Mr. Klotz will advise clients on all aspects of EC and German regulatory and competition law counseling and litigation with particular focus on energy and telecommunications.  While with DG Competition, Mr. Klotz oversaw numerous antitrust cases under Articles 81 and 82 EC-Treaty in gas, electricity and telecommunications, dealing with complaints, ex officio investigations, inspections, formal decisions and settlement negotiations.  He also played a prominent role in the Commission's sector inquiries in gas and electricity as well as in the creation of the ECN Energy sub-group.  Mr. Klotz also dealt with exemptions from third-party access to gas infrastructure, and exemptions from the public procurement rules.

"Robert's knowledge of German law and his experience with the European Commission will make him a valuable addition to our Global Competition Practice and our growing Brussels office," said R. Hewitt Pate, head of the firm's Global Competition Practice.  "We are continuing to expand our Brussels presence and our depth of competition representation in Europe."

This expansion commenced with the arrival of Dr. Michael Rosenthal from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in March 2006.  Since his addition to Hunton & Williams, the Brussels office has handled a number of significant matters, including achieving clearance for the acquisition of TravelTainment AG by Amadeus IT Group SA.  Most recently, Dr. Rosenthal advised the World Business Council for Sustainable Development in its efforts to reduce CO2 emissions in the cement industry through the Cement Sustainability Initiative.

Mr. Klotz is a frequent speaker before European audiences on competition, energy and telecommunications issues and has authored numerous book chapters and articles on the same topics.  A native of Germany, he is also fluent in English, French and Spanish.

Mr. Klotz graduated from the University of Hamburg in 1991 and received a post-graduate business law degree (D.E.A.) from the University of Montpellier in France.  Mr. Klotz was admitted to the Hamburg Bar in 1994 and practiced in a law firm prior to joining the European Commission in 1996.

Hunton & Williams' Global Competition Practice Group combines high-level government and private litigation experience.  Lawyers in the group come from both of the U.S. antitrust enforcement agencies and include a former Assistant Attorney General and Deputy Assistant AG from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, a former Deputy Director of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, and two former senior litigators and other officials from the FTC.  The group includes experienced counselors and seasoned litigators, and counts several U.S. Supreme Court clerks among its newest associates.  Working from offices in the U.S. and abroad, the group serves domestic and international companies in competition litigation, merger review, intellectual property matters, consumer protection and privacy, and criminal antitrust defense and related price-fixing litigation.