Merger Control
We advise many of the world's most sophisticated businesses on their merger control strategies.
Our purpose is to create value for our clients by supporting them on winning regulatory approval of private mergers and acquisitions, public takeovers, joint ventures, cooperation or distribution agreements and disposals.
Our merger control team is an integral part of Allen & Overy’s Corporate practice which, in the last five years, has advised on more than 1,360 M&A deals worth over GBP730 billion, according to Mergermarket. Our clients can be confident that we will provide the highest quality of strategic merger control advice.
Having acted on some of the most pioneering transactions in recent years, we are expert in advising on complex, multi-jurisdictional mergers involving in-depth regulatory scrutiny and remedy negotiation. The practice is renowned for its experience in guiding multinational companies through complex and sensitive phase I and phase II merger control cases, before the European Commission, Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission and other (inter)national regulators. We have extensive experience working on multi-jurisdictional merger control strategies and filings, with a cross-border network of specialists further supplemented by a wide network of local referral firms.
Through our work on ground-breaking cases we are able to draw on our knowledge of novel strategies and complex issues at the forefront of antitrust policy to deliver value to our clients and minimise the risk in any merger control execution process.
- Winner 2015, Merger Control Matter of the Year (Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Global Competition Review awards
- Winner 2012, Merger Control Matter of the Year (Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa) Global Competition Review awards
- Winner 2012, Matter of the Year, Global Competition Review awards
- Winner 2011, Matter of the Year, Global Competition Review awards
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News and insights
Publications: 28 March 2023
On 22 March 2023, the Belgian Competition Authority (the BCA) announced that it had opened an ex officio investigation into an alleged abuse of dominance by Proximus, the incumbent Belgian telecom…
Publications: 23 February 2023
Surge in antitrust and FDI intervention means appropriate deal provisions are vital
As intervention by both antitrust authorities and governments shows no sign of abating, allocating execution risk in transaction documents is ever more crucial. Unsurprisingly, the number of our deals…
Publications: 23 February 2023
Evolving foreign direct investment regimes add yet more hurdles for M&A
Navigating the international foreign direct investment (FDI) landscape is becoming ever more complex. In 2022 we saw a proliferation of new FDI regimes, a stream of revisions to existing rules and…
Publications: 23 February 2023
Fast track and simplified reviews lead to quicker review periods
The majority of pandemic-related disruptions to merger review processes have now ended and many authorities have reinvigorated initiatives to speed up reviews. The use of fast track and simplified…
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Recognition
Depth of expertise and skill, particularly for international companies operating in multiple jurisdictions.
Chambers Global 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
Has a solid network, so their approach to cross-border matters is very strong.
Chambers Global 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The lawyers work with colleagues across Europe to keep us compliant with competition regulations.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The team handles cross-border matters well, knowing that they need to manage different approaches in different jurisdictions.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
The network is something we appreciate; they work well as one team across borders.
Chambers Europe 2018 (Competition/Antitrust)
If a company had a billion-dollar plus deal somewhere in the world, our data indicates it was more likely to get antitrust help at Allen & Overy than from any other firm.
Global Competition Review 2016
More than most of its rivals, the kind of tie-ups A&O handled incurred in-depth investigations and roused at least initial opposition from competition authorities, in jurisdictions ranging from the Netherlands to China.
Global Competition Review 2016