Charlotte Simphal | People | Arnold & Porter

Charlotte Simphal is a French qualified lawyer and advises extensively on merger control and cartel investigations before the European Commission and national competition authorities worldwide. In addition, she regularly advises clients on restrictive agreements and practices, as well as questions related to abuse of dominance. She also provides advice on state aid as well as regulatory matters. Charlotte has represented a variety of clients across a number of different sectors, including chemicals, medical equipment, food and beverages, shipping and power generation.

Charlotte has worked in-house as competition counsel at a major FTSE 100 company and has also undertaken a traineeship at the European Commission’s Directorate General for Competition.

Prior to joining Arnold & Porter, Charlotte worked in the Brussels and London-based competition law groups at leading U.S. and UK law firms. She is fluent in French and English.

Focus Areas

Antitrust/Competition

Experience

Fitbit in EU and other ex-U.S. merger filings regarding its acquisition by Google, successfully concluding in Europe with data remedies after a Phase 2 review.
SABIC in obtaining worldwide merger clearances for the creation of a joint venture with Exxon-Mobil to build and operate a multi-billion dollar petrochemical plant producing ethylene and ethylene derivatives.
General Electric in its transaction combining GE Oil & Gas with Baker Hughes to create a new publicly traded company owned 62.5% by GE with US$23 billion in combined revenue. Co-lead counsel for the EU filing that ended with an unconditional clearance.
Komatsu Ltd. in international merger filings regarding its US$2.9 billion agreement to acquire mining equipment company, Joy Global.
Boston Scientific in its acquisition of AMS' Men's Health and Prostate Health businesses.

U.S. client on the French merger control aspects of the sale of one of their portfolio companies.
BASF in its €3.1 billion acquisition of Cognis GmbH, including the negotiation of commitments to secure Phase I clearance.
AREVA in its sale of its T&D business to ALSTOM and Schneider, and in its appeal before the General Court against the European Commission's decision in the Power Transformers case.
Major FTSE 100 bank in its proposed acquisition of another European bank.
European company in the context of a hostile public bid by a U.S. corporation in the food and beverage sector.
Major pan-European aerospace and defence corporation in connection with the restructuring of its guided missile activities.
American multinational company in connection with the creation of two JVs in the petrochemical sector.
Major French media company in connection with its intervention in an appeal before the General Court against a Commission clearance decision in the publishing sector.

Japanese multinational company active in the transportation industry with respect to an ongoing global cartel investigation.
AREVA in its appeals before the European Courts in the Power Transformers and Gas Insulated Switchgear cases.
Major Japanese producer of car components in a cartel investigation under Article 101 TFEU before the European Commission.
American multinational company in an abuse of dominance case investigated by the European Commission in the financial sector.
American multinational company in connection with the European Commission's investigation of the lifts and escalators cartel.

French multinational company in connection with the European Commission's investigation of the French beer cartel.

Major French cosmetics company in connection with the European Cosmetics Directive.
European technology company active in the travel industry with respect to the Code of Conduct for Computerised Reservation Systems.

Perspectives

May 30, 2025

The Foreign Subsidies Regulation: Where Do We Stand 18 Months Into Implementation of the Notification Obligations

Advisory

April 3, 2024

The Legal 500 EMEA 2024 Again Recognizes Arnold & Porter’s Brussels Competition Capabilities

September 18, 2023

The New EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation — Key Aspects for Compliance (pdf)

Advisory

August 11, 2023

Arnold & Porter Advises JHT Holdings in Sale to TFI International

June 30, 2023

EU Merger Control: What To Expect From the Commission’s Revised Simplified Procedure and Amended Notification Forms

Advisory

More

Recognition

Legal 500 Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA)

Belgium Competition: EU and Global (2021)

Credentials

Education

C.A.P.A., Ecole de formation professionnelle des Barreaux de la cour d’appel de Paris, 2003
D.E.A. de droit privé général, University Paris-Pantheon-Assas, 2002
LL.M., King's College London, 2001
Maîtrise de droit mention Carrières Judiciaires, Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne University, 2000

Admissions

Brussels, Belgium
Paris, France (eligible)

Languages

French
English