CHRISTOPH VAN OPSTAL
Hong Kong
CHRISTOPH VAN OPSTAL
Hong Kong
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CHRISTOPH VAN OPSTAL
Hong Kong
PROFILE REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS AND CASES OTHER INFORMATION Further Reading
CHRISTOPH SPECIALIZES IN ANTITRUST AND COMPETITION LAW, INCLUDING MERGER CONTROL, ANTITRUST INVESTIGATIONS AND LITIGATION, AND STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL ISSUES.
Education
University of Technology Sydney, Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts
(First Class Honours)
Professional Qualification
Admitted as a solicitor to the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Australia
Registered Foreign Lawyer in Hong Kong SAR
PROFILE
Christoph’s practice focuses on complex M&A transactions, investigations and enforcement actions with a global and multi-jurisdictional dimension. Prior to joining Fangda Partners, Christoph worked in the competition practices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer in London (practicing EU and UK competition law) and Gilbert + Tobin in Sydney. As a result, he has first-hand experience in cases before various competition authorities and courts globally, including China’s State Administration for Market Regulation, Hong Kong’s Competition Commission, the European Commission, the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS AND CASES
Christoph’s most recent work in China includes:
- acting for MaxLinear on its proposed USD3.8 billion acquisition of Taiwanese semiconductor company Silicon Motion, a landmark semiconductor merger control case that was cleared with remedies in the midst of China-US geopolitical tensions in 2023;
- acting for Regal Rexnord Corporation on its USD5 billion acquisition of Altra Industrial Motion Corp;
- securing unconditional approval for MKS Instruments on its USD6.5 billion acquisition of German-based specialist chemicals technology company Atotech;
- representing Lumentum on its USD918 million acquisition of NeoPhotonics Corporation, a leading supplier of optoelectronic products;
- acting for AerCap on its USD30 billion acquisition of GE Capital Aviation Services, to create a global leader in aircraft leasing;
- advising Maxim Integrated on its USD27.5 billion sale to Analog Devices, which combined two semiconductor leaders and was cleared unconditionally;
- securing unconditional clearance for the proposed USD1.8 billion Hyundai Heavy Industries / DSME merger to create the world’s largest shipbuilder (following an extensive review of nearly 17 months, which represents one of the longest reviews undertaken in China);
- advising a global complainant in the USD7 billion the merger control proceedings of NVIDIA/Mellanox, which resulted in a significant remedy package in China;
- securing unconditional clearance for the USD12 billion Pfizer (Upjohn) / Mylan merger;
- advising American Express on its entry into China’s bank card clearing services (the first foreign payments network to be allowed to process local currency transactions in China).
Christoph acted as global counsel (which includes coordinating global filing efforts) on a number of key deals before the European Commission, including:
- acting on the proposed merger between Siemens / Alstom, which is widely regarded as a landmark test case in European merger control;
- securing unconditional (Phase I) clearance for Coty on its USD12.5 billion acquisition of Proctor & Gamble’s beauty business to create one of the world’s largest beauty players;
- providing strategic advice on the Intrum Justitia / Lindorff merger, which resulted in significant remedies and created the industry leading provider of credit management services;
- acting for a major luxury brands supplier on a range of vertical issues in respect of its distribution systems in the e-commerce space.
Christoph acted as lead lawyer in key investigations and court proceedings before the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and a range of financial regulators, including:
- representing a major bank against allegations of manipulation/collusion in the foreign exchange markets;
- defending and achieving favourable settlement for Malaysia Airlines in court proceedings regarding global price-fixing allegations of air cargo related surcharges.
