LaurentDe Muyter

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Laurent De Muyter is an EU regulatory lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. His practice focuses on electronic communications, digital, data protection, foreign direct investment (FDI), and antitrust regulations. Laurent ensures clients' regulatory compliance and represents clients in investigations launched by the EU Commission or national regulators, as well as in appeals before courts.

In electronic communications, Laurent advised T-Mobile in the EU Commission investigation on its network sharing agreements in Czechia, which was launched in 2016 and successfully closed in 2022 with commitments. He also advised operators, equipment manufacturers, and regulators on liberalization, 5G security, spectrum, network roll-out, interconnection, access, roaming, net neutrality, universal services, numbering, and legal tapping.

Laurent's digital and data protection experience includes advising companies on new digital regulations, like the Data Act, AI Act, Digital Markets Act (DMA), and Digital Services Act (DSA), as well as General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) issues such as privacy policies and notices, legal basis, breaches, international transfers, portability, retention, and cybersecurity.

Laurent's FDI and antitrust experience covers anticompetitive practices and multijurisdictional FDI and merger filings at the EU and national levels across various industries, including automotive, chemicals, consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, oil, telecoms, tobacco, and waste management. He also regularly advises clients on compliance relating to cooperation agreements, distribution, and technology licensing.

Laurent has been a member (assessor) of the decisional body of the Belgian Competition Authority since 2013 and a lecturer at the University of Liège where teaches courses on AI and GDPR. He is currently co-chair of the IBA Communications Law Committee and a member of IAPP and Amcham EU. Laurent was seconded in-house at the GSM Association in London in 2008.

Experience

  • DIC acquires photoresist polymers manufacturer PCAS CanadaJones Day advised DIC Corporation, a Japanese chemicals group operating globally in over 60 countries, in connection with its acquisition of Quebec-based PCAS Canada Inc., a company that manufactures and sells polymers used in photoresists for semiconductor photolithography, from PCAS S.A., a French company.
  • T-Mobile closes European Commission investigation into network sharing with commitmentsJones Day represented T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. in an investigation launched by the European Commission in 2016 in relation to the mobile network sharing agreements concluded between T-Mobile and its competitor CETIN/O2, in the Czech Republic.
  • Eastman sells adhesives resins business product lines for $1 billionJones Day advised Eastman Chemical Company in the $1 billion sale of its adhesives resins assets and business to Synthomer plc.
  • Arsenal Capital Partners' portfolio company Fenzi Holdings acquires Advanced Glass Technologies business of Johnson Matthey PLCJones Day represented Arsenal Capital Partners' portfolio company, Fenzi Holdings SPV S.p.A., in the acquisition and financing of the Advanced Glass Technologies business of Johnson Matthey PLC, which manufactures advanced glass enamels, precious metal pastes and conductive inks for use in automotive glass and other industry applications.
  • Eastman sells tire additives business product lines to One Rock Capital PartnersJones Day advised Eastman Chemical in the $800 million sale of the rubber additives (including Crystex™ insoluble sulfur and Santoflex™ antidegradants) and other product lines and related assets and technology of the global tire additives business of its Additives & Functional Products segment to an affiliate of One Rock Capital Partners, LLC.
  • SUEZ sells its SUEZ Recycling & Recovery operations to PreZeroJones Day advised the French listed company SUEZ SA in its largest sale of SUEZ Recycling & Recovery operations - excluding plastic recycling and hazardous waste treatment activities - in four continental Europe countries: the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Germany, and Poland to PreZero, the environmental division of Schwarz Group.
  • Suez sells Suez Nordic to Prezero InternationalJones Day advised Suez SA, a French utilities company, in the sale of Suez Nordic AB to Prezero International GmbH, a subsidiary of the Schwarz Group.
  • Natural products company addresses labor and employment aspects of multijurisdictional litigation, data protection, and DIRECCTE mattersJones Day is advising a leading U.S.-based natural products company on the labor and employment aspects for a variety of multijurisdictional matters, including labor law advice on hiring and termination of employees in Belgium; matters related to collaboration with independent contractors, including litigation; data protection matters for various affiliates of the client in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and UAE; as well as advising on administrative/competition law-related procedures against French governmental institution DIRECCTE (Regional Offices for Commerce, Competition, Consumption, Labour and Employment).
  • Arsenal Capital Partners acquires HistoGeneX and Caprion BiosciencesJones Day advised Arsenal Capital Partners on major investments in HistoGeneX and Caprion Biosciences and the subsequent combination of the two businesses.
  • Hexagon Intergraph acquires Belgian-based BricsysJones Day advised Hexagon Intergraph AB in its acquisition of Belgian-based Bricsys group, including Chapoo NV and Amelia NV.
  • Suez forms joint venture with La PosteJones Day advised Suez RV France S.A. on the creation of a joint venture with La Poste S.A., which is active in the collection and recovery of non-hazardous office waste in France.
  • Total reviews EU R&D block exemption regulationJones Day advised Total S.A. on the implementation of the EU R&D block exemption regulation.
  • Major international automotive parts distribution company assesses corporate liability risk in allowing Internet access to employeesJones Day assisted a major international automotive parts distribution company in assessing its corporate liability exposure in relation to its provision to allow Internet access to employees.
  • Suez Environnement and Itochu Corporation receive advice as joint bidders in auction processJones Day provided merger, acquisition, and antitrust assistance to Suez Environnement Company SA and Itochu Corporation as joint bidders in the auction process for the acquisition of the Belgian target company, Indaver NV.
  • BASE obtains favorable decision in claim against Belgacom Mobile for abuse of dominant positionOn behalf of Dutch-based telecommunications operator KPN and its subsidiary BASE, Jones Day challenged abuses by Belgacom Group of its dominant position, which had radically distorted the competitive environment in the Belgian telecommunications market.
  • Eastman Chemical acquires Commonwealth Laminating & CoatingJones Day advised Eastman Chemical Company in its acquisition of Commonwealth Laminating & Coating, Inc., an independent manufacturer and global marketer and distributor of window films and specialty films for automotive, architectural, and protective applications.
  • Eastman Chemical acquires Taminco for $2.8 billionJones Day advised Eastman Chemical Company in connection with its acquisition of Taminco Corporation, a global specialty chemical company, for $2.8 billion.
  • Eastman Chemical acquires aviation turbine oil business from BPJones Day advised Eastman Chemical Company in its acquisition of the assets of BP's global aviation turbine engine oil business.
  • NextiraOne sells 16 European companies to Dimension Data GroupJones Day represented NextiraOne Europe B.V., a pan-European telecommunications services and hardware/software provider (the ex-Alcatel e-Business division), in connection with the divestiture of 16 of its subsidiaries in 13 countries throughout Europe to the Dimension Data Group, an affiliate of NTT.
  • Belgian cable operator VOO appeals regulatory decision mandating access to its networkJones Day represents several Belgian cable TV operators (including VOO, Brutele, and AIESH) before the Brussels Court of Appeal in the challenge of a decision by Belgium's telecommunications regulator that mandates access to its cable network.
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    February 2024 Commentary

    European Commission Unveils Plan Aimed at Strengthening Economic Security

    December 2023 Alert

    EU Strikes Political Deal on Landmark Artificial Intelligence Act

    October 2023 Alert

    European Commission Signals Increased Scrutiny in Semiconductors, AI, Quantum Technologies, and Biotechnologies

    July 2023 Commentary

    ECJ Clarifies Conditions Under Which Member States Can Block Foreign Direct Investments

    July 2023 Commentary

    Belgian Foreign Investment Screening Law Takes Effect

    MAY 2023 Alert

    UK CMA Launches Review of Antitrust Issues in Artificial Intelligence

    April 2023 Podcast

    JONES DAY TALKS®: The Rise of AI Regs: Approaches from the European Union and United States

    APRIL 2023 Commentary

    Towards a Less Effects-Based Approach? European Commission Takes Action to Amend EU Framework on Exclusionary Abuses of Dominance

    March 2023 Commentary

    The European Commission's "Connectivity Package" Set to Reshuffle the Telecom Sector

    February 2023 Alert

    Better Together: U.S. and EU Enter Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Agreement
    View All

    Additional Publications

    • April 7, 2023
      Les fusions et acquisitions face à un parcours du combattant réglementaire
    • December 25, 2022
      Data protection in the banking sector, Répertoire pratique du droit belge,- Droit bancaire et financier, Larcier, 2022, p. 1173-1208
    • December 2020
      Competition law in times of crisis: quo vadis?, TBH/RDC, 2020/10, p. 1346-1360
    • October 30, 2020
      IBA - The EU Court of Justice rules on zero-rating practices under the Net Neutrality Regulation
    • August 6, 2020
      Telecom & concerted practices: an overview of EU and national case law, Concurrences
    • August 6, 2020
      Telecom & concerted practices: an overview of EU and national case law, Concurrences, 6 August 2020, e-Competitions Telecom & Concerted practices, Art. N° 95135
    • September 2018
      Belgium finalizes GDPR implementation: A practitioner’s view, iapp
    • 2018
      Chapter XVI on Telecommunications in the Bloomberg BNA Portfolio n°7451 - Business Operations in the European Union – Regulatory (new edition)
    • November 2017
      Section on Belgium in "Annual Review Data protection & Privacy Laws 2017", financierworkdwide.com.
    • June 2016
      Roaming Regulation IV: Implementation Challenges Ahead, IBA communications newsletter
    • June 2016
      EU Roaming Regulation IV: implementation challenges ahead
    • 2016
      From Safe Harbor to Pearl Harbor: The European Court of Justice decision in Maxilian Schrems, ABA/Section of International Law, The Year in Review 2016, vol. 50, p. 595
    • August 2015
      Antitrust Law Answer Book, PLI
    • January 2015
      A New EU Commission for the Digital Single Market: Time for a Legislative Rethink? Who's Who Legal
    • 2013
      "Net neutrality: from a catch-all to a catch 22?” in Strowel (éd), Net Neutrality in Europe, Collection de l’IEJE de l’université Saint Louis, Bruylant
    • May 2013
      La protection des nouveaux entrants en droit de l’Union Européenne, Concurrences, art. n° 51598
    • April 2013
      The Belgian Parliament enacts a new competition law,e-Competitions, n°51813
    • 2013
      New Fining Guidelines in Belgium: if not a spotlight, then a glimmer?, European Competition Law Review, Issue 3
    • 12 octobre 2012
      Le blocage des prix, une tempête dans un verre d'eau? L'Echo
    • August 2012
      Regulatory Asymmetry? The Competition Between Telecommunication Operators and Other ICT Players, JECLAP
    • 2012
      Vers une révision de la loi sur la protection de la concurrence économique?, Revue de la Concurrence Belge, TBM-RCB, Vol.1, p. 35-46
    • 2012
      Une transaction en droit belge de la concurrence? Revue de la Concurrence Belge, TBM-RCB, Vol. 2-3
    • February 2011
      L'application du droit belge de la concurrence aux secteurs libéralisés, in. N. Petit (éd), Le nouveau droit belge de la concurrence, Commission Université Palais, Anthémis
    • October 2010
      Interplay of Ex post and Ex ante regulations: converging on substance but diverging on institutional processes?, Intermedia, Vol. 38, Iss. 4, p.30.
    • April 2009
      Price Squeeze Abuse in the EU Telecommunications Sector: A Reasonably or Equally Efficient Test?, GCP Magazine
    • December 2008
      Does Europe Need a Single European telecom Regulator?, European Competition Journal, Vol. 4, p.561.
    • October 2004
      Le nouveau règlement d'exemption par catégorie pour les accords de transfert de technologie, Cahier du Juriste - van de jurist, n°2/2004, p. 124
    • June 2003
      Flawed Reform of the Competition Rules for the European Motor Vehicle Distribution Sector, European Competition Law Review, Vol. 24, p. 254.

    Speaking Engagements

    • January 26, 2024
      Brussels School of AI, GDPR and AI
    • October 31, 2023
      IBA Annual Conference, "Digital market act and digital service act: a blueprint for global digital regulation?".
    • April 27, 2023
      Conference Larcier/VBO/FEB Le droit bancaire et financier sous les feux de l'actualité, "La protection des données dans le secteur financier".
    • April 17, 2023
      32nd Annual IBA Communications and Competition Law Conference, "Merger trends in the technology, media and telecommunications sectors: what are the latest developments?
    • January 26, 2023
      Brussels School of AI, GDPR and AI
    • November 30, 2022
      Dujat - Opportunities and Risks of AI in Europe
    • October 3, 2022
      GCLC, Horizontal cooperation in network industries in light of the recent Czech case and the revision of the EC guidelines
    • April 10, 2022
      Infrastructure sharing, wholesale-only and TowerCos: new models for accelerating 5G and FTTH deployments, 31st Annual IBACommunications and Competition Law
    • July 6, 2021
      Trust in digital life / CyberSec4Europe webinar, "Cross Border Data Flows: An Online Panel Discussion"
    • January 2021
      Law, Cognitive Technologies & Artificial Intelligence Program, "Artificial intelligence and GDPR", Federation of Enterprises in Belgium
    • November 25, 2020
      IBA Annual virtual conference "5G: the need for spectrum refarming and network sharing"
    • January 10, 2020
      Law, Cognitive Technologies & Artificial Intelligence Program, “Artificial intelligence and GDPR”, Federation of enterprises in Belgium
    • December 11, 2019
      ECTA Regulatory Conference 2019, Panel Chair on “5G Without All Vendors! What Are the Consequences for Operators, Customers and Society?”
    • June 6, 2019
      ERA Annual Conference on European Media Law 2019 - Licensing practices for audiovisual media services in the EU - recent developments in competition law.
    • April 29-30, 2019
      Mergers – content, data and digitalisation as drivers for M&A (moderator), 30th Annual IBA Communications and Competition Conference
    • March 15, 2019
      Big data: legal framework and practice, Law, Cognitive Technologies & Artificial Intelligence Study Programme, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium.
    • February 8, 2019
      Sport et droit de la concurrence, Délégation des Barreaux de France
    • November 2018
      New Enforcement Powers: What DPAs Can Learn from Competition Law Practice, IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress 2018
    • June 11 & 12, 2018
      Infrastructure sharing panel, moderator, IBA Conference
    • January 26, 2018
      Brussels School of Competition’s New Study Programme on Cognitive Technologies & Artificial Intelligence
    • November 23, 2017
      Competition law and data protection, AEDC/VSMR half-day study event, ING Auditorium
    • June 30, 2017
      Cognitive Technology and AI: Legislation and Regulation, Brussels School of Competition
    • April 5, 2017
      Le RGPD en détail – Analyse des directives des autorités de protection des données et des efforts de mise en œuvre au niveau national
    • March 29, 2017
      Règlement Général sur la Protection des Données : les nouveaux outils de la de la CNPD, Conférence des Directeurs Juridiques Luxembourgeois, Banque & Caisse d’Epargne de l’Etat
    • March 15, 2017
      Webinar Series: EU General Data Protection Regulation (three-part series)
    • October 17, 2016
      Big Data: At the Intersection of Competition and Privacy Laws, Brussels School of Competition, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium
    • June 21, 2016
      Review of the E-Privacy Directive, ARMA EU Conference
    • April 20, 2016
      What future for the E-Privacy Directive? IAPP Conference
    • October 28, 2014
      Presentation to the members of the Belgian Competition Authority on "net neutrality", Belgian Competition Authority Office
    • November 28, 2013
      Mergers and Market Consolidation in the Telecom Sector, Cullen Law Seminar
    • September 24, 2013
      A New Belgian Competition Authority: What Impact for my Company?
    • March 25-27, 2012
      Policies For The Future Internet, EuroCPR 2012 Conference
    • December 12, 2011
      Settlement Procedure in Competition Law, Federation of Enterprises in Belgium
    • February 11, 18 & 25, 2011
      The new Belgian competition law, CUP Conference
    • April 30, 2010
      What comes next in electronic communications?A review of the new EU framework, IEJE Conference
    • April 28 & 29, 2010
      International Institute for telecommunications' Telecommunications and Media Forum
    • May 11, 2009
      Is the Guidance Notice on Article 82 EC a Suitable Instrument for Liberalized Markets?, Half Day Conference on the Commission’s Guidance Notice on Article 82 EC
    • May 2008
      Does Europe Need a Single European Telecom Regulator?

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