baker McKenzie's efforts to support CG&R clients in their response to some of the most prominent challenges in today's marketplace, including the acceleration of digitisation, the shifting consumer attitudes towards ESG and the increasing regulations on supply chain transparency.

• Represented the Brands for Europe coalition of more than 20 global brand owners in responding to crucial EU antitrust policy initiatives affecting brand owners, including the EU's e-commerce sector inquiry, the European Commission's review of the EU Vertical Restraints Block Exemption & Guidelines, and the review of the EU Guidelines on horizontal co-operation agreements.
• Represents several consumer goods manufacturers in ongoing antitrust investigations into resale price maintenance, territorial and customer restraints, and online sales restrictions.
• Represented Pioneer in the European Commission's investigation concerning resale price maintenance and territorial restrictions, securing a 50% discount in the first EU settlement in a verticals case.
• Acted for a multinational FMCG supplier in the Belgian Competition Authority's first cartel settlement decision concerning the Belgian grocery sector.
• Represented Mitsubishi Electric in the settlement of the European Commission's cartel investigation in the car parts sector (alternators and starters).
• Represented an automotive parts supplier in the European Commission's ongoing cartel investigations in the car parts sector, successfully securing the closure of the case.
• Advised Mitsubishi Electric on the European Commission's cartel investigation involving gas-insulated switchgear and securing a complete annulment of the fine before the General Court on appeal.
• Counselled Mitsubishi Electric on the European Commission's cartel investigation involving elevators and escalators, securing the lowest fine for the client.

• Listed lawyer, The International Who's Who of Competition Lawyers since 2018 (Competition & Future Leaders)
• Recognized lawyer in Competition EU/Belgium & Retail Industry, The Legal 500

• International Competition Network (ICN) — Non-governmental adviser (NGA) for DG Competition (European Commission)