Clifford Chance

Clifford Chance Secures Landmark Victory in Google Shopping Case Before Europe's Highest Court

Global law firm Clifford Chance has achieved a significant victory in the landmark Google Shopping case before the European Court of Justice. Senior Counsel at Clifford Chance, Thomas Vinje, served as co-counsel for Foundem, the original complainant, (alongside law firm Hausfeld) during the hearing. Clifford Chance also represented FairSearch, an association advocating for fair, merit-based competition in digital markets, throughout the administrative proceedings that led to the European Commission's decision. The Commission found that Alphabet/Google had abused its dominant position in general search by favouring its own comparison shopping service while demoting competing third-party services.

Clifford Chance further defended Foundem (alongside Hausfled) in the EU General Court appeal, which preceded Google's subsequent appeal to the Court of Justice.

Thomas Vinje, commented: " The judgment is a victory across the board for the European Commission and the comparison shopping complainants, including Foundem, which fought for over fourteen years to get to this point."

Dieter Paemen, Partner at Clifford Chance and part of the team representing FairSearch, added: "On fundamental legal issues regarding the enforcement of abuse of dominance, the Commission prevailed. The judgment has implications that reach far beyond today's victory for FairSearch, which after so many years admittedly tastes very sweet."

Clifford Chance continues to represent FairSearch in Google's appeal to the Court of Justice concerning the European Commission's ruling on Android, with that case awaiting a hearing in Luxembourg.