Anne Caroline Wegner, LL.M. (European University Institute)

Anne Wegner specialises in German and European antitrust and distribution law, including disputes in these areas of law. She primarily advises on matters pertaining to vertical agreements, antitrust damages, compliance, cartel proceedings, merger control, joint ventures, and abuse of market dominance. Anne Wegner has many years of experience in representing her clients in these areas vis-à-vis cartel authorities and in court and arbitration proceedings, as well as in drafting and negotiating contracts. She is particularly experienced in issues regarding the automotive industry, logistics, the building materials industry and the distribution of chemicals.

Court-approved antitrust mediator
Anne Wegner is an antitrust mediator approved by the competent German Court of Appeal. As a mediator, he specialises in the out-of-court settlement of claims arising under antitrust law, e.g. for damages, supply and injunctive relief. A procedure before an antitrust mediator offers several advantages. An agreement concluded by the parties in front of a court-approved mediator has the same effect as a state court judgment.

Antitrust Law
Compliance & Internal Investigations
Commercial & Distribution Law, Product Liability/Product Compliance

Anne Wegner joined Luther’s Dusseldorf office as a Partner in 2010 and is head of Luther’s antitrust team. Before moving to Luther, she worked for nine years for the international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in Cologne and Brussels in the field of antitrust and distribution law. Anne Wegner studied law in Marburg (Germany), Strasbourg (France), Cologne (Germany) and at the European University Institute in Florence (Italy).

Chambers Global 2024: Ranking in "Competition/European Law", Band 5 (first ranking in 2018, "She knows the industry through and through and always finds creative solutions that suit us.")
Chambers Europe 2024: Rankings in "Competition/ European Law", Band 5 (first ranking in 2017, "She is very commercial and very good at understanding the clients' needs.", "She is very responsive, very good at what she does and has a really good knowledge of competition law.") und "Commercial Contracts", Band 2 (first ranking in 2015, "Anne is very accurate, always available and very personable.", client)
JUVE Guide 2023/2024: Award "Leading Advisor in Distribution Law" (first award in 2017/2018, "fair and pragmatic negotiator") and listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Distribution/Trade/Logistics - Distribution Systems" (first listed in 2011/2012) and "Antitrust Law" (first listed in 2011/2012, "recognised expert in antitrust law", competitor)
JUVE Guide 2021/2022: Listed under "Frequently Recommended" in "Dispute Resolution" (first listed in 2015/2016, "good tactical sense", competitor)
The Legal 500 Germany 2024: Award "Leading Name" (first award in 2016, "Anne Caroline Wegner has very good experience and excellent specialist knowledge.") in the category "Commercial and Distribution Law - Distribution/Commerce/Logistics" and recommendation in the category "Antitrust Law" (first recommendation in 2023, first mention in 2014, "Anne Caroline Wegner: Very good, profound work and always easy to reach directly.")
The Legal 500 Germany 2023: Recommendation in "City Focus Düsseldorf"
The Legal 500 Germany 2019: Mention in the category "Dispute Resolution - Commercial Disputes" (first mention in 2016)
Who’s Who Legal 2024: Award "Thought Leader" in "Competition" (first award in 2021, "Anne Caroline Wegner stands out for her deft handling of German and European antitrust matters spanning damages, compliance and abuse of dominance issues.") and "Germany – Competition" (first award in 2022) and recommendation "Global Leader" in "Competition" (first recommendation in 2013)
kanzleimonitor.de 2021/2022: Recommended in "Antitrust Law" (first recommended in 2018/2019)
Best Lawyers 2023: Recommended in "Competition/Antitrust Law" (first recommended in 2014), "Corporate Governance and Compliance Practice" and "Litigation"
WirtschaftsWoche 2022: Recommendation "Top Lawyer" in "Antitrust Law" (first recommendation in 2020)
Expert Guides 2021: Recommended in "Competition and Antitrust" (first recommended in 2012) and "Women in Business Law" (first recommended in 2012)
"Corporate INTL Award" 2014 in "Distribution Law"

Advising diverse clients in cartel proceedings (partly including leniency applications) before the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission (among others wholesaling of sanitary and healing products, automotive supplier industry, building material sector)
Representing Erste Bank in an action for annulment of a cartel fine (“Lombardclub”)
Merger control filings with the Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission as well as multijurisdictional filings (among others, Remondis’ acquisition of Xervon, Sodecia’s acquisition of a competitor from the automotive supplier industry)
Jointventures (merger control, non-compete obligations, FuE-cooperations, specialisation agreements)
Litigation: representing several importers of motor vehicles against individual and class actions by their authorised distributors (among others concerning standard terms, guarantee remuneration, margin, transport costs, contract termination, defence in refusal to supply actions, access to the distribution system)
Advising several clients on the adjustment of their distribution systems to the legal framework of the motor vehicle block exemption regulations (Commission Regulation (EC) no. 1400/2002 and 461/2010)
Advising an importer of automobiles on the set-up of a pan-European distribution system
Antitrust Due Diligence for an investment bank regarding the acquisition of a construction materials group
Advising a company in the out-of-home media industry with respect to the sector inquiry of the Federal Cartel Office
Defending a manufacturer of automobile components in an injunction proceeding concerning delivery of parts (“refusal to supply”)