Overview
(July 16, 2019, Brussels) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Charles Whiddington has joined the firm as a partner in the Antitrust and Competition practice. He will reside in the Brussels office. Whiddington's arrival follows that of antitrust partner Damon Kalt, who recently rejoined the firm in the Washington office.
Whiddington's practice focuses on supporting international clients involved in cartel and sector investigations by national or European Commission authorities, and advising them on the competition aspects of mergers and joint ventures. He also provides strategic advice on licensing and distribution.
Throughout his career, Whiddington has represented a number of clients in national and international cartel investigations in a range of sectors including banking, liner shipping, and automotive. He has also advised electricity and gas companies in the European Commission's sector inquiries, antitrust investigations concerning third party access, pricing at the flange, and the application of electricity and gas network codes. Whiddington has been recognized for his competition law practice by Chambers UK and The Legal 500 EMEA.
In welcoming Whiddington to the firm, Steptoe Chair Phil West remarked: "Charles brings considerable experience in competition matters. He has successfully represented a number of international clients before the European Commission in cartel investigations, including a large financial institution in the Libor/Tibor investigations and a shipping company in the car carrier cartel probe. His deep experience in these investigations coupled with his experience handling the competition aspects of mergers and acquisitions, greatly complements the antitrust work being handled by lawyers in our US offices."
Prior to joining Steptoe, Whiddington served as antitrust practice group leader for a London-based law firm for more than two decades. He also played a major role in launching and expanding the Brussels office for the same firm.
Whiddington remarked: "Steptoe's Brussels office has a strong EU law practice, and I'm looking forward to working with the firm's clients to advise them on the competition aspects of the law. I'm also looking forward to helping clients in the post-Brexit world navigate the differences in competition laws between Europe and the United Kingdom."
Whiddington earned his LL.B. cum laude from University of Wales, University College, Cardiff, and his LL.M. Merit from Queen Mary College, UC London.
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
