Profile: Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber

Competition

Biography: Competition

Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber has been practising EC competition law in Vienna and Brussels since 1998. She is currently a partner of bpv Hügel Rechtsanwälte OEG, Vienna. She graduated from the University of Salzburg (Mag iur 1993, Dr iur 1997) where she also obtained a Masters in Journalism and French (Mag Phil 1997). Before joining bpv Hügel, Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber worked with the European Commission as a stagiaire in the merger task force, and as a legal assistant to the president of the Austrian Cartel Court in Vienna. After her doctoral thesis she worked in the EU and competition department of Linklaters & Alliance in London, later joining Hügel & Partner in 1998. She speaks German, English, French, Italian and Spanish.

Astrid Ablasser-Neuhuber has considerable expertise in national and European antitrust and merger control law. She represents national and international clients in antitrust and merger cases before the Austrian and European competition authorities as well as in proceedings before the European courts.

Recent work includes: representation of a defendant in the proceeding before the Austrian Cartel Court regarding the elevator industry; advice to and representation of OMV Gas with regard to the inspections conducted by the European Commission in the energy sector; general instruction in all antitrust matters with regard to OMV's gas business; representation of Telekom Austria with regard to litigation on several market dominance cases before civil court and cartel court and the acquisition of eTel; representation of Mondi Packaging (Form RS, Form CO) regarding the acquisition of Scheipen & Erkens; advice and representation of Österreichische Volksbanken-AG (ÖVAG) in the action for annulment (before the European Court of Justice) of the EU Commission's decision in the Austrian Banks (Lombard Club); regular advice and representation of numerous national and international clients with regard to Austrian merger control and coordination of multi-jurisdiction filings in various jurisdictions.

She is a frequent speaker at seminars and conferences on Austrian and EU competition law as well as author of numerous books and articles on Austrian and European antitrust and merger control law, inter alia: co-author with Loewenheim, Riesenkampff, Meessen, "Kommentar zum gesamten europäischen Kartellrecht" (European antitrust law), CH Beck Verlag, 2005; Leniency Regimes - Jurisdictional Comparisons 2005/2006 (country chapter Austria, together with Dr Rainer Roniger) 2005; "Country chapter Austria" (with Dr Rainer Roniger), in Antitrust Law and Trade Regulations - Austrian Section Matthew Bender & Company, 2004 ; "Country chapter Austria" (with Dr Rainer Roniger) in Leniency Regimes - Jurisdictional Comparisons 2005/2006) 2005 etc, Matthew Bender & Company; "Medienmarkt und Fusionskontrolle" (Media markets and European merger control); Kölner Schriften zum Europarecht, Band 42.

She is a member of the Bar Association of Vienna, the Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht, the Österreichischer Juristentag, the International Bar Association and the Union Internationale des Avocats.