Cartel investigations are a particularly prolific area for the competition team at Kinstellar Andrékó Ferenczi & Társai Ügyvédi Iroda. The practice is also active in the merger control space, and is regularly involved in merger control filings and in obtaining clearance before the HCA and the European Commission. Further strength range from compliance to state aid, and the group's diverse clientele includes financial institutions and companies active in the energy sector. Practice head Péter Vörös regularly represents clients in high-profile cartel cases before both Hungarian and European courts. With substantial litigation experience, Orsolya Staniszewski also represents clients in antitrust and consumer protection cases. Noémi Varga handles abuse of dominant position cases, while Eszter Takácsi-Nagy is noted for her experience in advising clients from the life sciences sector.

Szabolcs Szendrő leads the specialised antitrust, competition and trade team at CMS. The practice handles the gamut of competition law issues, from merger control proceedings, to cartel investigations, to abuse of dominance cases. Private damages actions are another key focus area, and the team recently represented MOL in a significant case in this space. Dóra Petrányi advises on state aid issues and has extensive telecoms expertise, as well as advising technology clients on consumer protection issues. Aranka Nagy strengthens the team’s international reach with knowledge of EU competition law, and regularly acts on cross-border mergers, cartel and abuse of dominance matters.

Dentons’ ‘highly skilled, professional and committed’ competition team offers a full spectrum of services, from relevant transactional advice to representation in investigatons. The practice also supports clients with the design and implementation of compliance programs and competition law audits. István Réczicza and Tünde Gönczöl jointly lead the team; the former Réczicza is typically instructed by clients from regulated industries, with a focus on foreign investment, state aid and antitrust matters, while the latter has a wealth of experience representing clients before the HCA. Áron Károlyi-Szabó regularly advises on regulatory matters and contributes to the practice’s international offering, advising on issues under both EU and domestic law.

With a diverse clientele of buyers, sellers, target companies and financial advisors, DLA Piper Posztl, Nemescsói, Györfi-Tóth and Partners Law Firm’s competition team focuses on compliance issues and mergers, as well as regularly handling cartel investigations. With extensive knowledge of Hungarian and EU antitrust law, practice co-heads Gábor Fejes and Zoltán Marosi bolster the team’s international capabilities. Fejes has particular expertise in merger control cases and has experience before both the HCA and the European Commission. Marosi’s practice focuses on administrative litigation and consumer protection law, also an area in which Balázs Csépai is particularly active. Levente Molnár also boasts expertise in EU competition law, and has extensive litigation experience before the CJEU.

Under the joint leadership of Zoltán Hegymegi-Barakonyi and Márton Horányi, the competition team at Hegymegi-Barakonyi and Fehérváry Baker&McKenzie Attorneys-at-Law remains a destination of choice for clients in need of representation before the HCA. Leveraging the strength of the firm's in-house forensics offering, the group represents clients in the gamut of competition matters, from cartel investigations to antitrust cases. The team also boasts strong international capabilities, regularly advising on multijurisdictional merger filings. Péter Mezei has over 14 years’ experience appearing before both Hungarian and European courts. András Horváth represents clients from the retail, pharmaceutical and tech sectors in cartel, abuse of dominance and market power cases, as well as advising automotive, energy and banking clients on compliance matters.

In line with the government’s introduction of new legislation in 2023, the competition team at Lakatos, Köves and Partners noted an increase in instructions relating to the review of client whistleblowing policies. The group’s diverse clientele includes multinational corporations and foreign investors, and spans the real estate, telecoms, construction and life sciences sectors. Practice co-head Eszter Ritter has over 15 years’ experience, spanning antitrust, merger control and unfair competition cases. Ritter’s counterpart Iván Sólyom has brings his cross-practice expertise as head of the firm’s corporate and M&A team to the group. Adrienn Mándoki advises on consumer protection matters. Ádám Máttyus rounds out the roster of key contacts.

Investigations and litigation form the basis of A&O Shearman’s comprehensive competition and antitrust practice, and the team has extensive experience appearing before the Hungarian Supreme Court. The group has particular expertise in the banking and telecoms sectors, and a strong track record in antitrust private damages litigation, including cartel damages cases. With over 17 years’ experience in EU and Hungarian competition law, Attila Kőmíves leads the team, and is active in high-profile cartel investigations.

The ‘highly specialised‘ competition team at Bassola Law Firm regularly represents clients in proceedings before the HCA, as well as appearing in cases before the Constitutional Court of Hungary and the European Court of Human Rights. The group’s practice spans a range of competition law matters, from cartel investigations, to merger clearances, to compliance matters. Founding partner Bálint Bassola, who brings experience from his time at the FCA to the group, heads up the practice. Kristóf Csillik is another active member of the team, along with Imre Nagy, who bring cross-practice expertise in commercial, corporate and labour matters to the team.

The one-stop-shop competition team at CERHA HEMPEL Dezso & Partners handles antitrust cases and merger control proceedings, state aid issues and private enforcement litigation, and has recently increased its focus on consumer protection matters. Márton Kocsis, who was promoted to partner in June 2022, has experience at the HCA. and leads the substantial team alongside Tamás Polauf, who regularly acts in high-profile cartel and abuse of dominance cases. Boglárka Priskin also brings previous experience working at the HCA to the team, and is consequently able to advise on consumer protection issues and unfair trade practices. Máté Baumgartner bolsters the group’s international capabilities, and Anna Pintér also plays an active role in the team.

Partos & Noblet in co-operation with Hogan Lovells International LLP has an active antitrust practice, which regularly advises on compliance programs as well as providing dawn raid training. The team also offers merger control advice, from structuring to filing, as well as representing clients in cartel cases. Ákos Kovách , who was promoted to partner in May 2023, heads up the practice. András Multas brings experience in unfair commercial practices to the team, and represents clients in court of all levels.

Schoenherr Hetényi Ügyvédi Iroda’s expertise in competition law ranges from cartel investigations to compliance issues. The competition team continues to expand its diverse clientele, taking on new clients across the TMT, sports and logistics sectors. A recent increase in consumer protection cases has seen the team handle a growing number of related mandates before the HCA, and the group continues to be recognised for its established follow-on damages litigation expertise. ‘Excellent specialist’ and antitrust damages litigation expert Anna Turi leads the team, representing clients in merger control proceedings and unfair commercial practice cases. Márk Kovács is praised for his ‘brilliant legal mind and excellent judgment’.

Covering both contentious and non-contentious matters, with particular knowledge in the field of unfair commercial practices, the competition team at Siegler Bird & Bird Ügyvédi Iroda is instructed by a diverse base of clients across Hungary and the EU. Dániel Arányi, who was promoted to partner in May 2023, leads the team, and handles the gamut of antitrust matters, cartel investigations and compliance issues. László Zlatarov boasts over 20 years’ experience handling multijurisdictional merger control filings and cartel cases. Gábor Kutai focuses on abuse of dominance and consumer protection cases, and also has expertise in state aid matters.

Pan-European mandates make up a significant portion of the competition team’s caseload at Szecskay Attorneys at Law; the practice has a strong track record in cross-border merger control filings and represents clients in both national and international courts, including the CJEU. Practice head Anikó Keller regularly represents clients before the HCA in cartel investigations and other competition infringement cases, alongside János Vajda, who regularly acts in cartel appeals. Sam MacMahon Baldwin brings a 'highly knowledgeable' approach to a breadth of antitrust cases, and Miklós Boronkay regularly takes a lead role in follow-on damages litigation. Bence Molnár leads on much of the group’s merger control work, while Gábor Faludi Junior typically advises on consumer protection matters.

Bán, S. Szabó, Rausch & Partners focuses on competition and antitrust matters across the energy, public transport, trade and telecoms sectors. The competition team’s full spectrum offering spans merger clearance proceedings and abuse of dominance cases, state aid matters and unfair commercial practices. With over 30 years’ experience in competition law, Chrysta Bán co-leads the team alongside Álmos Papp, a ‘smart and creative‘ expert, who has extensive experience appearing before the Hungarian Competition Office and the CJEU.

Deloitte Legal Göndöcz and Partners Law Firm’s competition team is made up of specialists in relevant authority proceedings, and also fields in-house forensics experts and technologies; the practice regularly defends clients in antitrust cases before the HCA and domestic courts. Péter Göndöcz leads the team alongside Anna Miks; the latter has over 20 years’ experience in consumer protection issues, and also regularly provides day-to-day competition advice to clients from the FMCG and energy sectors. Denisz Dobos joined the team as a managing associate in March 2023 from Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda, bringing additional experience in merger filings and cartel damages claims to the group.

Forgó, Damjanovic & Partners Law Firm has an established track record in the pharmaceuticals sector and the competition team regularly represents clients from that industry before the HCA and the National Institute of Pharmacies. The group’s expertise encompasses both cartel investigations and merger control procedures. Practice head Zoltán Forgó also advises on unfair trade practices within the pharmaceuticals sector and has experience appearing before the Consumer Protection Authority. Zsófia Füzi is also an active team member.

The ‘diverse and well prepared’ team at KPMG Legal Tóásó Law Firm offers comprehensive competition and antitrust advice, with a focus on due diligence and training. The practice also handles competition-related litigation. Boglárka Németh, who was promoted to senior associate in June 2023 and has particular expertise in antitrust procedure, as well as merger clearance, consumer protection and state aid matters, heads up the group.

Nagy és Trócsányi Ügyvédi Iroda‘s competition team regularly represents clients before the HCA and domestic courts, with expertise spanning merger control proceedings, cartel cases and consumer protection matters. Orsolya Kovács leads the team, regularly representing clients before the Constitutional Court of Hungary and the CJEU. Balázs Karsai is an expert in state aid clearance and cartel damages cases. Lúcia Detvay is a key contact for technology clients.

Merger clearance is a key focus for the competition team at Oppenheim Ugyvedi Iroda, and the group regularly represents clients in relevant proceedings before the HCA. The practice’s other areas of expertise include consumer protection investigations, compliance matters and state aid issues. In January 2024, Péter Virág joined from DLA Piper Posztl, Nemescsói, Györfi-Tóth and Partners Law Firm in order to take over leadership of the team. Managing partner István Szatmáry continues to play in active role in the group.

Cartel investigations are a key focus area for Réti, Várszegi and Partners PwC Legal‘s competition team, which represents clients in cases before the HCA and the CJEU. László Réti's expertise spans antitrust, merger control and consumer protection issues. Réti leads the team alongside Péter Zalai, who focuses his practice on the pharmaceuticals and energy sectors, particularly in terms of providing compliance advice. Zsófia Straubinger advises clients on dawn raids, as part of the team’s emphasis on preventative interventions. As part of the firm’s German desk, Márk Péter Baksa strengthens the team’s cross-border capabilities.

Szabó Kelemen & Partners Andersen Attorneys‘ competition team has experience in all areas of both Hungarian and EU competition law, with a focus on merger control matters and compliance programs. László Kelemen heads up the practice, supported by competition specialist Balázs Dominek. Áron Somogyi handles cartel investigations and regularly represents clients before the HCA.

The competition team at VJT & Partners has seen a recent increase in consumer protection and compliance matters. The practice also continues to handle abuse of dominant position cases and merger control proceedings. Leveraging over 20 years’ experience, practice head Andrea Belényi leads all the firm’s competition matters and is adept at handling cases before the HCA. Kinga Kálmán advises on consumer protection matters, while Fanni Fehér is typically involved in unfair commercial matters. Eszter Vezse is another key name to note.