Kaarli H.Eichhorn

Partner

Brussels + 32.2.645.14.41

Kaarli Eichhorn has acted on a significant number of high-profile and politically sensitive merger and antitrust matters globally for more than 20 years. Kaarli is recognized in numerous legal publications, including The Legal 500 as a "Leading Individual" for Competition: EU and Global (2023).

He has substantial experience in competition law, international regulation, government affairs, foreign investment screening, and sanctions. His experience includes energy, oil & gas, transportation, telecommunications, consumer products, aerospace, life sciences, financial services, and media.

Prior to Jones Day, Kaarli was global executive counsel of competition law & policy at General Electric (GE). During his 10-year tenure at GE he advised on hundreds of international transactions and led the merger review clearance processes globally for GE's acquisitions of Alstom ($10.6 billion), Avio ($4.3 billion), Lufkin ($3.3 billion), and Dresser ($3 billion) and divestments of NBCU ($30 billion) and upward of $200 billion of GE Capital assets. He handled a significant amount of GE's counseling, training, guidance, internal investigations, and audits within the company's business divisions internationally.

In 2020, Kaarli was elected vice chair of the board of AmCham EU and re-elected in 2022, a position he held until November 2023. He has held several other AmCham EU leadership roles and is currently vice chair for competition and the Ukraine Task Force.

He is a prior member of the board of European Justice Forum, a former vice chair of the In-House Competition Counsel Association, and member of the BusinessEurope Competition Committee. He is a non-governmental advisor at the International Competition Network.

Kaarli leads Jones Day's Nordic practice.

Experience

  • Procter & Gamble signs 10-year VPPA with Renewable Power Capital for wind energy project in SwedenJones Day advised The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) in entering into a 10-year virtual power purchase agreement (VPPA) with a subsidiary of renewable energy developer Renewable Power Capital (RPC) for a wind energy project in Sweden with an expected capacity of 140 MW.
  • Hitachi obtains antitrust clearance for €1.7 billion acquisition of railway signalling businessJones Day obtained antitrust clearance from the European Commission for Hitachi Rail's €1.7 billion acquisition of a railway signalling business.
  • Sega acquires Rovio EntertainmentJones Day advised Sega Corporation with the international aspects of the acquisition of Finland’s Rovio Entertainment (the creators of 'Angry Birds').
  • LyondellBasell acquires Mepol GroupJones Day advised LyondellBasell in the acquisition of Mepol Group, a manufacturer of recycled, high-performing technical compounds located in Italy and Poland, consisting of Mepol S.r.l. and its subsidiaries Polar S.r.l. and Industrial Technology Investments Poland Sp.z.o.o.
  • Ahlström Capital makes strategic investment in Bast Fibre TechnologiesJones Day advised Ahlström Capital in its acquisition of 20% of Bast Fibre Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of 100% plant-based, intact natural fibres with the technical and performance requirements for a wide variety of nonwoven applications.
  • Ahlström Capital BV and Nidoco AB invest in the Decor business of Ahlstrom-MunksjöJones Day advised Ahlström Capital BV and Nidoco AB in the acquisition of the Decor business of Ahlstrom-Munksjö.
  • 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.
  • Valmet completes statutory merger with NelesJones Day served as global merger control and foreign direct investment counsel to Valmet Oyj (excluding Finland) in its statutory merger with Neles Corporation.
  • Major European electrical grid operator defends against changes of regulated tariffsJones Day is advising a major electrical grid operator and its shareholders, the majority of which are leading investors in energy infrastructure, on bringing claims under the Energy Charter Treaty in arbitration for unforeseeable changes of the system of computing regulated network tariffs which were incompatible with the relevant EU framework and adversely impacted budgets based on legitimate expectations.
  • International chemicals producer reviews antitrust aspects of transactionJones Day provided antitrust counsel to an international chemicals producer in a multi-national merger control matter.
  • Valmet acquires stake in Neles from SolidiumJones Day served as European antitrust counsel to Valmet Oyj in its acquisition of stake in Neles Corporation from Solidium Oy.
  • International company reviews EU conduct complianceJones Day is advising an international company in unilateral conduct compliance under EU competition law.
  • International industrial company reviews antitrust and investigation mattersJones Day is counseling an international industrial company in a wide range of antitrust and investigation matters.
  • International industrial company reviews distribution agreementsJones Day is counseling an international industrial company in distribution-related matters.
  • International chemicals producer conducts internal auditJones Day is advising an international chemicals producer in conducting a multi-national internal antitrust audit.
  • Life science company reviews antitrust aspects of strategic allianceJones Day is providing antitrust counsel to a life science company in relation to the establishment of a strategic alliance.
  • International industrial company establishes joint ventureJones Day is advising an international industrial company in relation to the creation of a joint venture.
  • Transportation company seeks advice in merger of Siemens and AlstomJones Day assisted a transportation company in relation to the merger of Siemens AG's Mobility Division with Alstom SA.
  • GE sells Intelligent Platforms business to EmersonJones Day served as antitrust counsel to General Electric Company in the sale of Intelligent Platforms, a division of General Electric, to Emerson Electric Co.
  • Baker Hughes sells natural gas solutions business to First Reserve and Pietro FiorentiniJones Day advised Baker Hughes, a GE company (BHGE), in the sale of its global Natural Gas Solutions (NGS) business to two separate buyers, First Reserve and Pietro Fiorentini.
  • The below is a selection of matters on which Mr. Eichhorn has advised General Electric Company in the last 10 years, prior to joining Jones Day.

    Represented NBC Universal in its acquisition by Comcast Corporation, in non-U.S. merger and strategic investment clearance processes between 2009 and 2011.

    Represented GE Energy in its 2011 $3.2 billion acquisition of French power conversion company Converteam Group SAS. The transaction led to horizontal overlaps and vertical links in a number of industrial markets. The transaction was unconditionally cleared globally, with divestments in the U.S. in low-speed synchronous electric motors.

    Represented GE Energy in its 2011 $3 billion acquisition of Dresser Holdings, managing multi-jurisdictional clearances.

    Represented GE Energy in a 2011 EU Commission investigation into potential anticompetitive practices related to gas reciprocating engines.

    Represented GE Aviation in the 2013 $4.3 billion acquisition of the aviation business of Avio S.p.A. of Italy. This vertical transaction was made conditional upon a series of commitments in the EU and the U.S.

    Represented Budapest Bank in allegations of the Hungarian Competition Authority in 2013 relating to anticompetitive conduct in the refinancing of foreign currency consumer mortgages.

    Counsel to GE Capital in numerous business divestments where the majority of GE Capital assets (valued at approximately $200 billion) were spun off in 'Project Hubble' in 2015-2017 covering, among others, equipment leasing, factoring, real estate, and consumer banking.

    Represented GE in obtaining global merger control clearances for the $10.6 billion acquisition of Alstom's power and grid business, its largest-ever industrial acquisition. The transaction was cleared following remedies in gas turbine markets provided in the EU and U.S. and following a very significant number of global merger and strategic investment clearances. The GE team won the 2016 GCR award in the category Merger Control Matter of the Year – Europe.

    Represented GE Energy in obtaining global merger control clearances for the 2016 establishment of Russian Gas Turbines, a joint venture between Inter Rao and United Engine Corporation of Russia and GE.

    Represented GE Energy Financial Services in the 2017 acquisition, jointly with Macquarie Group, of Markbygden ETT of Sweden, upon completion, the largest single onshore wind farm in Europe. The transaction was unconditionally cleared by the EU Commission.

    Represented GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS) in obtaining global merger control clearances for its 2017 acquisition over Irish joint venture Einn Volant Aircraft Leasing Holdings Ltd., jointly with Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec. The joint venture is active in the acquisition and leasing of aircraft.

    Represented GE Healthcare in its amicable settlement with the Swiss Competition Commission in 2016, regarding imports of medical ultrasound machines.

    Represented GE Capital in dismissing allegations in one of the highest profile antitrust investigations conducted by the Italian Competition Authority in recent years, involving information exchange practices among several Italian-based automotive leasing and fleet management companies.

    Represented NBC Universal in an EU investigation into several major U.S. Hollywood film studios' contract provisions (including so-called 'MFN' clauses) relating to the financing and installation of digital projection equipment in cinemas.

    Represented GE Healthcare after its US$2.4 billion acquisition of medical device manufacturer Instrumentarium in 2004 in comprehensive commitments compliance. The transaction was cleared conditional upon divestments, supply commitments, and a perpetual Open Interfacing Commitment.

    Represented NBC Universal in the HULU joint venture in non-U.S. clearance processes throughout 2007-2011.

    Additional Speaking Engagements

    • July 31, 2024
      Asia Forum: 4th International Arbitration & Competition Law Summit
    • January 18, 2024
      3rd W@Competition Nordic Conference
    • November 27,2023
      Opening remarks at European Justice Forum and American Chamber of Commerce to the EU "Third Party Litigation Funding: "Access to Justice but not for Profit"
    • November 22, 2023
      Subsidies, screening and M&A: the EU's new regulatory order
    • September 1, 2023
      6th Annual Shanghai International Arbitration & Anti-Trust Forum
    • June 14, 2022
      Sustainability and Antitrust: Europe is leading – will America follow?, Chicago Bar Association
    • May 27, 2022
      Global Developments at the Intersection of Competition and Environmental Policy, panelist, International Committee and Transportation and Energy Industries Committee of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association.
    • April 6, 2022
      Populist Antitrust – The Buck Stops Where?, 2022 Antitrust Law Spring Meeting
    • November 17, 2021
      38th American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union Competition Policy ConferenceGlobal leadership and competition policy: EU vs the world?
    • September 2020
      Practicing Law in a Global Context, Peking University Law School
    • September 10, 2020
      Is Europe Staying Open or Closing Up? EU Policies on Foreign Investment, Competition and Subsidies
    • February 8, 2020
      GCR Live 9th Annual Antitrust Law Leaders Forum, Miami, Florida: Antitrust: Recent trends in antitrust and IP enforcement
    • September 18, 2019
      Practicing Law in a Global Context, Peking University Law School
    • November 2018
      Global Trends in Antitrust Enforcement, LeadershIp 2018
    • October 2018
      Working with the Baltic and Nordic Competition Authorities: Compliance, panel moderator