Biography • Competition

Axel Reidlinger is a partner in Freshfields' antitrust, competition and trade group, based in the Vienna office. His specialisations include competition law, public procurement law and energy regulatory law.

Axel regularly advises clients on merger control, cartel and antitrust (including abuse of dominance) cases before the Austrian competition authorities and on major competition cases in central and eastern Europe. He also acts for clients on notifications under the European Merger Regulation and in other cases at the European Commission. In state aid law, Axel has recently assisted various Austrian companies getting public financing schemes approved in Brussels. In the field of competition litigation; Axel represents clients in private enforcement cases, for example, defending against cease-and-desist claims before the Cartel Court and against cartel damage claims before the civil courts.

Axel is the co-author of a book on Austrian competition law (2nd edition 2008), which is designed as a 'practical guide' and has been praised by in-house lawyers and regulators alike for its innovative approach, including 'practical hints'.

Axel was educated at the University of Vienna Faculty of Law and at the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration (where he was also a research assistant), as well as the University of Paris 2. He obtained an LLM/DEA in European Community law from the College of Europe in Bruges before joining the firm in 1994. Axel is qualified in Austria and has practised in Brussels and Vienna. He speaks German, English and French.

Freshfields' antitrust competition and trade practice comprises more than 50 partners and 260 specialists based in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the UK and the US. Our coverage of Asia, Europe and the US enables us to advise our clients in competition cases involving many jurisdictions around the world.