Biography
Iakovos Sarmas joined White & Case in 2019. He focuses on EU litigation, EU competition law, and global merger control, and he is a key member of the White & Case teams advising tech companies on the EU's Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act.
Since the DSA entered into force, Iakovos has been advising leading online platforms in the context of DSA investigations in a wide range of issues, including data access, elections, protection of minors and other vulnerable users, recommender systems, user reporting, and others. He has assisted clients in various stages of DSA enforcement, including commitments, and he is also representing clients in relevant EU court proceedings.
Iakovos has also advised clients in cutting-edge antitrust investigations of the European Commission and national agencies, and has gained expertise in defending against allegations of exclusionary and price-related practices. He is also a Greek-qualified lawyer and has appeared before the Hellenic Competition Commission (HCC) in high-profile cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, and in settlement proceedings.
Iakovos has also acted in highly technical merger control cases, including a Phase II investigation of the European Commission, a multi-billion acquisition in automotive technology involving fact-heavy filings in various key jurisdictions, and a transformative merger in the cybersecurity sector. He has also assisted clients in simultaneously notifying cross-border deals in various peripheral jurisdictions, and has represented clients directly in merger filings before the European Commission, the HCC, and the Cypriot Commission for the Protection of Competition.
Iakovos regularly advises on matters related to the EU internal market rules, and has completed pro bono work for the firm, including advice on human rights questions (ECHR, EU Charter).
Prior to joining White & Case, Iakovos interned at the Chambers of Judge S. Papasavvas of the EU General Court, and worked as an antitrust associate at a leading Greek law firm.
Experience
Represented Avast on its merger with NortonLifeLock (including the unconditional Phase 2 clearance before the UK's CMA), creating Gen Digital.
Represented Faurecia on acquisition of HELLA (cleared unconditionally in 10 key merger control jurisdictions), creating Forvia.
Represented Forvia on sale of SAS Cockpit Modules division (cleared unconditionally in 4 key merger control jurisdictions).
Representing Meta Platforms Ireland before the General Court in challenging its DSA supervisory fee.
Represented a target company before the European Commission in a Phase II merger case in the shipyard industry.
Advised Amazon in its challenge of the European Commission's carve-out of Italy in the decision opening proceedings in the BuyBox case.
Advised Autotechnica (franchisee of Hertz for Croatia) before the CJEU in a Croatian preliminary reference case raising questions of compatibility of national legislation with the EU Services Directive.
Advised Google in its CJEU appeal against the General Court's Android judgment.
Advised a very large online platform (VLOP) in the successful settlement of a DSA investigation, resulting in the first ever DSA commitments decision.
Represented Greek pharmaceuticals leader DEMO S.A. in cartel proceedings before the HCC, leading to complete exoneration.
Represented leading Greek construction group in cartel proceedings before the HCC, securing settlement and first-ever inability-to-pay decision in Greece.
Represented leading EU metals company in its complaint before the HCC (abuse of dominance), leading to a finding of infringement against its supplier.
Represented global leader in soft drinks markets before the HCC (abuse of dominance).
