Profile details
About Dr. Thomas Wessely
Thomas works closely with clients to develop successful business strategies at the outset of both transactional and advisory work.
His practice has a European and global focus, but he is equally adept at working on domestic German projects.
He navigates multifaceted deal structures and challenging multijurisdictional considerations, including innovative remedies packages, and achieves timely regulatory approvals in line with commercial imperatives. His far-reaching experience of European merger control has seen him lead many headline Phase II investigations by the European Commission.
He also defends his clients’ interests in European and national antitrust investigations and ensuing litigation before the European or national courts. Thomas is regularly called upon to provide in-depth opinions on complex commercial agreements.
Thomas works in German, English and French.
Recent work
- Advising CK Hutchison on its recent wave of telecoms acquisitions across Europe. Three separate four-to-three consolidations in Austria, Ireland and Italy (and a fourth proposed transaction in the UK), each of which commanded strategic and innovative advice in the face of in-depth scrutiny and remedies examination by the European Commission and national regulatory authorities.
- Advised Evonik on the international antitrust aspects of its acquisition of US-headquartered J.M. Huber’s silica division. The transaction, which combined two leading precipitated silica manufacturers and expanded Evonik’s position in North America and Asia, required regulatory clearances in the EU, US and Brazil.
- Representing a client, successfully, in relation to the European Commission’s investigation into the methacrylates industry (exoneration from cartel allegations and fines).
- Advising Deutsche Bahn on the merger control aspects of its £1.6bn public bid for Arriva, one of Europe's largest privately-owned bus and rail operators, including the negotiation of complex remedies in order to secure Phase I clearance from the European Commission.
- Representing Elementis in the European Commission’s cartel investigation into the heat stabilisers sector and, subsequently, in its successful appeal before Europe’s General Court which led to the European Commission revoking its fining decision against Elementis and repaying fines in excess of €23m.
Qualifications
Education
- University of Bonn, Germany (doctorate in law)
- Fordham University, New York, US (LLM)
- Montpellier University, France (Masters)