Duvernoy_Christian

Christian Duvernoy

Retired Partner

Christian Duvernoy, who was based in WilmerHale’s Brussels office beginning in 1990 and once served as partner‑in‑charge, built a leading EU competition law and regulatory practice. His work spanned industries including information technology, intellectual property, financial services, and manufacturing. He regularly represented clients before the European Commission in merger control proceedings and major antitrust investigations involving alleged cartel conduct and dominant‑firm behavior, often in matters with significant IP dimensions. His experience included both clearance and opposition phases of landmark technology and communications mergers such as Oracle/PeopleSoft, Vodafone AirTouch/Mannesmann, and MCI/WorldCom. He retired from WilmerHale in 2023.

Mr. Duvernoy led the team representing Red Hat in the Commission’s antitrust investigation of Microsoft and defended clients—including auto‑parts suppliers and a leading investment bank—in complex cartel and state‑aid proceedings. His broader advisory work covered conduct restrictions on dominant firms, FRAND disputes, and regulatory strategy across EU competition regimes. He also maintained a substantial EU market‑access practice, advising on product standards, health and safety regulation, industry‑specific requirements, and the regulatory aspects of e‑commerce, data protection, online sales, and consumer protection. Mr. Duvernoy worked closely with clients on EU legislative proceedings to develop evidence‑based policy positions. Earlier in his career, he served as an intern at the European Court of Justice and the European Commission’s Legal Service (Competition Team). 

Credentials

  • Education

    • JD, University of Michigan Law School, 1988

      magna cum laude Order of the Coif
    • AB, Harvard University, 1984

      magna cum laude

Credentials

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