Overview

Catherine Gordley focuses on EU competition law. 

She specialises in representing clients before the European Commission in complex merger proceedings as well as in antitrust and abuse of dominance investigations. 

Catherine has particular experience in merger control, including advising clients in Phase II merger proceedings and in other transactions requiring remedies.  Her merger experience spans a wide range of sectors, including financial services, aviation, steel, chemicals other basic industries. 

Her practice includes advising on distribution, licensing and abuse of dominance issues, particularly in the luxury/retail goods and media sectors.  Catherine is also active in the life sciences sector, advising  pharmaceutical companies on matters related to distribution, pricing, product denigration and generic/biosimilar market entry. 

Catherine regularly prepares compliance programmes and assists companies with their implementation.

Prior to joining Van Bael & Bellis, Catherine worked in the New York office of a leading international law firm, primarily on matters arising in the financial services sector.

Languages

English, French, Italian

Recommendations 

Legal 500 for Competition Law

Education

  • University of Brussels (ULB), LL.M. in European Law, 2017
  • Harvard Law School, J.D., 2011
  • University of Graz, Austria, Master in European Integration and Regionalism, 2008
  • Yale University, B.A., 2006

Publications

Country rapporteur (Belgium & UK) for the EU Competition Law Handbook, Jones and Van der Woude (Sweet & Maxwell, 2020).

Co-author, EU chapter, Chambers Cartels Guide (2020).

Co-author, EU merger control Q&A, Practical Law Merger Guide (2020).

Contributor (on pharmaceuticals and mergers) to Van Bael & Bellis, Competition Law of the European Union (sixth edition, Kluwer, 2020).

Bar Admissions

New York

Brussels

Publications and insights

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    • 01/02/2022
    • News

    Van Bael & Bellis promotes Catherine Gordley

    Van Bael & Bellis is pleased to announce the promotion of competition law specialist Catherine Gordley and corporate and M&A specialist Hannelore Matthys to Counsel. Catherine specialises in representing clients before the European Commission in complex merger proceedings as well as in antitrust investigations. Catherine has extensive experience in merger control, including assisting clients in developing remedies as well as navigating Phase II proceedings. Catherine also routinely advises clients on European dominance, pricing, and distribution issues. She has experience representing clients before the European Commission in antitrust investigations relating to Art. 101 and 102 TFEU, from both the complainant and defendant’s side. Catherine commented on her promotion: “I look forward to continuing my career with Van Bael and Bellis in this new role. I am honoured to be part of one of the premier competition practices in Brussels and to work alongside such talented lawyers.” Porter Elliott, co-head of the firm’s renowned competition law practice, says: “Catherine is an immensely skilled and business-savvy competition lawyer with a seemingly limitless work ethic. I am delighted at her promotion, which is a logical next step in her very promising career.” Before joining Van Bael & Bellis, Catherine worked in the New York office of a major international law firm.

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