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Francesca Miotto

Partner

Email

francesca.miotto@aoshearman.com

Phone

+32 2 780 29 17

Offices

Brussels

V-CARD
Francesca has a highly diverse practice, with over 15 years of experience advising on the full range of competition issues across numerous industries, including automotive, tech, pharmaceuticals and oil and gas. 

She has particular expertise in the full lifecycle of EU antitrust investigations: from representing clients in over a dozen EU cartel and abuse of dominance investigations to advising on private enforcement issues and litigating before the European courts in Luxembourg on antitrust and EU law issues. She honed her expertise in the most prominent private enforcement case to date in the EU, spanning 14 jurisdictions, which is ongoing.

She is also noted for her experience in advising on complex multi-jurisdictional merger reviews, including two Phase II clearances before the EU Commission (one of which was based on a 'failing firm' defence). In addition, she has an active advisory practice, and regularly conducts compliance audits and provides training and counselling on antitrust compliance. She has dealt extensively with the European Commission, as well as other regulators around the world. 

Who’s Who Legal ranks Francesca as a Global Elite Thought Leader in Competition and says ‘she is a fantastic lawyer with in-depth expertise of the full lifecycle of cartel matters’, ‘she has impressive analytical skills and the ability to quickly get to the core of any antitrust problem’, ‘Francesca is responsive, very knowledgeable and bold (when necessary) as well as a pleasure to work with’, ‘She is experienced in follow-on damages claims’, ‘and ‘She's very capable, business oriented and has a hands-on approach to complex issues’.

Francesca is qualified in the UK and Belgium and has worked in both the London and Brussels antitrust teams, as well as in the firm's Paris office. She is bilingual English/Italian and fluent in French. 

 

Experience

Representative matters

  • Scania on the European Commission heavy trucks investigation and on Scania’s defence strategy in follow-on private damages claims across the EEA and beyond, as well as on the on-going appeal of the European Commission’s decision in the trucks case to the General Court of the EU and the subsequent appeal to the ECJ.
  • Major global banks in confidential and parallel antitrust investigations by various competition authorities, including the EC.
  • Huntsman on the EU merger control aspect of its acquisition of the titanium dioxide assets of Rockwood. The European Commission cleared the acquisition, subject to remedies, following an in-depth Phase 2 merger control review.
  • Nynas AB on the conclusion of a long term lease agreement for the base oil manufacturing plant and certain refining assets in Hamburg-Harburg from Shell Deutschland Oil GmbH. This was a complex EU merger control case subject to a Phase 2 investigation by the European Commission.
  • Nexi on its acquisition of SIA, which was cleared, subject to remedies, by the Italian Antitrust Authority after a Phase 2 review.
  • A car manufacturer in relation to a cartel investigation by the European Commission, including conducting the internal investigation and developing a defence strategy.
  • ABX in connection with the European Commission freight forwarding cartel investigation and related settlement.
  • Procter & Gamble in connection with the European Commission detergents investigation and related settlement.
  • A multinational technology company on antitrust risk in a number of jurisdictions across the globe.
  • A multinational in the paper and cardboard sector in the context of an internal audit and subsequent immunity application to the Italian competition authority.
  • IMI in its appeal to the General Court against the European Commission’s decision in the Copper fittings case (case T-378/06).
  • YKK in a successful appeal to the Court of Justice of the EU against a GC judgment dismissing YKK’s action for annulment of the European Commission’s decision in relation to the fasteners cartel. The appeal resulted in a very significant reduction in the fine imposed on YKK (case C-408/12).
  • A US multinational on annual compliance audits.
  • An investment bank on an internal investigation into possible market misconduct/market manipulation in a commodities market.
  • A public petroleum and natural gas company on the antitrust aspects of global merger control clearances (including FDI) linked to multiple transactions involving acquisitions and joint ventures. 

Speaking Engagements

Guest Speaker, Private enforcement and its evolving legal framework – understanding the interplay between EU and national law to inform your litigation strategy, Lear Competition Festival, Rome, 26-29/09/2023

Guest Speaker, Sustainability: Antitrust's role and how to ensure joint initiatives remain compliant, Lear Competition Festival, Rome, 21-23/09/2022

Guest Speaker, Parallel trade in the life sciences sector – recent developments, Webinar, 14/01/2021

Chair, Panel discussion, Discretion and judicial review in competition cases, W@Competition Conference, 21/02/2019

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2007

Admitted as “avocate” (Brussels, Belgium), 2019

Academic

GDL, Economics for Competition Law, King's College London

GDL, Competition Law, King's College London

PLC (Distinction), BPP Law School, London

LLB (Hons), Law, City University London (First Class)

MA (Hons), Modern Languages, Christ Church, Oxford University (First Class)
 

Languages

English, French, Italian
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.