The German firm Noerr has hired partner Jens Peter Schmidt, the head of Mayer Brown's Brussels office and co-head of its European antitrust and competition practice, as the firm takes steps to expand in Brussels.

At Mayer Brown, Schmidt handled all aspects of German and EU antitrust law, focusing on merger control risk analyses and complex merger control notifications before the European Commission and the German Federal Cartel Office. He also represented clients in cartel case investigations, structures compliance programs and provided assessments of vertical and horizontal arrangements, including information exchanges.

"We are pleased to have gained such a high-profile, internationally highly respected Brussels-based antitrust expert who has an excellent feel for the market and always has an eye for cross-practice cooperation," Fabian Badtke, head of Noerr's antitrust and competition practice, said in a statement.

Schmidt joins Noerr at a time when competition and antitrust law have become ever more important in Brussels. Badtke told Law.com International the firm plans to add even more lawyers in Brussels, as both the volume and scope of EU cases is growing.

"A presence in Brussels facilitates the representation of clients in proceedings before the EU Commission. At the same time, Brussels is of high strategic importance for all mandates with regulatory relevance. This applies in particular to M&A transactions," he said.

He declined to specify which firms or lawyers it was targeting.

Schmidt said he was attracted to Noerr's multidisciplinary approach, as well as its recognized expertise in business models of the digital. "I also look forward to becoming part of its highly respected antitrust practice," he said.

In addition to its office in Brussels, Noerr has a presence in eight other jurisdictions throughout Europe, as well as in New York. In Germany, the firm has six locations; its most recent office opened in Hamburg in 2017.

Currently, Noerr's Brussels office concentrates on antitrust, state aid and distribution matters. Schmidt will head the office jointly with Dominik Wendel.

Noerr's clients include DAF Trucks, which Noerr defended against all claims for damages raised in Germany in connection with the trucks cartel, as well as Bosch AG, which Noerr represented in a lawsuit to claim damages from a participant in the EU ball bearings cartel.

"In the future, we intend to provide even more sector-specific advice on EU regulatory issues beyond antitrust law. This concerns, for example, the banking and financial services sector, energy, health care, telecommunications and other regulated industries," Badtke said.

A Mayer Brown spokesperson said the firm wishes Schmidt "every success in his future endeavors."

Schmidt will join Noerr on Feb. 15.