Simon is the head of Osborne Clarke’s UK competition practice, with nearly thirty years’ experience advising clients on all aspects of UK competition law, merger control and, more recently, NSIA matters.
Simon has extensive experience handling mergers and investigations before the Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission. As well as a keen interest in the branded retail, life science and technology sectors, Simon is increasingly undertaking contentious work, including sector and individual company investigations and private enforcement claims. Simon has a thriving advisory practice, regularly advising clients on the competition law aspects of their distribution and commercial trading arrangements.
Simon’s recent work includes advising a grocery supplier on the CMA's inquiry into the groceries market; carrying out an internal investigation on behalf of an international consumer goods supplier; obtaining unconditional EU Merger Regulation clearances for Octopus Energy's joint acquisition of a heat pump manufacturer and Vodafone's joint acquisition of a technology spin-out business; coordinating the international merger clearances in respect of BioNTech's £562m acquisition of InstaDeep; advising Grifols on the merger control aspects of its €1.1m acquisition of Biotest AG and securing CMA Phase I clearance of RM plc's disposal of two educational software businesses.
After graduating in law from Pembroke College, Cambridge, Simon qualified as a lawyer in 1995 and joined Osborne Clarke as a Partner in 2005. His earlier career included nine years at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, including two years in their Brussels office. He is a member of the Law Society’s Competition Section and American Bar Association (Antitrust Section). In quieter moments, Simon is a keen cyclist and landscape photographer.
Insights
European competition law and Covid-19: exceptional rules for business cooperation
Antitrust rules have been eased temporarily by the European Commission to allow closer business cooperation – especially for the health...
State aid | Part III – European Commission amends Temporary Framework to include aid for Life Sciences sector
Life sciences businesses working on Covid-19 related products may be able to benefit from government funding for a range of...
Competition law in times of crisis: Can you get a free pass?
COVID-19 has affected our world in unprecedented ways. Hardly any industry is spared from the serious economic consequences. Though some...
State aid | How can governments support businesses in the midst of the coronavirus crisis? Part II – European Commission Temporary Framework
As the coronavirus causes the risk of significant economic losses for companies and for citizens across the Union, the European...
The catch-up game | How digital transformation is shaping the regulatory landscape
Digital transformation is reshaping regulatory agendas and toolkits. At Osborne Clarke's recent In-House Lawyer Day, run across each of Osborne...
New powers for the CMA in 2020?
Increased enforcement powers for the UK regulator point to greater alignment of consumer protection and competition regimes.
Shaping future competition law enforcement in digital markets | Furman Review recommends shake-up of UK competition rules for the digital age
On 13 March 2019, an independent panel of experts published its recommendations for the government following its review of UK...