Charles is a special counsel in our Antitrust, Competition, and Trade practice, based in DC.
Charles counsels clients on domestic and international merger control proceedings and related strategy, including coordinating Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) filings, drafting for advocacy before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), providing preliminary assessment of non-U.S. merger control filing obligations, and overseeing and supporting local counsel in non-U.S. merger control proceedings. He also provides antitrust compliance advice and support to clients across industries on pre-closing integration activities and post-closing hold-separate arrangements, including drafting non-disclosure agreements and developing associated employee trainings.
Prior to rejoining Freshfields, he worked as an Attorney Advisor at the DOJ Antitrust Division. During his time at the DOJ he primarily advised the Antitrust Division front office and staff on a range of antitrust-related policy, regulatory, and legislative projects and initiatives, particularly as they relate to U.S. merger control policy and legal issues.
Charles is also fluent in German.
- Cencora, Inc. on its acquisition of Retina Consultants of America, for cash, based on an enterprise value of approximately $4.6bn.
- DSV on its €14.3bn acquisition of Schenker AG from Deutsche Bahn.
- Evonik Industries in connection with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)’s investigation into Evonik’s $630m acquisition of the precipitated silica business from J.M. Huber Corporation.
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise on the US merger control aspects of its $14bn acquisition of Juniper Networks.
- Infineon Technologies on its $830m acquisition of GaN Systems Inc.
- Japanese Tobacco Co. in $2.4bn acquisition of US cigarette maker Vector Group
- Johnson & Johnson on its $850m acquisition of Proteologix, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on bispecific antibodies for immune-mediated diseases, and its $2bn acquisition of Ambrx Biopharma, a biotech company developing next generation ADCs for prostate cancer.
- Jungheinrich AG on its $375m acquisition of Storage Solutions Group.
- Kiekert AG, and its North American subsidiary, in the global auto parts price-fixing investigations, including a negotiated plea agreement with the DOJ and follow-on litigation in the US.
- Messer Group & CVC Capital Partners with respect to their $3.3bn acquisition of North American industrial gas assets required to be divested as a result of the FTC’s investigation of Linde/Praxair.
- Molson Coors Beverage Company on its strategic partnership with Fever-Tree in the US.
- Novartis on the merger control aspects of its $1.75bn acquisition of US radiopharmaceutical company Mariana Oncology.
- Roivant Sciences on its $7.1bn sale of Telavant, the developer of treatments for IBS.
- Sanofia S.A. on its pending acquisition of Vigil Neuroscience, Inc.
- Starbucks on global merger control and ongoing competition compliance aspects of its $7.15bn global coffee alliance with Nestle.
- Viterra and its shareholders on global merger control of its transformative merger with Bunge Limited. This $34bn transaction marks the largest grain trading merger in over a decade, establishing a cutting-edge global agribusiness leader.
- Yokohama Rubber on its acquisition of Trelleborg Wheel Systems Holding AB.
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