International Merger Control – Third Parties

• A leading US investment bank in relation to the London Stock Exchange (LSE)/Refinitiv and Aon/Willis Towers Watson mergers investigated by the European Commission at Phase II.
• US and UK financial institutions and investors interested in high-profile mergers, including: Amazon/iRobot, Avast/Norton, Chr.Hansen/Novozymes, Cobham/Ultra, Microsoft/Activision, Pfizer/Seagen, Blue Prism/SS&C, HomeServe/Brookfield, Vantage/Vodafone/KKR, Welbilt/Ali, EMIS/Optum, Mandiant/Google, Vantage/Vodafone/KKR/GIP, Shaftesbury/Capco, Ritchie Bros/IAA Inc, EVO Payments/Global Payments, Chart/Howden, and others.
• Titan International Inc. regarding the Yokohama Rubber/Trelleborg Wheel merger investigated by the European Commission.

National Security, Foreign Investment & Foreign Subsidies

• The world’s second largest steel producer on its acquisition of sole control over a global trader of steel and raw materials active in 88 countries, leading the multijurisdictional foreign investment workstream, plus assisting with the required EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation (FSR) and merger control filings.
• Goodman, a global property group operating in 14 countries, on its planned acquisitions and asset disposals throughout Europe, providing foreign investment advice covering its entire portfolio, including data centres.    
• Aviat on all UK national security and foreign investment aspects of its acquisition of NEC’s microwave business assets.
• A private equity fund on increasing its shareholding in a medical start-up, including foreign investment and merger control advice in relation to over 15 jurisdictions around Europe and the Americas.

Digital Platforms, AI & Ecosystems

• Acting as the main European and ex-US competition counsel to a major US-based marketplace and its UK subsidiary active in the online second-hand clothing market, providing complex advice regarding pricing tools and interface architecture; algorithms and search criteria; fulfilment services; EU DMA, DSA and UK DMCC compliance. Representing the same clients in recent CMA investigations against different Gatekeepers.   
• Advising an online platform in relation to information exchange and a potential data leak, conducting an internal investigation and advising on leniency procedures.
• Representing a popular dating app in a number of recent CMA and EC investigations against different Gatekeepers. Advising the same client on various digital regulation matters under the EU DMA, DSA and the UK DMCC frameworks; representing the client in EC workshops with Google, Apple and Meta in relation to their DMA compliance; representing the client as a third party in follow-up EC investigations into potential non-compliance with the DMA by certain Gatekeepers.

Cartel Investigations & Damages Claims

• Successfully defending Stora Enso, the multinational forestry, wood pulp and paper producer, raided by the EC as part of its second Wood-Pulp antitrust investigation which was closed before the statement of objections stage.
• A global manufacturer of automotive components regarding follow-on damages claims stemming from the Occupant Safety Systems Cartel investigated by the EC.
• A major pharmaceutical company in an antitrust investigation of alleged excessive pricing and collusive practices at an EU level with regards to cancer medicines.
• A South Korean DRAM memory chips manufacturer in two follow-on damages claims in the UK High Court; negotiated and concluded successful settlements.

EU/UK Regulatory & Compliance

• AGCO, a US agricultural machinery corporation, on revising its distribution agreements post-Brexit, and also on establishing a data platform for its suppliers.
• Bobst, a major Swiss supplier of packaging machinery, on various industry-wide initiatives and collaborations relating to recycling, including advice on standard-setting procedures.
• Subaru Corporation on the EU competition law aspects of its distribution agreements for spare parts with its European distributors.
• Two Japanese automotive manufacturers in relation to a collaborative arrangement for the joint development, production and distribution of Driver and In-cabin Monitoring Systems.
• Multinational companies, such as RedBull, Dairy Crest, Compass Group, Qatar Airways, EasyJet, Enersys, Sodexo and Columbia Threadneedle, on competition law compliance and implementing international compliance programmes and training.
• Network Rail on EU state aid law and regulatory issues concerning government funding for two major infrastructure projects, including in relation to developing broadband and 5G capabilities.
• A major housing developer on EU state aid regulation applicable to government funding received for the purposes of building social housing and related infrastructure.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.