Global Competition Review’s (GCR) inaugural ranking of the 20 leading competition law practices placed WilmerHale among the top five law firms in the world. Only two other US-based law firms were included in the top five. In addition to this ranking, 14 lawyers in WilmerHale’s Antitrust and Competition practice group were named to Global Competition Review’s InternationalWho’s Who of Competition Lawyers list. Only four other law firms in the top 20, primarily located in Brussels or Washington, DC, held more nominations. The GCR20 is based on a number of factors, including the stability of partnership, the number of votes from corporate counsel and rivals, the number of Who’s Who nominees a firm holds and the firm’s role in the year’s key competition cases.

GCR states, “In Washington, William Kolasky is described as “outstanding” and fellow practice co-leader Douglas Melamed as “an antitrust intellectual.” Brussels partner Claus-Dieter Ehlermann is praised for his “experience and judgment.”

WilmerHale Partners Sven Volcker and John Ratliff in Brussels; Ulrich Quack in Berlin; Suyong Kim in London; and Thomas Mueller, were listed in the publication as “highly regarded specialists.” Jacques Bourgeois, Marco Bronckers, James Burling, Frederic Louis, James Lowe and Yves Van Gerven were also recognized.

GCR also stated that, “WilmerHale’s Antitrust and Competition Practice Group was recognized for its significant achievements this year, which include winning antitrust clearance for BAE Systems’ $4.5 billion acquisition of Armor Holdings, and gaining EU regulatory approval for Statoil’s merger with Norsk Hydro. This merger was the largest in Norway’s history. WilmerHale also obtained the fourth-largest US jury verdict in 2007 when they won over $103 million in damages for the US Government and client Richard Miller. In addition, the firm successfully represented Citigroup Global Markets before the US Supreme Court in Credit Suisse v Billing.” GCR went on to note that the firm boosted its practice with the hiring of Gil Ohana, former director of antitrust and competition for Cisco Systems, and the following internal promotions to partner, Jan Heithecker and Jonathan Cedarbaum.