Yvan N.Desmedt

Partner-in-Charge Amsterdam

Amsterdam + 31.20.305.4203 Brussels + 32.2.645.15.23

Yvan Desmedt has advised clients for 20 years on EU and national-level competition law, as well as advisory and litigation matters in regulated industries (telecoms, postal, energy, and financial services). He is the Partner-in-Charge of the Amsterdam Office, with a regular presence in the Brussels Office.

Yvan's competition law experience includes merger control at the EU and national levels as a notifying party or third-party opponent. Examples include assisting global corporates such as Carlyle, GE, Newell Brands, Toyota, and SAP in various transactions. He also has acted for complainants in transactions leading to significant structural remedies (Universal/EMI).

His antitrust experience at the EU level includes the interchange fee investigation for Mastercard, the roaming investigation, and the Power Cable and cargo cartels, as well as national proceedings in Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Luxembourg. Yvan regularly advises on commercial agreements, including joint ventures, distribution, and licensing. He also advises trade associations, including the GSM Association (mobile network operators), APPLiA (the European Association for Household Appliances), and the Federation of European Stock Exchanges (FESE), on compliance and EU regulatory issues.

Yvan has significant litigation and advisory experience in the regulated industries. He advises fixed and mobile telecommunications and postal operators across Europe in proceedings before competition authorities, regulators, and civil and administrative courts. He also assists telecom clients in other matters such as frequency auctions, licensing issues, site-sharing, and access agreements.

Also active in international trade and export control, Yvan recently advised on trade protection procedures in the field of raw materials/chemical derivatives and on dual-use regulations.

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Experience

  • Korean Air obtains EU antitrust approval of acquisition of Asiana AirlinesJones Day advised Korean Air Lines Co., Ltd in securing EU merger control clearance following the European Commission's in-depth investigation of its landmark acquisition of Asiana Airlines, Inc., bringing together the two largest airlines in South Korea.
  • SmartSD enters into strategic partnership with CobepaJones Day advised SmartSD and its longstanding stakeholders Smile Invest, co-founders and management on a strategic partnership with new majority shareholder Cobepa, a leading European private equity company.
  • Timken acquires LagersmitJones Day advised The Timken Company in the acquisition of Lagersmit, a Netherlands-based manufacturer of highly engineered sealing solutions for demanding marine, dredging, water, tidal energy and other industrial applications.
  • FLEETCOR acquires Global Reach GroupJones Day advised FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. in the acquisition of Global Reach Group, a UK-based cross-border payments provider.
  • Euricom sells stake in Rol-Ryz sp. z o.o.Jones Day acted as counsel to Euricom S.p.A. and its Polish subsidiary Rol-Ryz sp. z o.o., a leading European pulses and rice distributor, in the sale of a 28.6% minority stake in Rol-Ryz to Mitsui & Co., Ltd.
  • 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.
  • DAS sells credit management business Cannock ChaseJones Day assisted DAS Holding N.V. and DAS Legal Finance in the sale of their credit management business, Cannock Chase, by means of an auction sale process.
  • SHV Energy N.V sold Primagaz Nederland to DCC EnergyJones Day advised SHV Energy N.V. in the sale of Primagaz Nederland to DCC Energy.
  • Signature Aviation sells Global Engine Services business to StandardAero for $230 millionJones Day advised Signature Aviation plc, a market-leading provider of global aviation support services, in the $230 million sale of the Engine Repair and Overhaul (ERO) business to StandardAero, a portfolio company owned by The Carlyle Group and a leading provider of maintenance, repair, and overhaul services.
  • JBS acquires ViveraJones Day advised Brazilian JBS S.A., the world's largest protein company and second-largest food producer, in its acquisition of Vivera, Europe’s third-largest manufacturer of plant-based food, for an enterprise value of €341 million.
  • SHV Energy and UGI launch joint ventureJones Day advised SHV Energy N.V. in its joint venture with UGI Corporation to advance production and use of Renewable Dimethyl Ether ("rDME "), a low-carbon sustainable liquid gas, to accelerate renewable solutions for the LPG industry.
  • EIC acquires assets of CG Power Systems BelgiumJones Day advised Electrical Industries Company (EIC) in the acquisition of the production activities from the assets of the bankrupt estate of CG Power Systems Belgium.
  • Catawiki raises €150 million investment led by PermiraJones Day advised Catawiki B.V., Europe's leading curated online marketplace for special objects, on a €150 million investment, led by Permira through its Growth Opportunities Fund.
  • Micreos teams up with L'Oréal for skin care products containing endolysinsJones Day represented Micreos Human Health B.V. in its license out to L'Oréal of endolysin technology that targets harmful skin bacteria while preserving useful bacteria for L'Oréal's use worldwide in skin care products for cosmetic applications.
  • United Nations University obtains assistance with "Survivor's Package" for survivors of modern slavery and human traffickingJones Day conducted worldwide research for the United Nations University Centre for Policy Research to assist in the development of a "Survivor Package" for survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking.
  • PETRONAS Chemicals acquires Da Vinci Group B.V. for €163 millionJones Day advised PETRONAS Chemicals Group Berhad (PCG) in its acquisition of a 100% stake in Da Vinci Group B.V. from its shareholders including funds managed by Bencis Capital Partners for €163 million.
  • AURELIUS sells Solidus Solutions for €330 million (US$375.6 million)Jones Day advised AURELIUS Equity Opportunities SE & Co. KGaA on the full shop auction sale of the Solidus Solutions group to funds advised by Centerbridge Partners, L.P.
  • DAS acquires majority of insurance portfolios from Stichting Schaderegelingskantoor voor RechtsbijstandverzekeringJones Day advised DAS Holding N.V. in the acquisition of the majority of insurance portfolios from Stichting Schaderegelingskantoor voor Rechtsbijstandverzekering ("SRK") through an asset deal.
  • Newell Brands sells Process Solutions to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC for $500 millionJones Day advised Newell Brands Inc. in the sale of its Process Solutions business to One Rock Capital Partners, LLC for $500 million in cash.
  • Garmin® acquires Tacx, the leading manufacturer of indoor bike trainersJones Day advised Garmin Ltd. in its acquisition of the Tacx group, a Dutch family business that designs and manufactures high end indoor bike trainers, tools and accessories, as well as indoor training software and applications.
  • Additional Publications

    • April 2019
      "La nouvelle loi postale belge: premières analyses et réflexions", published in RDC
    • March 2019
      'De een zijn dood, de ander zijn brood: De handelsbeschermende maatregelen van president Trump en de mogelijke impact ervan voor het bedrijfsleven in de EU en Nederland', Tijdschrift Ondernemingsrecht 2019(3), pp. 161-171
    • December 2017
      European General Court Rules (Again) on Mandatory Access and Interoperability in Software Industry, Cyberspace Lawyer, Vol 22 Issue 11
    • March 2014
      The First Competition Law Case in the Belgian Postal Sector: Should the Messenger Have Been Shot twice?
    • 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
    • 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
    • May 2009
      European Ombudsman's first decision on access to file in antitrust investigation, European Competition Law Review

    Speaking Engagements

    • June 6-7, 2019
      Conference ERA/EMR on EU law in the Media Sector
    • November 6, 2018
      Competition Law and Regulation in the Telecoms & Communications Sector 2018
    • November 28, 2017
      Breakfast Workshop on Dawn Raids
    • October 17-18, 2017
      Competition Law and Regulation in the Telecoms, Media & Technology Sectors
    • October 18-19, 2016
      Competition Law and Regulation in the Telecoms, Media and Technology Sector 2016
    • October 14, 2016
      Seminar Crisis: How to Manage?
    • June 6, 2016
      27th Annual Communications and Competition Conference
    • November 18-19, 2015
      IBC’s Legal’s 21st Annual Competition Law, Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) Sector 2015
    • October 6, 2015
      Annual Conference of the International Bar Association
    • September 1, 2015
      Antitrust and State Aid Presentation to University of Hohenheim’s Aviation MBA Program
    • November 6, 2014
      Competition Law in the Broadcasting Sector 2014
    • March 19, 2014
      Telecoms Conference Series: Demystifying EU telecoms consolidation
    • October 17, 2013
      The New Belgian Competition Act and Recent Developments in Belgian Competition Law
    • May 29, 2013
      Antitrust Law in the Aviation Industry
    • April 29-30, 2013
      International Bar Association's 24th Annual Communications and Competition Conference