Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has elected Michael Han, currently a Beijing-based counsel in the firm’s antitrust, competition and trade (ACT) practice group, to its partnership. Han’s promotion came just after the Ministry of Commerce denied antitrust approval of Coca-Cola’s proposed US$2.5bn acquisition of Huiyuan Juice Group. Freshfields represented Huiyuan in this high-profile transaction.

Before joining the firm, Han worked with the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (now the Ministry of Commerce). His practice focuses on the competition and regulatory aspects of China-related direct foreign investment and cross-border mergers and acquisitions.

Han is one of the 14 new partners Freshfields has promoted in Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Grace Huang, who was a senior associate in the firm’s corporate practice in Hong Kong, is the only other promotion in Asia. The 2009 promotions, which take effect from 1 May 2009, will bring the firm’s total number of partners worldwide to 449.