Merger control

Jean-Nicolas has advised clients in relation to over 150 corporate transactions including advising:

• TotalEnergies in the European and other merger control processes relating to the creation of the first LNG bunkering hub in the Middle East.*
• ACWA Power in the merger control aspects of the creation of its wind power plants consortium Round 4 Wind.*
• A high-end consumer products group on its first Chinese acquisition.*
• TotalEnergies on the contractual and EU and other merger control aspects of a joint venture with Air Liquide to create a network of 100 hydrogen stations for heavy-duty vehicles across 5 EU countries.*

Cartels

Advising:

• International groups in relation to over 30 EU, French and UK investigations in cartels and anticompetitive agreements.*
• A US Fortune 500 group and securing a low fine in the French Bisphenol A in food containers case.*
• And obtaining that all charges be dismissed against a scientific organisation accused of facilitating practices in the French Bisphenol A in food containers case.*
• A construction products group in the French pre-cast concrete products cartel case, and securing a low fine in the first landmark case on interactions between administrative cartel proceedings and criminal prosecutions of individuals in France.*
• A wholesaler in a complex situation relating to the practices of a trade association.*
• A consumer products group in unannounced inspections and internal audits.*

Competitor collaborations (in particular sustainability)

Advising:

• A luxury brands group in the assessment of its environmental collaborations and devising a comprehensive environmental collaborations guide and related compliance initiatives.*
• A research organization with various compliance issues relating to joint R&D and joint collaborations (re-use, recycling, implementation of legislative obligations).*
• A consumer product group in auditing its collaborations with competitors (joint purchasing, sustainability, joint research, benchmarking) and restructuring certain initiatives.*

Distribution

Advising:

• A high-end products group in novel and complex issues relating to distribution through online platforms and interacting with the European Commission on its behalf.*
• On the design and delivery of various antitrust compliance programs on specialized distribution issues.*

* Prior to joining Norton Rose Fulbright