Erling Estellon

Antitrust

• Advising an airline in its appeal before the EU General Court in the Airfreight case.
• Advising a world sports association in connection with the successful closure of an investigation by the EU Commission and the Italian Competition Authority by way of agreed commitments.
• Advising Funeral Partners on the CMA’s market investigation into the supply of funeral directors services and crematoria services.
• Representing a US company in the French Competition Authority’s investigation into online advertising.
• Advising ATG Media in successfully defending itself against a CMA Article 101/102 probe in the auction house service sector, launched in November 2016. On 29 June 2017, the CMA accepted commitments from ATG Media, with no finding of infringement.
• Representing a gas buyer in a high-profile Swiss-seated ICC arbitration pertaining to a long-term contract for the supply of natural gas, raising issues under EU competition rules.
• Advising a client in relation to an investigation by the Portuguese Competition Authority into alleged abuse of dominance, including margin squeeze and refusal to supply.
• Representing an airline in a European Commission investigation into air cargo surcharges.
• Advising a Japanese multinational on cartel proceedings in the power cables sector before the European Commission and the EU General Court.
• Advising Greenpeace in challenging a state aid decision before the EU General Court.
• Advising a Japanese multinational on cartel proceedings in the wire harnesses sector before the European Commission.
• Representing a pharmaceutical company in the first pay-for-delay investigation by the European Commission (Lundbeck).
• Advising Hitachi-LG Data Storage in connection with the European Commission’s investigation into optical disc drives cartel.
• Advising a major pharmaceutical company in an Article 101 TFEU investigation before the French competition authority.
• Advising AREVA in its appeals before the European Courts in the Power Transformers and Gas Insulated Switchgear cases.

Merger Control

• Advising Kongsberg Automotive on the EU Commission’s review of the €175 million sale of its Interior Comfort Systems (ICS) business unit to Lear Corporation. The EU Commission unconditionally cleared this transaction on 24 February 2022 (after a referral request under Article 4(5) of the EU Merger Regulation).
• Advising DCC plc in its acquisition of Azenn. The French Competition Authority unconditionally cleared this transaction on 28 May 2021. 
• Advising Homeserve in its acquisition of joint control (with Mutares) of Carglass Maison. The French Competition Authority unconditionally cleared this transaction on 1 March 2021.
• Advising Studio Retail Group plc on the CMA’s review of the sale of its Findel Education business to YPO.
• Advising Send For Help Limited on the CMA’s review of its proposed acquisition of Solo Protect in March-May 2019.
• Advising A.C Nielsen on the CMA’s Phase 2 merger control review of its proposed acquisition of Ebiquity Plc’s AdIntel business. The CMA unconditionally cleared this transaction on 22 November 2018.
• Advising several banks on merger control aspects regarding the establishment of various fintech platforms.
• Advising the parties in the UMG Groupe VYV/SMACL Assurances merger.  The French Competition Authority unconditionally cleared this transaction on 7 December 2018.
• Advising Decision Technologies on the CMA’s merger control review of its anticipated acquisition by MoneySupermarket. The CMA unconditionally cleared this on 7 August 2018.
• Advising Auction Technology Group on the CMA’s merger control review of its completed acquisition of Lot-tissimo. The CMA unconditionally cleared this on 12 July 2018.
• Advising Cott Beverages on the CMA’s merger control review of the anticipated acquisition by Refresco of Cott’s traditional beverages business. On the 29 March 2018, the CMA decided to accept a Phase 1 divestiture remedy as regards the parties’ overlapping A-PET juice drinks business, thereby avoiding a Phase 2 review.
• Advising Ashtead Group plc on the CMA’s merger control review of its acquisition of Lion Trackhire Limited, which was unconditionally cleared on 25 August 2016.
• Advising Visa Inc. in its acquisition of Visa Europe.
• Advising General Electric in its US$13.5 billion acquisition of Alstom’s Power & Grid businesses.
• Advising General Electric in the sale of its signalling business to Alstom.
• Advising General Electric in the US$4.5 billion sale of its appliances business to Haier.
• Advising Cisco in its acquisition of NDS Group Limited.
• Advising a major industry group on the antitrust aspects of a hostile takeover.

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• Advising on numerous FDI clearance proceedings (Phase 1 and Phase 2) in France, the UK and globally – including the negotiation/implementation of commitments with local FDI authorities.
• Conducting multijurisdictional FDI filing assessments.