Mark Friend has extensive experience of counselling and representing clients on complex mergers and strategic alliances, cartel, dominance and market investigations, both at EC and national level. Recent merger cases include acting for Alliance UniChem on its merger with Boots (cleared by the OFT against market expectation, on the basis of divestment undertakings) and in successfully defending the subsequent appeal to the Competition Appeal Tribunal and Thomson/Reuters (cleared by the European Commission on the basis of divestment undertakings following a phase II investigation). Recent/current CC market investigations include Northern Ireland Personal Banking and Payment Protection Insurance. He represented UniChem in relation to the Pfizer DTP agreement, including a successful defence of the ensuing High Court litigation, and has been involved in the OFT market studies into medicines distribution and current accounts. Recent utility matters include representing Marchwood Power in its successful determination application against National Grid, and for the Strategic Investment Board on the Northern Ireland water reform project.