Challenge

Our client Heel leading manufacturer of homeopathic medicinal products dedicated in research, dealt with a non-suitable regulatory environment. Existing requirements as applied by national authorities did not honor investments in scientific research. Alber & Geiger faced a European Commission reluctant for legislative changes and differing Member State approaches.

Strategy

The strategy co-ordinated legal, ethical, medical and scientific concepts into coherent arguments. It showed the European Commission and the EU institutions but also relevant national competent authorities more broadly, the particularities of homeopathic medicinal products, as well as their effectiveness and safety and the different national approaches in the EU Member States.

Results

Ultimately our strategy allowed our client to enter into a constructive dialogue with relevant national authorities. Alber & Geiger followed the maxim that sometimes less regulation is more, reflecting the priorities of our clients’ industries.

Challenge

Alber & Geiger was asked to advise and support the Government of India amid concerns coming from Members of the European Parliament in relation to trade, human rights and privacy. Such activity in the European Parliament, coming in the form of parliamentary questions and motions for resolutions risked turning into conditionality clauses in the EU-India bilateral relations.

Strategy

Our team embarked on a comprehensive campaign with EU lawmakers addressed their concerns. We turned the focus on India’s growing economic, technological and geopolitical role and emphasized the untapped potential for bilateral relations. By providing factual evidence and a clearer understanding over the expressed concerns, we were able to switch the focus towards the bilateral opportunities and fostering trade relations via a free trade agreement.

Results

With our diplomatic and advocacy experience we assisted the Government of India navigate the political landscape in the European Parliament. Thanks to our strategy and government affairs support, EU lawmakers now support the EU-India free trade deal.

Challenge

The Giurgiulesti port of Chișinău in Moldova is an important strategic hub for all shipping to the black sea. It is a high EU political strategic value with regard to neighboring Russia.

In Moldova, we were faced with the task of steering tough EU diplomatic entanglements, in a direction that secured justice for our Azerbaijani client. The client was an important investor in Moldova. His interests in the Moldovan port which also involved huge EBRD investments had been compromised by an EU national.
Our client had sought a solution in Moldovan courts. After a freezing order in his favour was miraculously lifted, in the context of public statements from EU officials, he was concerned about the rule of law, independence of judiciary and the respective safety of his assets in this potential EU member state – and reached out to our team.

Strategy

The strategy was a bold venture into the multi-layered external relations boundaries that have been blurring due process. We reminded the EU that it had an obligation to uphold the rule of law in a potential EU accession country even if the result geopolitically would favor potentially Russian interests.

Results

The EU was ultimately content with making a neutral statement that did not implicate its integrity. It resulted in substantive justice for the client, and created a more positive relationship with the EU institutions.