Recognition
Latham Wins 2022 GCR Award for Merger Control Matter of the Year – Europe
April 18, 2022
Voters from across the global antitrust community honored the firm’s work clearing EssilorLuxottica’s US$8.3 billion acquisition of GrandVision.
Continuing Latham’s nearly decade-long streak earning top prizes out of Global Competition Review’s annual GCR Awards, the firm’s elite Antitrust & Competition Practice took home Merger Control Matter of the Year – Europe for successfully guiding EssilorLuxottica S.A., a global leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of ophthalmic lenses, frames, and sunglasses, in its acquisition of Hal Optical Investments’ 76.72% ownership interest in GrandVision N.V., a global leader in optical retail with over 7,000 stores and Europe’s largest optical retail chain.
Notably, GCR Awards are bestowed by the worldwide antitrust community itself. Global Competition Review editors first select a handful of Finalists per category, spotlighting only the most complex, groundbreaking and high-profile antitrust work from the prior year – the real game-changers. Winners are then chosen directly through votes gathered from in-house and private practice competition practitioners, academics, and enforcers around the globe.
Valued at US$8.3 billion, EssilorLuxottica’s high-profile GrandVision deal triggered merger filings globally, including the EU, US, Turkey, Russia, Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. A cross-office Latham team represented EssilorLuxottica in the European Commission’s in-depth probe of the transaction, which ultimately resulted in the EU regulator granting clearance in March 2021. On behalf of the acquirer, Latham also secured approval of the deal from antitrust enforcement agencies in the Americas, Turkey, and Russia, enabling the transaction to close in July 2021.
Latham’s global Antitrust & Competition Practice also earned more than a dozen more team and individual 2022 GCR Award Finalist honors, including two Matter of the Year nods, Dealmaker of the Year for Washington, D.C. partner and member of Latham’s Executive Committee Michael Egge, and Lawyer of the Year – Under 40 for Brussels/London partner David Little.
Finalists, Team Awards:
- Merger Control Matter of the Year – Americas: “Illumina/GRAIL”
- Merger Control Matter of the Year – Europe:
- Merger Control Matter of the Year – Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa:
- “Siemens Healthineers/Varian Medical Systems”
- “CA Magnum Holdings/Hexaware Technologies”
- Litigation of the Year – Cartel Defence: “Broiler Chicken antitrust litigation”
- Behavioural Matter of the Year – Americas: “FTC Broadcom investigation”
- Matter of the Year:
Finalists, Individual Awards:
- Dealmaker of the Year: Michael Egge
- Lawyer of the Year – Under 40: David Little
Latham’s global team for EssilorLuxottica included Antitrust & Competition Practice Vice Chair Jacques-Philippe Gunther and partner Mathilde Saltiel in Paris; counsel Ritta Motta in Brussels; and associates Wenceslas Chelini and Constance Dobelmann in Paris, as well as partners Michael Egge and Farrell Malone in Washington, D.C.