Rising Star, Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
An outstanding lawyer with a talent to make difficult legal issues understandable and solvable, Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
Extremely tenacious, efficient, committed and a great person to work with, Legal 500 EMEA, 2023
Hard-working, with exceptional analytical ability and focus to detail, Legal 500 EMEA, 2021
Biography
Irina is a Counsel in the EU/Competition team at White & Case's Brussels office, specializing in all aspects of EU competition law. She is one of the leading members of White & Case's State aid and Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) practices.
With over 15 years of experience, Irina has a distinguished track record of advising and representing clients before the European Commission and EU courts in high-profile cases involving abuse of dominance, cartels, vertical agreements, mergers, and State aid proceedings.
In the FSR field, Irina has been instrumental in developing the firm's market-leading practice. She has advised a diverse range of clients on the M&A, public procurement, and ex officio modules of the FSR, and has managed multiple FSR filings for large multinational companies, private equity funds & state-related entities. Irina has been involved in some of the most complex FSR cases to date, including the first in-depth FSR investigation by the European Commission into an M&A deal. Irina also led the development of the firm's FSR app, which received the "Most Commended" award at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2024.
In the State aid domain, Irina has represented Member States, beneficiaries, and complainants. She is currently leading two major State aid cases in the energy sector, focusing on a coal phase-out and the construction of new energy infrastructure. Irina also routinely advises companies and States in investor-State arbitration proceedings, involving claims or defenses based on EU and State aid law.
Recognized as a "Rising Star" by Legal 500 in 2023, clients commend Irina as an "outstanding lawyer" and praise her professionalism, dedication, and problem-solving abilities.
Experience
FSR
- Advising a diverse group of clients on the FSR and their FSR filings before the EC. This includes guidance on the M&A, public procurement and ex officio modules of the FSR, as well as the data collection required under the FSR.
- Dealing with the most complex FSR cases, including the first ever FSR in-depth investigation in Case FS.100011 – e& / PPF (sell-side).
- FSR thought leadership and speaking at conferences on the FSR.
- Developing the first bespoke FSR compliance toolkit—a digital app that streamlines the collection of foreign financial contribution (FFC) data. Recognized as Highly Commended in the FT Innovative Lawyers Europe 2024 awards.
State aid
- Representing an EU Member State in a State aid investigation into long-term PPAs, a coal phase-out as well as the construction of new energy facilities.
- Assisting clients concerning a number of aspects of the Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework.
- Representing a chemical company in obtaining State support for a new production plant in France.
- Representing a battery producing company in obtaining State support for a new factory in Romania.
- Representing a number of State aid complainants before the EC.
- Advising companies and States in arbitration proceedings involving (jurisdictional and/or merit-based) claims or defense based on State aid law.
- Representing EDF in their appeal of the State aid decision pertaining to Hungarian PPAs.
Antitrust
- Successful representation of BEH, Bulgargaz and Bulgartransgaz in annulling the EC decision and the €77 million fine in Case AT.39849–Gas before the General Court of the EU (currently pending before the CJEU).
- Successful representation of Bulgarian Energy Holding and bringing to an end the EC's antitrust probe in case AT.39767–BEH Electricity, with an innovative remedy and without an infringement finding.
- Representing an EU power exchange in the Commission's antitrust probe;
- Successful termination with commitments of two antitrust probes into the practices of a major soft drinks producer in an investigation by the Croatian and Slovenian national competition authorities;
- Successful representation of the transmission systems operator of an EU Member State against a major gas supplier in antitrust/arbitration proceedings concerning a long-term capacity booking agreement, based on Article 102 TFEU objections;
- Advising a major energy company on questions of EU unbundling legislation and on EU merger rules in a Phase II case;
- Successful representation of a multinational cement producer, in cartel proceedings;
- Advising a wide range of European and Asian clients in the negotiations of their LNG contracts, in particular, on the competition aspects.
White & Case FSR Toolkit App – Nominated "Most Commended" in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards of 2024
Rising Star, Legal 500 EMEA, Belgium – Competition: EU & Global, 2024
Recommended, Legal 500 EMEA, Belgium – Competition: EU and Global, 2021
Pro Bono Leader
HS Huygens Scholarship, Dutch Ministry of Education, 2007
