Romina Polley

Romina Polley is a partner based in the Cologne office practicing competition law for twenty years. Ms. Polley’s practice focuses on German and European cartel proceedings (including dawn raid assistance and applying for leniency), merger control, advice on monopolies, cooperation agreements, and distribution and licensing agreements. She has substantial experience in the chemical, consumer goods, IT, construction, defense and automotive industries. She is widely published, including her 2013 commentary on the Motor Vehicle Group Exemption Regulation (Frankfurter Kommentar zum Kartellrecht) and numerous articles on topics of merger control, leniency, antitrust proceedings and license and distribution agreements.

In 2004 and 2009, Ms. Polley was featured as one of the world’s leading female antitrust lawyers in Global Competition Review’s survey "100 Women in Antitrust". In 2006, the leading publication on German law firms JUVE named Ms. Polley one of the "Top 40 under 40" lawyers in Germany. Since 2007, JUVE has distinguished Ms. Polley as a frequently recommended lawyer for antitrust. Chambers Europe GCR and Legal 500 also rank Ms. Polley as one of the leading individuals for competition in Germany.

Ms. Polley’s practice has focused in recent years on cartel investigations. Ms. Polley has acted as counsel in various cartel proceedings before the German and European antitrust authorities. In particular, she is experienced in applying for leniency, conducting internal investigations, coordinating parallel antitrust proceedings in various countries and negotiating settlements with the antitrust authorities. In addition to representing companies before the antitrust authorities she has experience in antitrust litigation including follow on-damages litigation and proceedings before the European Court of Justice.

An additional focus of Ms. Polley’s practice has always been European and German merger control. She handled numerous merger control proceedings in Brussels and Bonn, including Phase 2 proceedings, cleared with or without conditions. Her merger control expertise also comprises the handling of requests for referral to obtain jurisdiction of the European Commission in cases initially subject to national merger control and the handling of multinational notifications.

Ms. Polley joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP in 2003 from Linklaters Oppenhoff & Raedler. She received an LL.M. degree from Fordham University School of Law in 1997 and a doctorate in law, magna cum laude, from Freie Universität Berlin in 1996. She was admitted to the Bar in 1995. Ms. Polley passed the second state examination in the State of Berlin in 1995 and the first state examination at the University of Berlin in 1992. She studied at the University of Geneva from 1988 to 1989.

Ms. Polley is a member of the Bar in Cologne. Her native language is German and she is fluent in English, proficient in French and has basic knowledge of Spanish.