Thomas Masterman
Partner
London
Thomas Masterman
Partner
London
Contact details
Tom has over 15 years’ experience advising clients on complex international, EU and UK merger clearances, including some of the highest-profile M&A transactions in the market in recent years.
He also has an established track record of advising on cartel and abuse of dominance investigations, national security / foreign direct investment reviews and market investigations. Tom’s practice spans a broad range of sectors, with particular expertise in infrastructure, life sciences and TMT.
Tom is listed in the Legal 500 directory as a “rising star” and a “superb competition lawyer”. He is also ranked as “future leader” by Who’s Who Legal, who note that he “combines deep industry knowledge with top-drawer intellect to solve client problems.”
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2016
Academic
BA, European Legal Studies, Durham University
Erasmus Programme, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Related articles
Blog Post: 21 November 2023
The UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has taken the unusual step of issuing a prioritisation statement on cooperation between competitors to make combination therapies available to the NHS.
Blog Post: 23 October 2023
Publications: 19 October 2023
Environmental sustainability agreements: final UK guidance to cooperating competitors
Experience highlights
Advising a multinational telecommunications company on its joint venture with Telefónica SA to merge Virgin Media and O2.
Advising 21st Century Fox on its acquisition by The Walt Disney Company and on its takeover bid for Sky.
Advising a shipping company on its acquisition of LF Logistics from Li & Fung.
Advising Hitachi on various global cartel matters, including the LCD, CRT, GIS, Power Transformers and Auto-Parts investigations.
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2016
Academic
BA, European Legal Studies, Durham University
Erasmus Programme, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
Other noteworthy experience
Advising:
- A multinational telecommunications company on merger control and FDI clearances for the establishment of its pan-European data centre platform (AtlasEdge).
- Grünenthal on numerous M&A matters, including its acquisition from Astra Zeneca of Nexium, Vimovo and Zomig®.
- Macquarie Asset Management on antitrust and regulatory aspects of its acquisition of Southern Water.
- Endemol Shine Group on EU and global merger control clearances of its sale to Banijay.
- Hitachi Automotive Systems on its acquisitions of JR Automation Technologies and Chassis Brakes International and on its global auto-parts JV with Honda.
- Tullett Prebon on the CMA clearance (with remedies) of its GBP1.6bn acquisition of rival ICAP.
- Maersk as compliance counsel for all competition related aspects of the 2M vessel sharing arrangement.
- Fox Networks Group on the investigation by the European Commission into alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the sports rights business.
- A global financial institution in relation to the European Commission’s credit default swap investigation.
- News UK on various matters, including its GBP220.3m acquisition of the Wireless Group, the CMA’s online advertising market study and its DCMS application to vary The Times Undertakings.
Published work
- Philip Mansfield, Thomas Masterman, Imogen Carr (2022) “Global antitrust enforcement report”, Allen & Overy LLP
- Thomas Masterman (2021) “FTC launches multilateral working group with EU, UK and Canadian antitrust authorities to take tougher stance on pharmaceutical mergers”, Allen & Overy LLP
- Philip Mansfield, Thomas Masterman, Imogen Carr (2021) “Global antitrust enforcement report”, Allen & Overy LLP
- Thomas Masterman (2020) “European Commission completes current cycle of pay-for-delay probes with fines imposed on Teva and Cephalon”, Allen & Overy LLP
Recognition
‘Thomas Masterman receives glowing praise as being “pragmatic and cerebral while also having a deep sectoral knowledge”, particularly in areas such as mass media and telecoms. Peers and clients say: “He has been great on various important M&A transactions.” “Tom is a fantastic lawyer with deep knowledge and experience on a wide range of competition issues.” “He is able to combine industry knowledge with a top-drawer intellect to solve client problems.”’
Who’s Who Legal, 2020
Tom is listed in the 2020 Legal 500 directory as a “rising star” and a “superb competition lawyer” and clients note that “Technically, he is very strong, but more importantly for us, he also has the ability to apply his knowledge to the specific commercial context and discern what the real risk is… adding real value to our decision-making."
Legal 500, 2020
Thomas Masterman is excellent with merger control work” report peers. In particular, they add “His knowledge in the media and entertainment sector is phenomenal.
Who’s Who Legal, 2019
Thomas has demonstrated high levels of technical expertise, coupled with a commercially minded and pragmatic approach. Thomas has impressed us with his ability to apply his technical knowledge to various different fact patterns and circumstances.
Chambers and Partners, 2019
Awards
Top 3, Global Elite firms
Global Competition Review 2020
TMT Firm of the Year
Legal 500 UK Awards 2019
Competition Team of the Year
British Legal Awards 2018
