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Christopher Best

Counsel

Chris advises businesses on all aspects of competition law, with a particular focus on complex merger clearances, as well as behavioural investigations, market studies / investigations and general compliance matters.

Chris has particular expertise in the TMT and infrastructure sectors.

Chris also advises on foreign investment control matters, with extensive experience in co-ordinating filings for transactions, representing clients in highly sensitive cases under the UK National Security & Investment Act, and helping them navigate compliance with remedies.

Experience

Representative matters

A multinational telecommunications company on its joint venture with Telefónica SA to merge Virgin Media and O2.

21st Century Fox on the merger control and UK regulatory aspects of its GBP27.7bn takeover bid for Sky and the subsequent GBP11.6bn sale of its 39% stake in Sky to Comcast, and separately on its proposed USD71bn acquisition by The Walt Disney Company.

Various international clients on highly confidential matters relevant to UK national security considerations.

A Big 6 energy supplier on the CMA energy market investigation.

Macquarie Asset Management on the c.GBP1 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Southern Water.

ASSA ABLOY on its acquisition of Arran Isle Limited, a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of door and window hardware in the UK and Ireland.

Brinks on its acquisition of certain businesses of G4S.

Calisen on its GBP1.4bn recommended takeover by a Blackrock and multinational financial institution-led consortium in 2021.

The Ferrovial/MEIF 4 consortium on its GBP1.048bn acquisition of Glasgow, Aberdeen and Southampton airports.

A global telecommunications services provider on the merger control and regulatory aspects of the Wind Tre joint venture.

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.

21st Century Fox on the European Commission’s investigation into territorial licensing of movies to satellite pay TV operators.

Published Work

  • Co-author, chapter on State aid in the broadcasting sector in Hancher, Ottervanger & Slot (2021) EU State Aids, 6th edition, London: Sweet & Maxwell

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as a solicitor (England and Wales), 2012

Academic

Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law, King’s College London, 2014

Bachelor of Civil Law, Oxford University, 2009

MA, Law, Cambridge University, 2008

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.