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Photo, Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson

Partner
Baker McKenzie BV/SRL

Biography

Paul Johnson is a partner in Baker McKenzie's European Competition & Regulatory Affairs Practice in Brussels. He is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales and is a member of the Brussels Bar A list. Paul has been practicing in Brussels and the UK for almost 20 years. Paul regularly represents clients on competition matters before the European Commission and UK CMA and has provided competition law advice in relation to over 100 jurisdictions around the world.

Paul is recognized by Legal 500 UK – EU and Competition ‘as an excellent attorney in terms of knowledge of the law, practical advice and responsiveness’. and Legal 500 – Belgium Competition EU and Global as ‘a very knowledgeable, reactive and smart lawyer.’

Paul was named by Rising Stars Awards Europe 2020 as one of 10 rising stars in competition and antitrust in Europe, and he is listed as a future leader in competition law by Who's Who legal. He is the author of award-winning articles on EU, UK and global competition law.

Practice Focus

Paul has extensive experience in all areas of EU competition law, including multi-jurisdictional and EU merger control (notifications and third-party complaints), foreign investment review, joint ventures, cartels, abuse of dominance, distribution and other commercial relationships.

Representative Legal Matters

  • Advised a technology company with respect to Microsoft’s USD 69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard, and was involved in the first ever ‘Phase III’ at the UK CMA.

  • Advised a technology company with respect to the proposed USD 40 billion acquisition of Arm by Nvidia, which was abandoned.

  • Advised Hitachi in relation to its approximately USD 11 billion acquisition of ABB's power grid business.

  • Advised Nielsen Holdings on its approximately USD 10 billion sale to a Buyers Consortia.

  • Advised Abbott Laboratories on its USD 5.8 billion acquisition of Alere, Inc. and successfully negotiated an upfront remedy with the European Commission to obtain extended phase I clearance.

  • Advised Galapagos NV on its approximately USD 5.1 collaboration with Gilead Sciences Inc.

  • Advised Bayer AG on its acquisition of Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. for approximately USD 4 billion.

  • Advised a medical device manufacturer on its sale to a medical device manufacturer for approximately USD 3.0 billion

  • Advised Jin Jiang on its acquisition of Radisson for approximately USD 2 billion.

  • Advised Lonza acquisition of Capsugel for approximately USD 5.5 billion.

Admissions

  • England & Wales~United Kingdom (2006)
  • Brussels (E-List)~Belgium (2007)
  • Brussels (A-List)~Belgium (2018)

Education

  • University of Edinburgh (LLB) (2001)
  • King's College London (Postgraduate Diploma in Competition Law) (2007)
  • King's College London (Postgraduate Diploma in Economics & Competition Law) (2008)

Languages

  • English

Publications

  • Author, “Merger Control, Foreign Direct Investment and Foreign Subsidies Regulation”, January 2024
  • Author, “How New Regulations are Shaping Europe’s Digital Landscape”, GCR Digital Markets Guide, third edition, 2023
  • FDI enforcement trends in Europe: Monthly updates 2023/24
  • Author, “Key Developments in Europe”, GCR Digital Markets Guide, second edition, 2022
  • Author, “European Union: Illumina/Grail – EU General Court recognizes broad EU jurisdiction over deals that don’t trigger any merger control filing requirements, July 2022, nominated for Concurrence writing awards
  • Author, Merger Control – A New Policy enables post-closing review of deals even where no national filing thresholds are met, 6 April 2021