
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
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- Analysing the CMA’s new draft guidance on remedies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
- 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
Rikki Haria - Partner - Freshfields
- 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”
- 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
Ingrid Vandenborre - Partner, Antitrust/Competition - Skadden
- Managing multi-jurisdictional mergers and multiple regulation authorities
- Developments in key jurisdictions: UK, EU, and USA
- Interaction and divergence between agencies
- 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
- 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
- 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
Paul Stoddart - Principal - RBB Economics

Contact Us
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For Partnership enquiries please contact Helen on +44 (0)20 3433 2281 or email helen@thoughtleaders4.com
Speaker
For Speaker enquiries please contact Seth on +44 (0) 20 3433 2282 or email seth@thoughtleaders4.com
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