Hogan Lovells promotes two to Counsel
7th January 2015
06 January 2015
Hogan Lovells has promoted two of its lawyers, Jan Blockx and Gianni De Stefano, to Counsel in the firm's Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation practice, effective 1 January 2015.
Hogan Lovells ACER practice in Brussels now has 4 partners and 5 counsel, and is committed to growth as it continues providing excellence to its clients.
Janet L. McDavid, Washington DC-based global co-head of the Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation practice, said: "Our clients need and deserve the best service from the best people and these promotions fit with our strategy to make that happen." Suyong Kim, London-based global co-head of the practice added: "I am delighted to see talented lawyers like Jan and Gianni grow within our ACER practice.”
Jan Blockx, 35, studied law and philosophy at the Universities of Leuven and Edinburgh as well as European competition law at King's College London. Jan has a wealth of experience in the field of merger control, both at the EU level and worldwide, including in emerging markets. He also advises on behavioural matters, State aid and EU law more generally, and frequently litigates before the European and national courts. He works in sectors such as food, life sciences, chemicals, manufacturing and transport.
Most recently, Jan has advised Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on the creation of a joint venture combining its metal machinery business with that of Siemens, cleared unconditionally by the European Commission, the US Federal Trade Commission, China's MOFCOM, the Competition Commission of India and various other competition authorities worldwide. He is also coordinating a team of lawyers advising a shipping company subject to an on-going antitrust investigation by the European Commission and several other authorities.
Jan commented: "I am excited by the opportunity to further develop the exceptional practice of this firm in Brussels and elsewhere. Together with our outstanding team, my aim in this new role is to build on and expand the solutions we offer to clients around the globe."
Gianni De Stefano, 35, holds degrees from the University of Bologna, the College of Europe and the New York School of Law, and is a member of the Italian and New York bars. Gianni focuses on global cartel investigations and merger deals, as well as the full spectrum of competition law and related regulated areas. Gianni is an editor of the 'Journal of European Competition Law & Practice' (published by Oxford University Press) and a founder of 'Antitrustitalia', an association of professionals working in antitrust and including European Commission officials, in house lawyers, practitioners and economists.
From mid-2014 Gianni has been coordinating a global team in a landmark acquisition in the power generation sector, dealing with competition authorities in over 20 jurisdictions. He has also advised clients in some of the most complex global cartel cases of recent years, covering both regulatory and criminal proceedings, litigation before the Court of Justice and civil damage proceedings before national courts.
"I am looking forward to working with Jan and the team for the years to come," Gianni said. "Hogan Lovells is an extraordinary firm where diversity and teamwork allow us to provide top notch quality services to clients."
