Peter Crowther
He/him
Partner
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Peter Crowther praktiziert als Partner in Brüssel und London und ist geschäftsführender Teilhaber der Büros von Winston & Strawn in Brüssel. Herr Crowther verfügt über wichtige Erfahrungen in den Bereichen EU-Fusionskontrolle, nationale und internationale Kartelle, Staatshilfen, Handel/Sanktionen, freier Verkehr und andere allgemeine EU- und Wettbewerbsgesetze. Crowther kann auch auf eine langjährige Tätigkeit als Berater für Rundfunk- und Telekommunikationsunternehmen bezüglich regulatorischer Angelegenheiten zurückblicken.
Ein wichtiger Bestandteil seiner anwaltlichen Tätigkeit umfasst die Verteidigung von Unternehmen in den verschiedensten nationalen und internationalen Vollstreckungsverfahren, häufig auch gleichzeitig über mehrere Gerichtsbarkeiten hinweg. Er formuliert und implementiert zudem Compliance-Programme für die Bereiche Wettbewerb, Handel/Sanktionen, Bestechung und Korruption.
Herr Crowther ist ein ehemaliger Dozent der Rechtswissenschaften und war Inhaber eines Jean-Monnet-Lehrstuhls für europäisches Recht. Seit 2006 findet er Erwähnung in Chambers sowie in Legal 500 und wurde 2011 zu einem der „Hot 100“ des Fachblatts The Lawyer’s gekürt.
Representative Matters
Transaktionserfahrungen konnte er unter anderem bei folgenden Unternehmen sammeln:
- AIG – beim Verkauf des Bankenbereichs an Santander
- Allianz – bei einer großangelegten beabsichtigten Akquisition
- CEDC, dem führenden Wodka-Produzenten in Russland sowie Mittel- und Zentraleuropa – bei der Übernahme von Russian Alcohol Group/Citigroup Venture Capital International bei einer Anzahl von Übernahmen
- CME, dem führenden Rundfunkunternehmen in Mittel- und Zentraleuropa – bei seiner Übernahme des führenden bulgarischen, frei zu empfangenden Rundfunkanbieters
- CNPC, dem staatlichen chinesischen Ölunternehmen – bei einer Reihe von Übernahmen
- Finmeccanica, dem staatlichen italienischen Rüstungskonzern – bei bestimmten Fragen des öffentlichen Interesses gemäß Enterprise Act 2002
- Munich Re – bei einer Reihe von Übernahmen
- Lyondell Basell – bei der Übernahme einer großen Raffinerie von Shell
- Metlife – bei der Übernahme von Alico, dem weltweit tätigen Unternehmen für Lebensversicherungen von AIG
- RWE – bei einer beabsichtigten Akquisition, für die eine Freigabe durch die EU-Fusionskontrollverordnung erforderlich war
- Vedanta Resources, einem großen Metall- und Bergbaukonzern – bei seiner Übernahme des Zinkbereichs von Anglo American
- verschiedenen Hedgefonds im Zusammenhang mit Fusionsarbitragen
Tätigkeit als Verteidiger und Berater unter anderem bei folgenden Unternehmen:
- weltweit tätige Fertigungsunternehmen in einer Reihe von Branchen unter gleichzeitiger zivilrechtlicher und strafrechtlicher Ermittlung zu vorgeblichen kartellrechtlichen Aktivitäten in mehreren Gerichtsbarkeiten
- ein globaler Öl- und Gaskonzern bei zivilrechtlichen und strafrechtlichen Ermittlungen zu Korruptionsvorwürfen
- ein führender europäischer Ölkonzern bei einer erfolgreichen Anfechtung einer nationalen Gesetzgebung, die gegen die EU-Regeln des freien Verkehrs verstößt und den Tatbestand der diskriminierenden Besteuerung erfüllt
- ein großer Bergbaukonzern bei einem globalen Joint Venture mit einem wichtigen Mitbewerber
- ein großer, integrierter Öl- und Gaskonzern bei einem internationalen Wettbewerbsverfahren
- mehrere globale Handelskonzerne bei Fragen zur Compliance
Herr Crowther wurde 1997 von der Copenhagen Business School zum Ph.D. in europäischem Wettbewerbsrecht der Telekommunikationsbranche promoviert. Er erhielt seinen Master in Rechtswissenschaften und Volkswirtschaft 1993 von der University of Oxford und seinen B.A. 1992 von der Keele University.
Wichtige Angelegenheiten
Some of the experience represented below may have been handled at a previous firm.
Advisory and Litigation Work Includes Advising:
- Hitachi Metals in relation to the European Commission’s power cables cartel investigation (securing partial immunity) and advised Hitachi Metals in its appeal to the General Court and a number of follow on litigation matters
- A major electronics corporation in relation to a complex European cartel investigation relating to electronic commodity products, securing immunity from fines
- A major Japanese industrial conglomerate on EU competition law cartel investigations and associated litigation
- XL Catlin, one of the world’s largest (re)insurance companies, in relation to both competition law and international trade sanctions
- Liberty Speciality Markets in relation to the application of international trade sanctions
- InterChem on all aspects of trading compliance and international trade sanctions issues
- Apollo, a Lloyd's syndicate, on international trade sanctions and compliance
- A leading independent investment management business on trade sanctions compliance matters in connection with the proposed acquisition of a major aircraft leasing business
- A large supplier of natural gas on trade sanctions compliance issues in connection with a major payments dispute
- A medical research and treatment center on the scope and application of the European Union’s blocking statute in relation to its non-US businesses in connection with a joint venture with a Cuban entity
- A global diversified product manufacturer on international trade sanctions and compliance matters in connection with their supply to customers of aerospace components
- A frozen products supplier on the competition law considerations that apply to its relationship with a joint venture company
- A leading acoustic solutions provider on UK and European competition law issues, in respect of a refusal to supply
- A global leisure goods manufacturer on EU competition compliance matters and EU distribution arrangements
- A major electronic corporation in relation to the European Commission’s investigation into alleged anti-competitive practices in the global automotive sector
- A luxury clothing brand in relation to European and UK competition compliance matters
- Multiple trade, export control, and financial sanctions cases for major international insurance companies and trading houses
- Many broadcasting and telecommunications companies on the application of EU and national licensing regimes
- Global manufacturing companies in a number of industrial sectors under simultaneous civil and criminal investigation for alleged cartel activities in multiple jurisdictions
- A global oil and gas company on civil and criminal investigations into alleged corruption activities
- A leading European oil company on a successful challenge to national legislation for being contrary to EU rules on free movement and discriminatory taxation
- A major mining business on a global joint venture with a major competitor
- A major integrated oil and gas company on international competition proceedings
- A number of global trading companies on compliance issues
Sports Work Includes Advising:
- The British Elite Athletes Association on the implications of a German Bundeskartellamt decision concerning the scope of application of the International Olympic Committee’s Rule 40 regarding commercial opportunities for Olympic athletes
- The British Elite Athletes Association in relation to various issues affecting the elite-level athletes it represents including high-profile duty of care in sport issues, selection issues, doping allegations, and communications with NGBs and UK Sport
- Elite athletes in relation to allegations of misconduct and bullying by coaching staff in a number of different sports
- On competition law implications in relation to the sponsorship model of an international e-sports league
- An elite athlete in an appeal against the decision by the British Athletics Olympics World Class Programme Selection Panel not to admit the athlete to the World Class Program in 2020
- On matters of subjectivity/objectivity, procedural fairness, and rights to appeal in relation to a sport’s Tokyo Olympics 2020 selection policy
- A former Olympian in connection with alleged anti-doping violations
- A leading sports alternative dispute resolution body on resisting a judicial review challenge to its processes and procedures
Transactional Experience Includes Advising:
- Motorola Solutions on its acquisition and take-private of UK based surveillance systems company IndigoVision
- A global manufacturing business in its acquisition of a leading global supplier of highly engineered triggers, pumps, sprayers, and dispensing closure solutions to major branded consumer goods product companies
- U.S. private equity firm Kainos Capital in the high-profile sale of its interests SlimFast group to Irish-listed company Glanbia plc
- A globally recognized beauty care business on its acquisition by a major private equity business, requiring merger clearances in both the U.S. and Europe
- An aerospace manufacturer in respect of national security and other aspects of a competitive tender process for a potential acquisition of a company active in the production of components for commercial and defense aeroplanes
- On state aid aspects of the ground-breaking Malta Delimara 4 LNG-to-Power project
- Silgan Holdings, Inc. in its acquisition of the dispensing systems of WestRock Company
- Argand Partners in its acquisitions of UK-based carpet maker, Brintons Carpets from the Carlyle Group
- Argand Partners in its acquisition of Oase Management from Equistone Partners, a German-based provider of outdoor water gardening products, sold under its biorb and Highline programs
- Superior Industries International, Inc. in its acquisition via tender offer of Uniwheels AG, the third-largest supplier of aluminum wheels to the European OEM automotive market, as well as Europe’s leading manufacturer of aluminum wheels for the automotive aftermarket
- A substantial household name domestic cleaning products company on its successful acquisition through auction of a major competitor, requiring merger clearances in four EU member states and the United States
- A U.S. private equity company in relation to its disposal of a global plastic wrapping company to a leading investment management firm
- A major private equity business in connection with its disposal of a substantial automotive business, requiring filings in Europe, North America and Mexico
- Motorola Solutions on its acquisition of Airwave, the largest private operator of a public safety network in the world, including the UK’s 999 network
- A major private equity business in the proposed acquisition of a substantial paper business, requiring EU merger control approval
- A global entertainment company on its disposal of household television programs to a private equity consortium, requiring EU merger approval
- A global manufacturing company on the acquisition of the dispensing products business of a major beauty care provider, requiring four European clearances and approval in the U.S
- AIG on the sale of a banking business to Santander
- Allianz on a major proposed acquisition
- CEDC, the leading Vodka producer in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, on its acquisition of Russian Alcohol Group
- Citigroup Venture Capital International on a number of acquisitions
- CME, the leading Central and Eastern European broadcaster, on its acquisition of the leading Bulgarian free-to-air broadcaster
- CNPC, the Chinese State oil company, in relation to a variety of acquisitions
- Finmeccanica, the Italian State defence company, on special public interest issues under the Enterprise Act 2002
- Munich Re on a number of acquisitions
- Lyondell Basell on its acquisition of a major refinery from Shell
- Metlife on its acquisition of Alico, the worldwide life insurance business of AIG
- RWE on a proposed acquisition requiring EC Merger Regulation clearance
- Vedanta Resources, a major metals and mining company, on its acquisition of zinc assets of Anglo American
- A variety of hedge funds on merger arbitrage
Recent Experience
Peter Crowther is one of the best competition lawyers we have worked with
Legal 500 UK