Pieter specialises in competition law and regulatory affairs. 

He regularly represents clients in proceedings before competition and regulatory authorities and courts. Pieter has extensive experience in merger control proceedings, cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, private litigation, general competition guidance and compliance.

Pieter has specific expertise in competition law and regulation in the aviation sector. He advises clients on aviation regulatory matters such as ownership restrictions, slots, airport tariffs and access conditions, distribution and passenger rights. He also regularly acts for airlines and other aviation companies in merger control and antitrust proceedings.

Pieter has a PhD in competition law and regularly publishes in Dutch and international journals. He is a guest lecturer at Nyenrode University and Leiden University.

Experience

Representative matters

  • KLM and Delta in the successful court challenge against the proposed capacity reduction at Schiphol airport.
  • Virgin Atlantic on the aviation regulatory and antitrust aspects of its Covid-19 restructuring.
  • Several airlines on obtaining Covid-19 state aid support.
  • CityJet in obtaining merger clearance for its merger with Air Nostrum.
  • Various airline clients on the competition law assessment of proposed M&A transactions.
  • TNT in obtaining merger clearance for its acquisition by FedEx.
  • Several airline clients on the implications of proposed equity transactions on EU and national ownership & control requirements.
  • Various airlines (including KLM, Transavia, others) on passenger rights under EU Regulation 261/2004 and related enforcement actions.
  • A major international airline on EU and national slot regulations, the structuring of slot transactions and the interaction with the national regulator.
  • KLM in the successful court challenge of a policy rule by the Dutch slot coordinator.
  • A major international airline on the design of its distribution models and its relationships with agents and global distribution systems.

Published Work

  • Huizing, P.J.F. (2021) “Extraterritoriality of EU Competition Law and the Changing Face of Global Cartel Enforcement” in: Nuno Cunha Rodrigues (eds), Extraterritoriality of EU Economic Law. The Application of EU Economic Law Outside the Territory of the EU, Springer
  • Huizing, P.J.F. (2020) “Proportionality of fines in the context of global cartel enforcement”, 43 World Competition 1
  • Huizing, P.J.F. (2020) “Parallel enforcement of global cartels: facts & figures”, 4 European Competition and Regulatory Law Review 2
  • Huizing, P.J.F. (2018) “InnoLux v AU Optronics: comparing territorial limits to EU and US public enforcement of the LCD cartel”, 6 Journal of Antitrust Enforcement 2
  • Huizing, P.J.F. (2018) “The ECJ finally accepts the qualified effects test: now was that so hard?”, 38 European Competition Law Review 1 

Speaking Engagements

  • Panellist, the impact of state aid on the level playing field, European Air Law Association (EALA) 33rd annual conference, Copenhagen, 05/11/2021
  • Annual guest lecturer, Merger control, Nyenrode University, 2015-present
  • Annual guest lecturer, EU Merger control, Leiden University, 2018-present

Leadership Positions And Professional Affiliations

  • European Air Law Association
  • Dutch Association for competition law

Recognition

extremely efficient, while still being thorough, and having in-depth knowledge of the industry as well as having good availability.
Legal 500, 2022

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as advocaat, Netherlands, 2011

Listed in the register of legal practice areas of the Dutch Bar Association for Mededingingsrecht

Academic

LLM International Economic and Business Law, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

LLM International Law, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

MA International Relations, Rijksuniversiteit Groningen

Postgraduate diploma in EU Competition Law, King's College London

PhD in competition law, Leiden University     

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.