Francesco Carloni

Practice Areas

Francesco has more than 15 years of experience in advising and representing companies in complex merger control and antitrust investigations in Europe and globally, offering clients solutions to complex problems. He has extensive experience in notifying mergers (including in-depth (Phase 2) investigations and remedies) and joint ventures with the European Commission and national competition authorities in Europe, coordinating the notification of international transactions globally, and advising on all aspects of antitrust law, including vertical agreements, anti-cartel enforcement, collaborative arrangements, unilateral conduct, e-commerce, EU sector inquiries, public consultations, and state aid. Francesco has experience in multiple sectors, including luxury & fashion industry, aviation, chemicals, energy, high-tech, pharmaceuticals and medical devices and automotive industry.

Career

Prior to joining K&L Gates in 2015, Francesco worked for several international law firms in Brussels. In 2004, he was also an intern for the World Trade Organization in the Council Division & Trade Negotiations Committee, and, in 2003, he was an intern for the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Professional Memberships

Italian Initiative Group, Brussels; Georgetown European Board Alumni; antitrutsititalia.eu

Publications

Third antitrust survey on the luxury and fashion sectors, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice (2023-2025); Second antitrust survey on the luxury and fashion sectors, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice (2022-2023); First antitrust survey on the luxury and fashion sectors, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice (2020-2021); the EU merger control chapter of the Merger Thresholds Monitor in Kluwer Competition Law (Wolters Kluwer) (2025).

Personal

Travelling, history

Clients

Francesco’s clients include Prada, Armani, National Chamber for the Italian Fashion (Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana), French Trade Association for the Fashion Industry (Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode), Canali, Ferragamo, OTB (and its iconic fashion brands such as Diesel, Marni, Maison Margiela, Staff International, Jil Sander), PlasticsEurope, Versace, Zegna, Thom Browne, HIND, Ferring Pharmaceuticals and Reata Pharmaceuticals.

Work Highlights

Francesco has represented Fujifilm in its USD 700 million acquisition of CMC Materials KMG Corporation (KMG) from Entegris; Securitas in its USD 3.2 billion acquisition of Stanley Security before the Commission; represented an iconic fashion brand before the Commission and the U.S. DOJ in connection with its cartel investigation in the fashion sector. He represents Prada, OTB (including brands) and Zegna in the implementation of their antitrust compliance programme globally.

Industry Sector Expertise

Consumer Goods and Services; Healthcare; Life Sciences; Luxury Products and Fashion; Pharmaceuticals, Biologics, and Medical Devices

Expert in these Jurisdictions

EU, Italy

Languages Spoken

English, French, Italian, Spanish

Experience

Francesco worked for several international law firms in Brussels.

Education

Awards