EU Law, Competition & State Aid

Strategic Advice on EU Law, Competition and State Aid

Holmes advises public and private sector clients on EU law, competition, state aid and regulatory compliance, delivering strategic legal advice on complex and often cross-border issues. We support organisations facing regulatory scrutiny, enforcement risk and evolving EU policy requirements, helping them remain compliant while protecting commercial and public-interest objectives.

Our team has deep expertise in EU competition law, state aid procedures, public procurement and the implementation of EU regulations, including advising on post-Brexit regulatory developments affecting businesses operating across Ireland, the UK and the EU.

Navigating EU Regulation and Policy

We help clients understand and respond to the European legislative and regulatory framework, advising on how EU law is developed, implemented and enforced across EU institutions. This insight enables clients to anticipate regulatory change, manage compliance risk and engage effectively with regulators and policymakers.

EU Competition, State Aid and Procurement Services

We advise clients across the full spectrum of EU competition and regulatory law, including:

• Merger control and EU competition notifications

• Cartel investigations and dawn raids

• Abuse of dominance and competition litigation

• State aid compliance, notifications, recovery and challenges

• Public procurement law across Irish, EU and UK regimes

To support ongoing compliance, we also:

• Conduct competition compliance audits and programmes

• Review commercial agreements for antitrust risk

• Advise on pricing strategies and distribution models

Where regulatory scrutiny arises, we represent clients in investigations, enforcement actions and antitrust complaints before national and EU authorities.

Specialist and Cross-Border Expertise

Our team has significant experience in specialist and high-risk areas, including:

• Criminal defence in competition and cartel cases

• The intersection of intellectual property and competition law

• EU regulatory compliance across data protection, technology and digital markets

• Cross-border disputes involving EU law issues

Managing the Risks of Non-Compliance

Failure to comply with EU competition, state aid or procurement rules can result in substantial financial penalties, enforcement action and reputational damage. We advise public bodies, corporates and multinational organisations on managing regulatory risk, responding to investigations and resolving complex cross-border disputes.

Recent Work

• Acted for a State institution in a landmark Commercial Court procurement case, the first matter before the Irish courts under Regulation 32 of S.I. No. 284 of 2016.

• Represented a client in a High Court decision concerning the compliance of the MIBI Agreement with EU law.

• Successfully defended a national retailer in enforcement proceedings brought by the Data Protection Commission under the ePrivacy Regulations.

• Resolved a cross-border cyber fraud claim involving €300,000, securing full recovery through swift legal intervention.

• Secured one of Ireland’s first data protection-related injunctions against a multinational technology company for unlawful processing of child data.

Trusted Advisors on EU Law and Competition

Holmes is a trusted legal advisor on EU law, competition and state aid matters, combining regulatory insight with strong contentious and advisory capability. We work closely with clients to deliver advice that is practical, proportionate and aligned with both legal obligations and strategic objectives.

If you require advice on EU competition, state aid, procurement or regulatory compliance, speak with a member of our EU Law team for a confidential discussion.