The Merger Control Forum 2025 - 2nd Annual

Benefit from expert insight offered on key aspects of recent regulatory decisions and enforcement in UK and EU merger control.

In-person | 4th November 2025 | Central London

Complimentary attendance for In-House Counsel, Regulatory Authorities and Government Representatives

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Agenda

Registration
09:00

Chairperson's Opening Remarks
09:30

Keynote: The State of Merger Control
09:40

Examining the Evolving Use of Remedy Tools
10:15

  • A look at key clearances: Schlumberger/Champion X, Vodfone/Three
  • Increased acceptance of Behavioural Remedies
  • Analysing the CMA’s new draft guidance on remedies
  • A look at innovative approaches to remedies and their application
  • Monitoring commitment and fulfilment of behavioural/investment remedies

Matthew Sinclair-Thomson, Partner
Kirkland & Ellis

Rikki Haria, Partner
Freshfields

Networking & Refreshment Break
11:00

Assessing the Interplay between Merger Control and the “Pro-Growth Agenda”
11:20

  • Industrial policy and Competition: National/European Champions
  • The Government’s Strategic Steer; is CMA decision making more politicised?
  • Impact of FDI and FSR notification process on the “pro-growth agenda”

Becket McGrath, Partner
Euclid Law

Examining Recent Cases in Big Tech and Digital Markets
12:05

  • Key learnings from the CMA’s investigations of the relationship between AI and Big Tech firms
  • Assessing the effect of the provisions in the DMA and DMCCA
  • Takeaways from recent investigations into the relationship between AI start-ups and Big Tech

Jenine Hulsmann, Partner
Weil, Gotshal & Manges

Ingrid Vandenborre, Partner, Antitrust/Competition
Skadden

Networking & Lunch Break
12:50

Navigating Multi-Jurisdictional and Cross-Border Challenges in Mergers
13:50

  • Managing multi-jurisdictional mergers and multiple regulation authorities
  • Developments in key jurisdictions: UK, EU, and USA
  • Interaction and divergence between agencies

Effectively Approaching Foreign Direct Investments in the Context of Mergers
14:35

  • A look at key Processes for foreign investment controls across Europe
  • Practical lessons in effective communication with the ISU under the NSIA
  • Approaching theories of harm in defence, resilience, and security

Davina Garrod, Partner
Akin

Networking and Refreshment Break
15:20

Assessing the Impact of Foreign Subsidies Regulation in Merger Activity
15:40

  • A look at foreign subsidies regulation two years on
  • Managing data on financial contributions to companies
  • Effectively approaching the increased complexity of Foreign Subsidy Regulation on Private Equity
  • Effectively balancing remedies between National FDI and FSR Remedies

Leonidas Theodosiou, Partner
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius

Highlighting Key Developments in Efficiencies and Theories of Harm
16:25

  • How are the Commission and NCAs approaching efficiencies Post-Draghi and Mission Letters
  • Substantive review of innovation, eco-systems, dynamic and novel theories of harm
  • A look at the effect of potential changes to efficiency to the UK’s Merger Control Regime

William Leslie, Partner
Linklaters

Paul Stoddart, Principal
RBB Economics

Chairperson's Closing Remarks
17:10

09:00
Registration
09:30
Chairperson's Opening Remarks
09:40
Keynote: The State of Merger Control
10:15
Examining the Evolving Use of Remedy Tools
  • A look at key clearances: Schlumberger/Champion X, Vodfone/Three
  • Increased acceptance of Behavioural Remedies
  • Analysing the CMA’s new draft guidance on remedies
  • A look at innovative approaches to remedies and their application
  • Monitoring commitment and fulfilment of behavioural/investment remedies
Matthew Sinclair-Thomson - Partner - Kirkland & Ellis
Rikki Haria - Partner - Freshfields
11:00
Networking & Refreshment Break
11:20
Assessing the Interplay between Merger Control and the “Pro-Growth Agenda”
  • Industrial policy and Competition: National/European Champions
  • The Government’s Strategic Steer; is CMA decision making more politicised?
  • Impact of FDI and FSR notification process on the “pro-growth agenda”
Becket McGrath - Partner - Euclid Law
12:05
Examining Recent Cases in Big Tech and Digital Markets
  • Key learnings from the CMA’s investigations of the relationship between AI and Big Tech firms
  • Assessing the effect of the provisions in the DMA and DMCCA
  • Takeaways from recent investigations into the relationship between AI start-ups and Big Tech
Jenine Hulsmann - Partner - Weil, Gotshal & Manges
Ingrid Vandenborre - Partner, Antitrust/Competition - Skadden
12:50
Networking & Lunch Break
13:50
Navigating Multi-Jurisdictional and Cross-Border Challenges in Mergers
  • Managing multi-jurisdictional mergers and multiple regulation authorities
  • Developments in key jurisdictions: UK, EU, and USA
  • Interaction and divergence between agencies
14:35
Effectively Approaching Foreign Direct Investments in the Context of Mergers
  • A look at key Processes for foreign investment controls across Europe
  • Practical lessons in effective communication with the ISU under the NSIA
  • Approaching theories of harm in defence, resilience, and security
Davina Garrod - Partner - Akin
15:20
Networking and Refreshment Break
15:40
Assessing the Impact of Foreign Subsidies Regulation in Merger Activity
  • A look at foreign subsidies regulation two years on
  • Managing data on financial contributions to companies
  • Effectively approaching the increased complexity of Foreign Subsidy Regulation on Private Equity
  • Effectively balancing remedies between National FDI and FSR Remedies
Leonidas Theodosiou - Partner - Morgan, Lewis & Bockius
16:25
Highlighting Key Developments in Efficiencies and Theories of Harm
  • How are the Commission and NCAs approaching efficiencies Post-Draghi and Mission Letters
  • Substantive review of innovation, eco-systems, dynamic and novel theories of harm
  • A look at the effect of potential changes to efficiency to the UK’s Merger Control Regime
William Leslie - Partner - Linklaters
Paul Stoddart - Principal - RBB Economics
17:10
Chairperson's Closing Remarks

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