Overview
Neil is a partner in our global antitrust and foreign investment practice, based in Brussels.
Neil advises on the full range of competition matters with an emphasis on the application of global merger control, foreign investment and EU foreign subsidies rules. Neil is frequently asked to advise clients on a variety of aspects regarding potential mergers/acquisitions and joint venture arrangements and has particular expertise in the healthcare, infrastructure, industrials and manufacturing sectors.
Neil has assisted clients with merger control and foreign investment filings across numerous European and international jurisdictions, with particular experience involving filings before the European Commission and the UK's Competition & Markets Authority. Neil also assists clients with preparing notifications under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Other antitrust experience includes advising clients involved in European Commission dawn raids and leniency procedures as well as assisting clients involved in investigations into behaviour potentially subject to Articles 101 and 102.
Work Highlights
Neil has been a key adviser in a number of significant M&A and antitrust matters. These include advising:
- BC Partners: on the combination of Keter Group and ABM Italia.
- Celesio AG: on its acquisitions of Bupa Home Healthcare and the MASTA/Sangers businesses of UDG Healthcare.
- DP World: on its acquisitions of Unifeeder and the P&O Ferries/P&O Ferrymasters businesses.
- I Squared Capital: on, among others, its investments in Applus, Arriva, Rubis Terminal, TIP Trailer Services and the network infrastructure business of GTT Communications.
- Linde AG: in relation to its merger with Praxair Inc.
- Novartis: on its transformational restructuring involving three strategic deals with GlaxoSmithKline (GSK).
- TDR Capital LLP: on, among others, its investments in Applus, BCA Marketplace plc and LeasePlan as well as the subsequent combination of LeasePlan with ALD Automotive, and the combination of its Algeco business with Touax.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: on its acquisition of PPD Inc.
- Spirent Communications: on its recommend offer by Keysight Technologies.
- Vodafone: on its network sharing agreements with Telecom Italia in Italy, including the combination of their respective tower infrastructure assets.
- VTech: on the CMA's Phase II investigation into its completed acquisition of LeapFrog Enterprises.
Admissions