Gabriela da Costa is a partner in the London office of K&L Gates' antitrust, competition, and trade regulation practice group and a key member of the firm's cutting-edge e-commerce and vertical distribution practice.
Gabi's niche e-commerce and selective distribution experience is recognized by rankings including The Legal 500, where she has been named as a Rising Star in EU and Competition Law for the last three years and described as a “rock star,” “unique lawyer,” “super attentive, very knowledgeable and commercial,” and “friendly and extremely engaged with any issue.”
Gabi has led the design, implementation, execution, and enforcement of numerous high-profile go-to-market strategies for major consumer and B2B brands, both in Europe and globally. She advises product manufacturers across a range of sectors on complex and in-flux competition law questions relating to the sale of their products in Europe, including selective distribution system terms and practical mechanics, pricing policies, online marketplace restrictions, direct-to-consumer sales strategies, customer-competitor dealings, market communications, partner termination, and related interactions with intellectual property and data protection laws.
Gabi has led some of the most significant cases against or involving unauthorized resellers in Europe. She has also defended several major brand owners in challenges by the European competition authorities as well as third parties against their distribution practices, leading to the closure of several investigations without fines.
In addition to vertical restraints and dominance matters, Gabi regularly advises clients on horizontal competitor interactions, including advising on compliant cooperation agreements and 'rules of the road' and monitoring industry association meetings.
In the M&A context, Gabi has extensive experience coordinating major multi-jursdictional foreign investment screening assessments and handling national clearances, including under the UK’s new National Security and Investment Act.