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Christopher Best

Counsel

Email

Christopher.Best@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 203 088 3979

Offices

London

V-CARD
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.

Expertise

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.