Answer ... While the Federal Cartel Office has always been quite active in the area of public enforcement, private damages actions have become increasingly frequent only in recent years. Following legislative measures to promote private competition law enforcement, today there is considerable activity in the German market of litigation law firms cooperating with process financiers. Several cases are pending before the German courts which involve numerous damages claims bundled by way of assignment to the claimant.

While a proposal by the government for amendments to the Act against Restraints of Competition is expected in the foreseeable future, no proposals materially affecting the current cartel enforcement landscape are anticipated at this stage.