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Sibel Yilmaz

Partner

Brussels +32 2 545 7511

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Sibel Yilmaz advises on all aspects of competition law, foreign investment and foreign subsidies screening, with a focus on the life sciences and technology and industrial sectors.

    Sibel has particular expertise in the life sciences sector and provides strategic advice in regards to M&A, licensing and collaborations, regulatory strategies and general compliance. Sibel has also represented clients in several investigations relating to alleged excessive prices and other non-competitive practices in the life science sector. Sibel advises various clients in the technology sector, including in the gaming sector. She is also a Non Governmental Adviser to the Swedish Competition Authority within the frame work of its role in the ICN.

    Sibel is ranked among the world’s top antitrust practitioners by Global Competition Review, who included her in their most recent 40 Under 40 survey, as well as Chambers Global. She is described as “a brilliant and promising lawyer, who is highly recommended for complex merger work” and “an exceptional talent”, “absolutely a tip for the top.”

    Sibel obtained received her Master of Law from Stockholm University and a LL.M. in Law and Economics from the University of Rotterdam. She is admitted to practice in Belgium (e-list) and Sweden.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Ecolab in its $4.75 billion acquisition of CoolIT, a KKR portfolio company.
    • Biogen in its up to $1.8 billion acquisition of Human Immunology Biosciences (HI-Bio).
    • BioNTech SE in its announced $1.25 billion acquisition of Nasdaq-listed CureVac N.V.
    • Incyte in its $750 million of Escient Pharmaceuticals.
    • Terumo Medical in its $1.5 billion acquisition of OrganOx.
    • AstraZeneca on the establishment of Evinova, a separate health-tech business to accelerate innovation across the life sciences sector and the delivery of clinical trials with the aim of improving the patient experience and the delivery of better health outcomes.
    • Advised Eli Lilly in its up to $1.4 billion sale of the rights to its olanzapine portfolio, including Zyprexa®, to Cheplapharm Arzneimittel GmbH.
    • Novo Nordisk in its acquisition of ocedurenone for uncontrolled hypertension from KBP Biosciences for up to $1.3 billion.
    • ALK-Abelló A/S on a strategic license agreement with U.S.-based ARS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., under which ALK received exclusive global rights to the neffy® adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray, with exception of the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China.  
    • Embracer Group on various matters, including its sale of Easybrain to Miniclip for USD 1.2 billion.
    • Novo Nordisk on a collaboration with GE HealthCare to advance novel non-invasive treatment for type 2 diabetes and obesity with ultrasound.
    • Advised BioNTech in its $200 million investment in Autolus Therapeutics Securities.
    • Global medical device company in its $475 million acquisition of an organ transport products and services company.
    • Grundfos Holding A/S in its acquisition of Newterra, a water and wastewater treatment solutions provider, from Frontenac, a Chicago-based private equity firm.
    • Vertex Pharmaceuticals in a collaboration with Treefrog Therapeutics to optimize production of Vertex’s Type 1 Diabetes cell therapies; $25 million up front, up to $755 million in milestones and tiered royalties.
    • Novartis on its acquisition of GSK’s oncology business.
    • Takeda on its disposal of a portfolio of certain respiratory products to AstraZeneca.
    • Intas/Accord on its GBP 603 million acquisition of Actavis UK.
    • EQT and Investor on their SEK 26.5 billion divestment of Gambro to the medical technology company Baxter International Inc.
    • PAI Partners on is acquisition of Atos Medical.
    • Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association (TIAA) in relation to a consortium with Digital Bridge and PSP to acquire Vantage Data Centers.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2007
        • European Master in Law and Economics LL.M. Joint degree Erasmus Universiteit - Rotterdam, Universiteit Gent and Universität Hamburg
    • Stockholm University, LL.M., 2006
    • National University of Singapore, 2006
        • Studies in Law - exchange programme
    • Stockholm University, 2005
        • Studies in Economics
    Bar Admissions
    • Sweden
    • Brussels
    Languages
    • Swedish
    • English
    Accolades
    • Lexology Index: Competition, ”Leaders in Their Field” (2025)
    • Chambers Global, Competition: EU - Belgium (Band 6) (2020-2026)
    • Chambers Europe, Competition: EU (2020-2026)
    • Who’s Who Legal, Competition, Future Leaders (2017–2022)
    • Global Competition Review, “40 Under 40” (2020)

    Areas of Expertise

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