Brussels, April 3, 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – International law firm Jones Day is pleased to announce that Thomas Jestaedt will join the Brussels office as Partner as of 1 April 2005. He will be part of the firm’s EU and competition practice. He will be based in Brussels, but he will also work closely with the Frankfurt-based German competition team of Jones Day headed by Carsten Gromotke.
Thomas Jestaedt is one of the most experienced and widely recognized German-qualified partners in Brussels where he has practiced for more than 15 years. Thomas Jestaedt joins Jones Day after having served for more than five years as deputy head of the EU and competition law practice and as head of the German competition law practice of another international firm.
Thomas Jestaedt has extensive experience in advising a range of international corporations, financial institutions, and governmental entities on merger control, cartel investigations, EU State aid law and other regulatory affairs. He represented SAP in the Oracle/PeopleSoft merger proceedings. He has represented clients in a number of large cartel cases before the European Commission and the European Courts, e.g. more recently in the Cartonboard, Pre-isolated pipes, Austrian banks cases and in the current investigation by the German Federal Cartel Office into the German industrial insurer market. Thomas is particularly well known for his State aid work which has included, inter alia, the representation of one of the German public banks in the recent Commission investigations, advice to a European State in relation to the restructuring of its publicly held airline, and work for the Brandenburg government on a number of large regional investment projects. Thomas coordinated and co-authored a 1999 study for the European Commission on the application of state aid law by the Member States courts.
Commenting on Thomas’ arrival, Bernard Amory, head of Jones Day’s European competition practice, said: “We have always wanted to add a strong German element to our Brussels based European competition practice for some time and have always regarded Thomas as the ideal candidate. We are delighted that he joins us. With his reputation and experience, he will help us serve the increasing demand from our clients in Brussels and Germany.”
Thomas Jestaedt said: “I have been attracted by Jones Day’s culture of client commitment and collegiality. Bernard Amory and Eric Morgan de Rivery have been long time friends.”
Thomas Jestaedt publishes widely and is a frequent commentator on EU issues in the press and the media generally. He was ranked as one of the leading German antitrust practitioners by the 2004/2005 JuvE Handbook; he is ranked as “highly recommended” in Global Counsel and also has rankings in Chambers, Legal 500, and Global Competition Law.
