Johan is especially experienced in merger control, and he has successfully assisted clients in numerous major merger cases before the European Commission and national competition authorities.
Johan has particular expertise representing complainants with business-critical opposition against transactions in EU merger control reviews.
High-profile EU merger control cases that he has been involved in, either for the notifying parties or for complainants, include Cargotec/Konecranes, Fincantieri/Chantiers de l’Atlantique, Essilor/Luxottica, Halliburton/Baker Hughes, Energizer/Spectrum Brands, Motorola/Vertex Standard and Boeing/Lockheed Martin.
He was a key member of the VBB teams that handled the successful opposition in the EU merger control review of the BHP Billiton/Rio Tinto merger, and the EU notification of Microsoft/Skype – both EU merger control cases received a Global Competition Review Matter of the Year award.
He also represented Japan Airlines in the cartel damages litigation in Europe following the European Commission’s Airfreight cartel decision – which also received a Matter of the Year award by Global Competition Review.
Johan also advises clients on other aspects of competition law, including cartels, horizontal and vertical agreements, and abuse of dominance, as well as the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation and foreign direct investment laws.
Johan has been recognised for his expertise by the leading legal directories. He regularly lectures and writes on competition law matters.
Client“Johan displays a really good understanding of our business and the commercial risk within a short space of time.
Representative matters
- Representing a key complainant in opposition against the USD 5 billion Cargotec/Konecranes merger in both the EU and UK CMA merger control reviews. The transaction ended up being blocked by the CMA.
- Representing a key complainant in opposition against the EUR 50 billion Essilor/Luxottica merger in the EU merger control review, which ended up tipping the transaction into a Phase 2 review.
- Representing a key complainant in opposition against the Energizer/Spectrum Brands (Varta) merger in the EU merger control review, which resulted in the divestment of the target’s entire EMEA business in order to obtain EU merger clearance.
- Representing Skype in the unconditional EU merger control approval of its acquisition by Microsoft, which received a Global Competition Review Matter of the Year award for Europe.
- Representing Fincantieri in the EU Phase 2 merger control review of its acquisition of Chantiers de L’Atlantique – a merger between two of the leading State-owned shipbuilders in Europe.
- Representing Halliburton in the EU Phase 2 merger control review of its USD 35 billion acquisition of Baker Hughes.
Professional
- Admitted to Brussels Bar, 2003
Academic
- King’s College, London, LL.M in European Law, with merit, 2003
- Universities of Antwerp (Belgium) and Nice (France), Master of Laws, magna cum laude, 2002
- Global Competition Review’s 40 under 40 (2015) – the world’s top antitrust lawyers under the age of 40
- Global Competition Review Awards (2019) – nominated as one of the eight best competition lawyers worldwide under the age of 40
- Lexology Index (formerly Who’s Who Legal) – Competition (Future Leaders)
- Clients report that Johan is a “top competition expert” who “does not just provide clients with the legal analysis but will ‘think with them’ resulting in practical, relevant advice and guidance”.
- Chambers Global – Competition/European Law
- Chambers Europe – Competition/European Law
- Clients report that Johan is “someone I can trust to know our business and our sector and to provide quick, pragmatic advice.”
- Legal 500 – EU Competition (‘Next Generation’ leading lawyer)
- Expert Guides – Competition/Antitrust (Rising Star)
- IFLR1000 – EU Competition (Leading Lawyer)
- Best Lawyers – Competition/Antitrust
