Baker Botts Opens Brussels Office; Enhances Global Reach of Antitrust and Competition Law Practice

- Catriona Hatton, Paul Lugard to Launch Firm's International Expansion in Europe

BRUSSELS, Sept. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Baker Botts L.L.P. announced the opening of a Brussels office today in a move that will enhance the global reach of its antitrust and competition law practice. Highly-regarded European Union lawyer Catriona Hatton has joined the firm as Partner in Charge of the Brussels office, and Paul Lugard, a well-known competition law expert, has joined the firm as a Partner in Brussels.

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"Adding Brussels reinforces a strategic decision we made last year to expand our Antitrust practice internationally," said Baker Botts Managing Partner Andrew M. Baker. "Catriona and Paul bring to the firm decades of experience working at the highest levels of European competition law and policy. They join our highly-regarded group of antitrust lawyers who have a strong record of involvement in international antitrust and competition law matters, including matters before the European Commission and Member States."

Ms. Hatton comes to Baker Botts from Hogan Lovells where she served as managing partner of that firm's Brussels office. She has an extensive record advising clients on EC and member state competition law aspects of major mergers in all sectors of the economy. Hatton recently won "Best in Competition and Antitrust Award" at the Euromoney European Women in Business Law Awards. She consistently ranks as a leading lawyer in publications such as Chambers, Legal 500, Global Competition Review and Who's Who Legal.

Mr. Lugard, the former Global Head of competition law at Royal Philips Electronics, managed all significant antitrust matters for the company, securing merger clearances and advising on all aspects of competition law, including matters on the intersection of intellectual property and antitrust. He is also influential in the development of competition law policy, serving as Chair of the ICC Competition Commission, as a European Commission and Dutch non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network, and as Vice Chair of the Competition Committee of the Business and Industry Advisory Committee (BIAC) to the OECD.

"Establishing a strong Brussels presence with highly expert competition lawyers such as Catriona and Paul demonstrates Baker Botts' commitment to a world class antitrust practice," said John Taladay, co-chair of the firm's Antitrust and Competition Law practice. "We are thrilled that Catriona and Paul decided to join the firm, and we look forward to serving our clients with our expanded team."

Brussels is the 14th office for Baker Botts and its eighth international location. It joins well-established offices in London, Abu Dhabi, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Moscow and Riyadh. In addition to handling European matters for clients, the firm's new office will collaborate with lawyers throughout the Baker Botts global network on complex antitrust and competition issues.

About the Antitrust and Competition Law Practice at Baker Botts
Our Antitrust and Competition lawyers are globally recognized for taking on high-stakes competition challenges around the world, whether those challenges stem from cartel investigations, private lawsuits or government scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions. They have won numerous accolades and are highly ranked in the Global Competition Review, Legal 500 and a host of other antitrust publications.

About Baker Botts
Baker Botts is an international law firm with over 725 lawyers and a network of 14 offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients' industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Throughout our 172-year history, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit www.bakerbotts.com.