Levelling the playing field
We are delighted to be nominated for the JUVE Award 2025 in the "Startup" category.
Further details can be found here.
DIETRICH | GRAF ZEDTWITZ
We are specialists in antitrust proceedings and the resolution of commercial disputes.
Excellence validated: Awards for our Law Firm and Attorneys
The Firm
We are a boutique law firm specialising in competition law. Competition law and strategic litigation is our focus.
Clear mission. We fight for fair competition and equal business opportunities – before authorities, regulators, in court, and in negotiations with third parties.
Focus and Dedication. Complex competition law disputes are our core competency. We provide comprehensive advice covering all relevant commercial and legal dimensions: creatively and with a proven track record.
Powerful platform. We have been advising for decades at the highest professional level. We have successfully represented clients in landmark proceedings before German and European courts.
Strict independence. We represent companies, associations, and individuals. We are strictly independent. We have no conflicts and no interests of others that we have to take into account – Big Tech included.
Practice Areas
Fair competition determines the playing field on which businesses operate.
Not all market participants abide by the rules. Resolutions for competition law disputes are therefore increasingly found in court – from appeals against regulatory decisions to the judicial enforcement of competition law claims.
Our focus is to successfully enforce your rights against authorities, competitors, or counterparties. With our expertise and many years of experience, we fight for your right to fair competition and equal business opportunities.
Competition Law
We advise leading companies in all areas of competition law – in Germany, Europe, and beyond. Our work is focused on all matters relating to the cartel prohibition and the abuse of dominance regime.
We minimise your legal risks by structuring business models, assessing contracts and reviewing market conduct.
We represent you before the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt), the European Commission, and before German and European courts. Through our international network, we coordinate proceedings, disputes and your projects worldwide.
Our key advisory areas include:
- Cartel Proceedings before authorities and on appeal
- Abuse of Dominance Proceedings before authorities and in court
- Cooperation agreements and Distribution Systems
- Joint Ventures and transactions
- Competition Law Compliance
Competition Litigation
Handling competition law disputes before courts requires specialised expertise. The stakes are high. An early-on identification of central legal issues and developing an intertwined litigation strategy are critical to success in court.
Our team of experienced competition and disputes lawyers guides you from out-of-court dispute resolution through to trial, judgment and enforcement.
We advise, represent, and defend with foresight, determination, and commitment, always with a clear focus on the strategic objectives of our clients. With our tailored approach we have secured landmark decisions in numerous cases.
Our key advisory areas include:
- Appeal Proceedings
- Damages Claims
- Indemnity and Recourse Claims
- Claims for Access, Supply and Licensing
- Claims for injunctive relief and cessation of infringement
- Assessment of chances for success in competition law disputes
DIGITAL REGULATION
The regulation of digital markets — most notably the Digital Markets Act — is paving new inroads for competitors and business partners of Big Tech.
On digital regulation, we provide comprehensive advice free from conflicts. We stand firmly by our clients’ side in advocating for fair competition and equal business opportunities before the authorities, regulators and in court. Our team has been involved in Digital Markets Act proceedings since day one.
TEAM
An experienced and well-established team.
Partner | Lawyer
Partner | Lawyer
Counsel | Lawyer
Office-Manager
Partner | Lawyer
Partner | Lawyer
Counsel | Lawyer
Office-Manager
TEAM
Dr. Michael Dietrich LL.M.
Partner | Lawyer
Brief Introduction
Michael Dietrich is a partner and co-founder of the law firm Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz in Duesseldorf. He has been advising companies on all aspects of German and European antitrust law for around 25 years. The focus of his work is proceedings before German and European authorities and courts. He has conducted numerous important antitrust and market abuse proceedings (e.g. beer, food retail, automotive, TV advertising, silo and mobility apps).
In the area of cartel damages, all claims so far have been successfully settled out of court. He has also coordinated various interim injunction proceedings, including cross-border ones, and has extensive experience with internal investigations and compliance systems.
Michael Dietrich advises clients on the antitrust and merger control aspects of joint ventures. Over the years, he has advised on and notified a large number of transactions with the German Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission.
Michael Dietrich advises in German and English.
Curriculum Vitae
- 1991-1997 Studies in Bonn and Philadelphia (LL.M.)
- 1999 Admitted to the bar
- 1999-2007 Associate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cologne
- 2007-2014 Partner, Taylor Wessing, Duesseldorf
- 2014-2018 Partner and Managing Partner Germany, Herbert Smith Freehills, Frankfurt/M and Duesseldorf
- 2018-2023 Partner, Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf
Credentials
Memberships
- Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.(Association for the Study of Antitrust Law)
- Advisory Board of the Research Institute for Economics and Competition
- Delegate in the Competition Committee of the Federal Association of Building Materials of the Federation of German Industries
- Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristenvereinigung
- Frankfurt Antitrust Law Forum
Contact
- +49 211 56159701
- +49 170 4587882
- m.dietrich@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
TEAM
Dr. Michael Dietrich LL.M.
Partner | Lawyer
Brief Introduction
Michael Dietrich is a partner and co-founder of the law firm Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz in Duesseldorf. He has been advising companies on all aspects of German and European antitrust law for around 25 years. The focus of his work is proceedings before German and European authorities and courts. He has conducted numerous important antitrust and market abuse proceedings (e.g. beer, food retail, automotive, TV advertising, silo and mobility apps).
In the area of cartel damages, all claims so far have been successfully settled out of court. He has also coordinated various interim injunction proceedings, including cross-border ones, and has extensive experience with internal investigations and compliance systems.
Michael Dietrich advises clients on the antitrust and merger control aspects of joint ventures. Over the years, he has advised on and notified a large number of transactions with the German Federal Cartel Office and the European Commission.
Michael Dietrich advises in German and English.
curriculum vitae
- 1991-1997 Studies in Bonn and Philadelphia (LL.M.)
- 1999 Admitted to the bar
- 1999-2007 Associate, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Cologne
- 2007-2014 Partner, Taylor Wessing, Duesseldorf
- 2014-2018 Partner and Managing Partner Germany, Herbert Smith Freehills, Frankfurt/M and Duesseldorf
- 2018-2023 Partner, Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf
Credentials
Memberships
- Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.(Association for the Study of Antitrust Law)
- Advisory Board of the Research Institute for Economics and Competition
- Delegate in the Competition Committee of the Federal Association of Building Materials of the Federation of German Industries
- Deutsch-Amerikanische Juristenvereinigung
- Frankfurt Antitrust Law Forum
Contact
- +49 211 56159701
- +49 170 4587882
- m.dietrich@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
TEAM
MAXIMILIAN GRAF ZEDTWITZ VON ARNIM
Partner | Lawyer
Brief introduction
Maximilian Zedtwitz is a partner and co-founder of the law firm Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz. He has been advising clients on all aspects of German and European antitrust law for over 12 years.
He specialises in representing companies in antitrust and abuse proceedings before authorities and in court. He has many years of experience in providing strategic advice on day-to-day antitrust issues, internal investigations and digital transformation projects.
Maximilian Zedtwitz has in-depth industry knowledge in the retail, consumer goods, telecommunications and digital economy sectors.
Maximilian Zedtwitz advises in German and English.
Curriculum vitae
- 2002-2008 Studies, in Hamburg and Lisbon
- 2009-2011 Legal clerkship, Higher Regional Court Hamburg
- 2012-2014 Associate, Taylor Wessing, Duesseldorf
- 2014-2018 Senior Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills, Frankfurt/M and Duesseldorf
- 2019-2023 Counsel, Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf
Memberships
Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. (Association for the Study of Antitrust Law)
Contact
- +49 211 56159702
- +49 176 20954860
- m.zedtwitz@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
TEAM
MAXIMILIAN GRAF ZEDTWITZ VON ARNIM
Partner | lawyer
brief introduction
Maximilian Zedtwitz is a partner and co-founder of the law firm Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz. He has been advising clients on all aspects of German and European antitrust law for over 12 years.
He specialises in representing companies in antitrust and abuse proceedings before authorities and in court. He has many years of experience in providing strategic advice on day-to-day antitrust issues, internal investigations and digital transformation projects.
Maximilian Zedtwitz has in-depth industry knowledge in the retail, consumer goods, telecommunications and digital economy sectors.
Maximilian Zedtwitz advises in German and English.
Curriculum vitae
- 2002-2008 Studies, in Hamburg and Lisbon
- 2009-2011 Legal clerkship, Higher Regional Court Hamburg
- 2012-2014 Associate, Taylor Wessing, Duesseldorf
- 2014-2018 Senior Associate, Herbert Smith Freehills, Frankfurt/M and Duesseldorf
- 2019-2023 Counsel, Clifford Chance, Duesseldorf
memberships
Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V. (Association for the Study of Antitrust Law)
Contact
- +49 211 56159702
- +49 176 20954860
- m.zedtwitz@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
TEAM
Dr. Thorsten Wörner
Counsel | lawyer
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Thorsten Wörner is Counsel at Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz. He advises clients on all aspects of German and European competition law and has more than seven years of professional experience in this field.
He has extensive experience in cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings before competition authorities and courts. A particular focus of his practice is the out-of-court and in-court representation of clients in competition law litigation, in particular in matters relating to abuse of market power and antitrust damages claims.
In addition, he advises on matters relating to the platform economy and the digital sector, including the private enforcement of digital regulatory instruments.
Thorsten Wörner advises in German and English.
Curriculum vitae
2004–2010: Studies in Saarbrücken and Nancy (D.E.U.G. en droit)
2012–2016: Doctorate (Dr. iur.), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
2017–2021: Attorney at law, Gleiss Lutz, Düsseldorf
2021–2024: Associated Partner, Gleiss Lutz, Düsseldorf
Memberships
Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.
Contact
- +49 211 56159703
- +49 172 4255450
- t.woerner@DIETRICH-GRAFZEDTWITZ.COM
TEAM
Dr. Thorsten Wörner
Counsel | lawyer
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Thorsten Wörner is Counsel at Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz. He advises clients on all aspects of German and European competition law and has more than seven years of professional experience in this field.
He has extensive experience in cartel and abuse of dominance proceedings before competition authorities and courts. A particular focus of his practice is the out-of-court and in-court representation of clients in competition law litigation, in particular in matters relating to abuse of market power and antitrust damages claims.
In addition, he advises on matters relating to the platform economy and the digital sector, including the private enforcement of digital regulatory instruments.
Thorsten Wörner advises in German and English.
Curriculum vitae
2004–2010: Studies in Saarbrücken and Nancy (D.E.U.G. en droit)
2012–2016: Doctorate (Dr. iur.), Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
2017–2021: Attorney at law, Gleiss Lutz, Düsseldorf
2021–024: Associated Partner, Gleiss Lutz, Düsseldorf
Memberships
Studienvereinigung Kartellrecht e.V.
Contact
- +49 211 56159703
- +49 172 4255450
- t.woerner@DIETRICH-GRAFZEDTWITZ.COM
TEAM
Christina Aelken
office-manager
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Contact
- +49 211 56159700
- +49 172 4255440
- c.aelken@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
TEAM
Christina Aelken
office-manager
BRIEF INTRODUCTION
Christina Aelken is responsible for office management at Dietrich | Graf Zedtwitz. She takes care of all administrative and organisational tasks in the areas of HR, finance and office organisation.
Christina Aelken has more than 20 years of experience in managing law firms, process development and human resources. Her experience is central to the development and seamless operation of our law firm.
Contact
- +49 211 56159700
- +49 172 4255440
- c.aelken@dietrich-grafzedtwitz.com
References
Reference mandates* of the members of our team (partly from work for former law firms)
Deutsche Telekom AG
Successful judicial enforcement of remuneration claims for data transport services against Meta before the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf.
REWE Group
First accepted leniency application in a vertical case.
Ecosia
Advising on access to digital upstream services, abusive pricing demands by gatekeepers, and the design of the choice screen under the Digital Markets Act.
Zapp AG
Advising on the judicial enforcement of manager liability claims arising from competition law infringements and the recovery of fines from a former manager.
Representation before the Federal Cartel Office and in defence against follow-on damages claims („Stainless Steel Cartel”).
bliq
Advising and defending business models through judicial enforcement of data access rights and the removal of technical access barriers.
REWE Group
Companies of the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe
Advising on the implementation of software and digitalisation projects.
Früh Kölsch
Compagnie de Saint-Gobain
Reduction of fine in appeals proceeding before the Higher Regional Court Düsseldorf („Silo Placement Fees“).
Advising on securing the continued supply of critical upstream products/services.
Hermann Bach
80% reduction of fine imposed by Federal Cartel Office in appeals proceeding before the Higher Regional Court („Sanitary Wholesale Cartel“).
REWE Group
Oracle
Representation before the Federal Cartel Office in the first ever summons of an interested third party and the first decision prohibiting conduct under Section 19a ARC („Google Data Processing Terms“).
REWE Group
ADAC SE
*Partly from work for former law firm
Contact
We look forward to hearing from you.
Dietrich | Graf zedtwitz
Kasernenstrasse 1
40213 DüSseldorf
T +49 211 561597-00
F +49 211 561597-50
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Thank you.
