Overview
Neil is a partner in our antitrust & foreign investment group, based in Brussels. He advises on the full range of competition matters with particular emphasis on global merger control and foreign investment filing requirements.
Neil frequently advises financial sponsors in relation to investments/disposals across a range of sectors including healthcare, industrials, energy and telecommunications infrastructure.
Neil assists clients with navigating complex issues raised by merger control and foreign investment procedures covering both European and international jurisdictions, with particular experience involving the European Commission and the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority. Neil also assists clients with preparing notifications under the EU Foreign Subsidies Regulation.
Neil has been ranked as a Future Leader in Who’s Who Legal: Competition and identified as a Rising Star in Competition/Antitrust by Expert Guides. Neil was also named in Global Competition Review’s 40 under 40 for Foreign Investment Control in 2023.
Experience
Neil has been a key adviser in a number of significant M&A and antitrust matters. These include advising:
- ARA Partners: advising on its investment in the German and Austrian retail fuel business of Phillips 66.
- BC Partners: advising on the acquisition of ABM Italia by Keter Group.
- Celesio AG: advising on its acquisitions of Bupa Home Healthcare and the MASTA/Sangers businesses of UDG Healthcare.
- DigitalBridge: advising on its acquisitions of Netomnia, PLDT's tower assets in the Philippines, Telenet's passive tower infrastructure in Belgium and the sale of multiple stakes in Vantage data-centres, among others.
- DP World: advising on its acquisitions of Unifeeder and the P&O Ferries/P&O Ferrymasters businesses, among others.
- DWS Investments: advising on the sale of a stake in Peel Ports.
- European data center platform (a JV between global alternative asset manager and telecommunications company): advising on the carve-out and sale of a portfolio of data centre assets across Europe to Templus.
- GoldmanSachs AWM: advising on its investment in Treysta, among others.
- Hg Capital: advising on the sale of a stake in Visma to a consortium of investors, the disposals of A-Plan Group and Commify, investment in Ideagen and re-investment in team.blue, among others.
- iCON Infrastructure: advising on its investment in FCC Environment UK’s energy from waste portfolio.
- I Squared Capital: advising on its investments in Applus, Arriva, Domidep, Ramudden, Rubis Terminal, TIP Trailer Services and the network infrastructure business of GTT Communications, among others.
- Linde: advising on its merger with Praxair.
- Macquarie: advising on the sale of Wheelabrator Technologies UK.
- Montagu: advising on its acquisition of Maritime Insights and Intelligence Limited.
- Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board: advising on its investments in 7IM Wealth Management, Caruna Group, Donte Group, Enwave Energy, Fleet Complete, Societa Gasdotti Italia, Sovos Compliance and Veonet, among others.
- Permira and Warburg Pincus: advising on the sale of Evelyn Partners to NatWest Group.
- Spirent Communications: advising on its recommend offer by Keysight Technologies.
- TDR Capital LLP: advising on its investments in Applus, BCA marketplace plc, LeasePlan, EuroGarages, the combination of its Algeco business with Touax and sale of its Modulaire business, among others.
- TDR Capital LLP and LeasePlan: advising on the combination of LeasePlan with ALD Automotive.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific: advising on its acquisition of PPD Inc.
- Universities Superannuation Scheme: advising on its investment in G.Network.
- Vodafone: advising on its network sharing agreements with Telecom Italia in Italy, including the combination of their respective tower infrastructure assets.
- Vtech: advising on the CMA’s Phase II investigation into its completed acquisition of LeapFrog Enterprises.
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