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Joel specialises in cross-border competition law matters.

Joel is Of Counsel within Herbert Smith Freehills' Competition, Regulatory and Trade practice in Tokyo. Joel has broad experience in various areas of EU and cross-border competition and regulatory law.

Joel has worked with a number of global and Japanese clients in relation to the multi-jurisdictional merger control aspects of their transactions, as well as antitrust investigations by the European Commission and other regulators, in particular in the energy and resources, manufacturing and industrial, pharmaceuticals, consumer goods and media sectors. Working with our disputes team, he is able to advise clients on competition disputes and other contentious matters.

Joel has spent close to five years in Europe working on EU competition law matters, including in the Herbert Smith Freehills Brussels office. 

Joel is a fluent Japanese speaker and a graduate of the University of Tokyo. Joel is licensed to advise in Japan as a Registered Foreign Lawyer (Gaikokuho Jimu Bengoshi). Joel lectures part time at the Hitotsubashi University Graduate School of Law.

Background

Joel holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Sydney, and a Masters of Laws (LLM) from the University of Tokyo.

Joel is admitted to practice in New South Wales, Australia, and as a solicitor in England and Wales. 

Experience & expertise

Selected matters

  • Bridgestone Corporation on the merger control and FDI aspects of its acquisition of Otraco International
  • Uber on the merger control and competition law aspects of its South Korean taxi-hailing joint venture with SK Telecom
  • Comcast/Sky on obtaining EU and worldwide merger control clearances for a joint venture with Viacom CBS for digital streaming services
  • AbbVie on the EU merger filing for its proposed £30bn acquisition of Shire Pharmaceuticals
  • Furukawa Electric in connection with the European Commission's cartel investigation into high voltage underground and sub-sea power cables
  • Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation on the European Commission's cartel investigation into automotive bearings