Steptoe & Johnson LLP is acquiring the Brussels office of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP.

Howrey Simon Arnold & White partner Howard Rosenblatt is relocating his practice to Brussels, from where he will advise on US law.

Three major changes to the world of EU competition law come into effect on 1 May 2004. They are the accession of ten new member states to the EU, the entry into force of new EC Merger Regulation and the new procedural rules for the enforcement of Articles 81 and 82.

The European Commission has released details of the programme at its forthcoming conference on merger control to be held in Brussels in November. The event is a follow-up to the highly successful 'birthday party' held two years ago to celebrate 10 years of the EC Merger Regulation.

Paris Anestis has become the newest partner- level recruit at Howrey Simon Arnold & White's office in Brussels.

Michael Honoré, an associate at Ashurst Morris Crisp in Brussels, has been appointed legal secretary to Bo Vesterdorf, the president of the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg

The new EU block exemption Regulation for motor vehicle distribution and servicing agreements is being presented by the Commission as introducing increased competition between car dealers, making cross-border car purchases easier, and generally giving the consumer a better deal. However, the strength of the manufacturers' lobby was such that the Commission had to compromise during the drafting of the Regulation, in particular as regards the delay in prohibiting the use of restrictive 'location clauses', and many are sceptical as to whether the resulting text will have the market impact predicted by the Commission.Joanna Goyder Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer Brussels