Manuel Contreras

Manuel is included in the latest edition of "The Best Lawyers" in Spain for his work in competition law. 

He has a particular focus on cartel investigations, with specific knowledge of dawn raid proceedings. Manuel was also the lead associate in a Phase II merger control investigation involving vertical theories of harm, which included extensive discussions in relation to behavioral remedies.

He previously served as a legal intern at the DG Competition of European Commission in Brussels, where he worked on several merger control investigations.

Manuel runs the Seminar on antitrust for postgraduate students of the Carlos III University in Madrid. He is a frequent presenter at both business and legal conferences, and has authored several articles relevant to his practice area.

A member of the Madrid Bar, he is a case contributor for Oxford University and other specialized publications.

Manuel's experience includes:

• represented successfully a listed corporation in Spain on a cartel investigation and on the ensuing antitrust appeal that resulted in the annulment by the National Court of antitrust fines worth c. 50 million euros
• acted for Chevron on the disposal of its downstream business to Cepsa and successfully obtained conditional merger control clearance in Phase II subject to behavioral commitments and conditions
• represented successfully a listed company involved in an antitrust investigation where the European Commission decided, exceptionally, to close the investigation without imposing any fines
• acted for a confidential client on the acquisition of a competing business active in the Spanish telecom sector and successfully obtained conditional merger control clearance in Phase I subject to behavioral commitments
• represented a listed corporation in antitrust litigation and successfully obtained a dismissal of the claimant's request for access to confidential documents in the context of a follow-on action