Dr Michael Holzhäuser is a partner in our competition department and head of our German competition practice
Michael advises clients on all aspects of EU and German antitrust/competition law. As well as having strong multi-jurisdictional merger control experience, his practice also focuses on defending companies in international antitrust proceedings for cartels or abusive practices before the German and European cartel authorities and courts. In addition, he specialises in the defence of companies in private follow-on cartel damages claims.
His practice also includes advising enterprises on their commercial agreements (e.g. distribution systems, R&D-license, JV- or specialisation agreements) as well as in regulatory and EU-law matters.
Michael has extensive experience in developing and implementing comprehensive compliance systems and expert knowledge in conducting and coordinating internal investigations using state-of-the-art legal technology and project management.
His recent work includes advising clients across a broad range of industry sectors including financial institutions, energy, electronics, media, chemicals, healthcare, telecommunications and manufacturing, in particular the automotive industry.
Michael studied law at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt where he also led a collaborative interdisciplinary research project on access to network infrastructures and received his doctorate (Dr. jur.). He was admitted to the German bar in 2003. He is the author of numerous publications in German and international legal journals and commentaries and is co-initiator and member of the advisory board for the postgraduate program "Legal Process Management" at the German Graduate School of Management & Law in Heilbronn/Germany, where he also lectures on disciplines "Legal Project Management for Compliance and Investigations".
Michael has been recognized by Handelsblatt and Best Lawyers™ as one of the leading lawyers in Germany for Competition and Antitrust as part of the "Germany's Best Lawyers 2020" ranking.
Our German competition department has been recognised by the news magazine FOCUS as "Top Firm for Antitrust/Competition Law 2020".
Michael was also recognised as a "Top Lawyer 2019" for antitrust law by WirtschaftsWoche.
Prior to joining Ashurst, he headed the German antitrust and competition practices for other leading international law firms and was Managing Partner of the Frankfurt Office of DLA Piper.
Latest Insights
Carousel: clicking the "Previous" or "Next" button changes the content between the buttons.
-
Legal development 
CN03 - The Digital Markets Act - new EU rules approved for Big Tech gatekeepers
03 Oct 2022
Discover more -
Legal development
CN04 - German Federal Cartel Office - pursuit for sustainability may justify cooperation
01 Mar 2022
Discover more -
Quickguides 
Dawn raids: dealing with inspections by European competition authorities
03 Dec 2021
Discover more -
Quickguides
Competition law investigations by the European Commission
This Quickguide summarises the procedure followed by the European Commission.
26 Nov 2021
Discover more -
Quickguides
EU merger control
This Quickguide provides an overview of the EU merger control regime.
25 Nov 2021
Discover more -
Legal development
CN09 - Porsche-Tuning II - Top German court rules car manufacturer
13 Oct 2021
Discover more -
Legal development
CN09 - FCO departs from EC guidance on Article 22 referrals in Facebook-Kustomer
16 Sep 2021
Discover more -
Legal development
CN08 - FCO imposes fines of 21 million on manufacturers and retailers of musical instruments
16 Sep 2021
Discover more
Latest news, deals and awards
Carousel: clicking the "Previous" or "Next" button changes the content between the buttons.
-
News Ashurst advises HIH Invest on the launch of a new residential property fund with 14 residential properties
19 Nov 2024
Discover more -
News Ashurst advises Commerzbank AG on the acquisition of 74.9% of the shares in Aquila Capital Investmentgesellschaft GmbH
18 Jan 2024
Discover more -
News Ashurst advises Knorr-Bremse on the conclusion of an investment agreement with Nexxiot and acquisition of a strategic minority stake in Nexxiot
07 Jun 2022
Discover more -
News Ashurst advises Karin Sartorius-Herbst in connection with her increase of shares
09 Mar 2022
Discover more -
News Ashurst advises 1 1 AG on the conclusion of an agreement with Vantage Towers
10 Dec 2021
Discover more -
News Ashurst advises FNZ on the acquisition of all shares in Fondsdepot Bank
04 Nov 2021
Discover more