About
Laurent is a counsel in the firm’s Antitrust, Competition and Trade Group, based in Tokyo. He advises clients on Asia‑related inbound and outbound transactions, covering the full range of merger control, foreign investment screening, and EU Foreign Subsidies reviews.
Laurent regularly guides clients through complex and evolving geopolitical and regulatory environments. He has extensive experience with merger control and foreign investment screening regimes across Asia and Europe, and has advised corporates and financial sponsors on a number of complex Phase I and Phase II investigations, including matters requiring remedies. He also advises on trade defence issues and has supported several Asia‑based clients in complying with the EU Foreign Subsidies regime. In Asia, Laurent frequently assists private capital sponsors on the regulatory aspects of their transactions.
Laurent is registered with the Brussels Bar and is fluent in English, Dutch and French. He is a Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi (registered foreign lawyer) with the Tokyo Bar.
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- Advised NEC Corporation on its pending US$2.9bn acquisition of Nasdaq listed SaaS solutions provider CSG Systems.
- Supported The Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. on the global merger control and foreign investment screening aspects of its acquisitions of Trelleborg Wheel Systems from Trelleborg AB, and the off-the-road (OTR) tire business from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company.
- Supported Midea Electrics Netherlands B.V., a subsidiary of the globally operating Midea Group, on its €750m acquisition of the Climate Division from Arbonia AG.
- Advised Etihad and SF Airlines on their Joint Business Agreement enhancing cargo connectivity between Asia and Europe.
- Advised DSV A/S on the merger control implications in the APAC region of its €14.3bn acquisition of Schenker AG from Deutsche Bahn.
- Advised UBS Group AG on fast-tracked regulatory engagements tailored to the procedural nuances of each jurisdiction involved in its acquisition of Credit Suisse Group AG.*
- Advised ESR on the multi-jurisdictional merger and foreign investment filing analysis workstream relating to its $5.2 bn acquisition of of ARA Asset Management, and on its subsequent HK$55.2 billion (approximately $7.1 billion) privatisation.*
- Advised Korean Air across the APAC region on strategic merger control and regulatory aspects of its 1.8 trillion won (approximately $1.51 billion) acquisition of Asiana, merging the two largest airlines in Korea. This matter won Merger Control Matter of the Year for the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region at the GCR Awards 2023.*
- Advised London Stock Exchange Group on global coordination, regulatory engagement and substantive strategy for its successful $27bn acquisition of Refinitiv.*
- Advised the Malaysia Airlines group on regulatory aspects of its global restructuring, including the first use of a UK scheme to reduce liabilities under aircraft leases.*
- Advised Borealis AG on an in-depth investigation into its acquisition of semi-conductive compound manufacturer DYM Chemicals by the Korea Fair Trade Commission.*
- Advised Suzano Papel e Celulose, the Brazilian paper and pulp manufacturer, on the global merger control aspects of its $11bn acquisition of rival Fibria Celulose, including in the EU, US, China and Brazil.*
- Advised Maersk Line on the merger control clearances of its acquisition of Hamburg Süd in over 20 jurisdictions including the EU, China and South Korea.*
- Advised BASF on its €7.6bn acquisition of significant components of Bayer’s seed and crop protection businesses and related assets, which Bayer divested ahead of its planned acquisition of Monsanto.*
* Matter handled while working at Freshfields offices other than Tokyo.
Laurent Bougard
Akasaka Biz Tower 36F
5-3-1 Akasaka, Minato-ku