Department profile
Kirkland & Ellis

Competition Law

Europe Guide 2026 : UK


Kirkland & Ellis

Rankings

About

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland's Antitrust & Competition Practice Group guides clients through their greatest challenges and opportunities relating to fair competition in a global marketplace. Our integrated team advises on all aspects of competition law. We provide preeminent criminal and civil antitrust litigation defense, government investigation defense, expedited transaction clearance and real-world counseling experience.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition Law - UK

Band 4

Band 4


What the Team is Known For

Kirkland & Ellis has a strong focus on assisting clients with obtaining competition law clearance for corporate transactions, including advising clients on Phase I merger reviews and on foreign direct investment filings. The law firm is well known for acting for private equity houses on merger control mandates. In addition, the team has experience in behavioural investigations before the CMA.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Kirkland & Ellis represented Haynes International in a CMA phase I investigation into its sale to Acerinox, as well as issues relating to foreign direct investment.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Kirkland & Ellis team has a number of highly reputed and outstanding competition lawyers. The team is pragmatic and at the same time able to spot the relevant and decisive details.

    Competition Law respondentEurope
  • Kirkland & Ellis International has a relatively young and energetic group of lawyers, who are very focused and committed.

    Competition Law respondentEurope
  • The way how the team works is very efficient and client-friendly; it does all the heavy lifting in the background. The team is also well-organized, responsive and reliable

    Competition Law respondentEurope
  • Kirkland & Ellis has a very deep knowledge of foreign antitrust law and the team does a fabulous job applying this in a commercial and practical way.

    Competition Law respondentEurope

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Band 3Alasdair Balfour
    Band 3Alasdair Balfour

    Alasdair Balfour

    Alasdair Balfour has particular experience in merger clearance mandates, often representing private equity houses in Phase I investigations. He has further experience acting for third parties on merger challenges.

    • He was very knowledgeable, communicative and helpful.

      Competition Law respondentEurope
    • Alasdair Balfour has outstanding knowledge, experience and an ability to spot the details.

      Competition Law respondentEurope
    • Alasdair Balfour is a valued and trusted adviser. He was responsive, commercial and attuned to the broader implications of a deal. He was extremely pleasant to work with.

      Competition Law respondentEurope
  • Band 4Satyen Dhana
    Band 4Satyen Dhana

    Satyen Dhana

    Satyen Dhana joined Kirkland & Ellis in the autumn of 2024. He advises clients on merger clearance notifications as well as representing them in abuse of dominance complaints. He has further experience advising high-profile technology sector clients on the Digital Markets Act and the Digital Services Act.

    • He is an excellent competition lawyer, with an excellent understanding of commercial drivers.

      Competition Law respondentEurope
    • Satyen Dhana can quickly assess the risk exposure of any given antitrust scenario and offers practical, client-friendly advice. He is incredibly commercial and a brilliant lawyer.

      Competition Law respondentEurope

Ranked Individuals at Kirkland & Ellis (2)

UK

Members

Provided by Kirkland & Ellis

Kirkland & Ellis has rankings in the following guides

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