Profile: Götz Drauz

Competition

Biography: Competition

Götz Drauz joined Howrey's Brussels office as a partner in 2006. Prior to joining Howrey, Mr Drauz served for 25 years at the European Commission, most recently as the deputy director-general in DG Competition with particular responsibility for mergers. In this role, Mr Drauz managed and coordinated the merger control activity within DG Competition. His more recent achievements include launching a Commission inquiry into the functioning of competition in the electricity and gas sectors in 2001, and managing the settlement of a long-standing article 82 inquiry into Coca-Cola's European sales practices in 2004.

In addition to his most recent role as deputy director-general, Mr Drauz served in various other roles at the European Commission, including director of the merger task force in DG Competition, assistant to the director-general of DG Competition, and coordinator for distribution and franchising cases in the Directorate for Competition Policy and Coordination.

Since joining Howrey, Mr Drauz has worked on cases across a range of industries, representing Schering-Plough in the acquisition of Akzo's Human and Animal Health businesses before the European Commission and 12 other competition authorities (including Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey and Ukraine), representing Nestlé in its acquisition of the Gerber baby-food business from Novartis before the European Commission. This transaction enabled the creation of the world's leading infant nutrition company, representing Qualcomm in connection with six individual complaints lodged in a concerted action with the European Commission; and representing an alliance that includes seven of the major European rail operators involving the provision of legal and strategic antitrust advice regarding a pan-European quality alliance of high-speed railway operators.

Mr Drauz is a frequent speaker and has written numerous articles on competition-related subjects. A native of Germany, he is fluent in French and English.