Competition Law
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 4
Contact number
+44 20 7469 2000About
Provided by Kirkland & Ellis
Kirkland’s global Antitrust and Competition team advises across the full spectrum of antitrust requirements, from wide-scale multi-jurisdictional cartel investigations and litigation, to specific antitrust queries such as distribution and resale structures, pricing and behavioural conduct, competitor cooperation agreements and State aid. Our varied and busy merger control practice advises on complex and novel cases involving fix-it-first solutions and carve out divestment packages, managing the process smoothly and anticipating issues. Covering all sectors, geographies and complexities, we provide a seamless, first-class service to our clients.
Chambers Review
Kirkland & Ellis has a strong focus on assisting clients with obtaining competition law clearance for corporate transactions, including advising clients on phase I and II 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
- Kirkland & Ellis advised ByBox on the CMA merger control investigation into its GBP17.5 million acquisition of Pelipod.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Kirkland & Ellis is a team that will never let you down. You can relax as a client."
"Kirkland & Ellis knows our business very well and is knowledgeable about our commercial issues and challenges. It gives us advice that can be readily applied to our business."
"The team is always on top of all the moving parts and very responsive. It makes the process seamless."
"They manage everything without letting anything fall through the cracks."
"Kirkland & Ellis is very dedicated, efficient and involved in the situation in such a way that it treats the matter as its own and you always feel that you are its only customer."
"Kirkland & Ellis is a team that will never let you down. You can relax as a client."
"Kirkland & Ellis knows our business very well and is knowledgeable about our commercial issues and challenges. It gives us advice that can be readily applied to our business."
"The team is always on top of all the moving parts and very responsive. It makes the process seamless."
"They manage everything without letting anything fall through the cracks."
"Kirkland & Ellis is very dedicated, efficient and involved in the situation in such a way that it treats the matter as its own and you always feel that you are its only customer."
Notable Practitioners
Alasdair Balfour has particular experience in merger clearance mandates. He also assists clients with investigations into possible anti-competitive behaviour.
"I have found him very calm in stressful situations. He has clarity of advice and is good at making decisions."
"He is someone who is very calm, unflappable, organised, easy to work with and very good at managing clients' expectations."
Satyen Dhana 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.
"Satyen Dhana is a strong lawyer who knows his stuff and is both commercial and pragmatic."
"He has lots of ideas and takes the initiative. He really wants to explore the case fully and find solutions for the client."
"Satyen Dhana is concise and clearly understood. His advice is actionable as business people understand it."
"Satyen Dhana is a very strong competition lawyer who is practical, down to earth, team-oriented and good at spotting key issues and getting to the key points."
"What sets him apart is that when you explain complex matters, he can cut to the heart of the issue and provide practical advice in a responsive way, which is impressive."
Sally Evans often advises clients on obtaining merger clearance and foreign direct investment approval. She frequently acts for private equity houses and has additional experience assisting with antitrust investigations.
"She is very knowledgeable about the subject area and demonstrates strong expertise."
"Sally Evans is very commercial and willing to find a commercial solution."
"She is very strong in her area of expertise and provides us with a lot of value in terms of solving and advising on our competition law issues and problems."
"Sally Evans is very fast and responsive."
Ranked Lawyers at
Kirkland & Ellis
London (Firms)
Members
Provided by Kirkland & Ellis
Athina Van Melkebeke
Mark Gardner
Matthew Sinclair-Thomson
Philipp Gnatzy
Thomas Wilson