Simon Pritchard

Simon’s experience includes advising:

Transactions

• Microsoft in securing CMA Phase 1 unconditional merger clearance of its high-profile hiring of former employees of Inflection.ai and entry into related agreements
• Viasat in obtaining CMA/EU parallel Phase 2 clearance for its US$7.3 billion takeover of Inmarsat*
• Thermo Fisher in:
  • Obtaining CMA Phase 1 and German Phase 2 unconditional clearance of its $3.1 billion acquisition of Olink
  • Obtaining parallel unconditional UK/EU clearance of its US$17.4 billion acquisition of PPD*
• GBST in relation to the CMA Phase 2 remittal with remedies review of its hostile acquisition by FNZ*
• Intel in securing parallel UK/EU clearance for the sale of its NAND/SSD business to SK Hynix*
• Novartis on EU and global merger clearances in relation to its 3-way, inter-conditional asset swap with GSK concerning oncology, vaccines, and consumer health (GCR Matter of the Year and FT Innovative Lawyers Award)*
• Seagate Technology in obtaining unconditional EU Phase 2 clearance for its US$1.4 billion acquisition of Samsung’s global hard disk drive (HDD) business during parallel market consolidation (GCR Matter of the Year)*
• VTech in obtaining CMA Phase 2 clearance of its acquisition of Leapfrog (taking over at Phase 2)*
• Celesio in relation to its CMA Phase 2 clearance, with modest conditions, of its acquisition of Sainsbury’s pharmacies*
• Sainsbury’s proposed £$7 billion acquisition of Walmart’s UK grocery business, Asda*
• GTCR in connection with its acquisition of PRNewswire, the first “fast-track Phase I remedies” case in the UK*
• Amec Foster Wheeler in connection with Phase 1 remedies clearance of its takeover by John Wood, the first “twin track” CMA case involving parallel merits and remedies negotiations*
• Siemens in obtaining unconditional EU clearance for its acquisition of Gamesa in the wind turbine sector*
• Novartis in obtaining conditional EU Phase 1 clearance for its US$40 billion acquisition of Alcon*
• DS Smith in obtaining conditional EU Phase 1 clearance for its €1.6 billion acquisition of SCA*

Investigations & Litigation

• JD Sports Fashion, as successful leniency applicant, on two separate CMA cartel investigations in connection with replica football kit of Glasgow Rangers and Leicester City football clubs, respectively*
• The Royal Bank of Scotland/NatWest on the CMA’s retail and small- and medium-enterprise (SME) banking market study and market investigation*
• AXA PPP on the CMA’s private healthcare market investigation, judicial review proceedings, and remittal to the CMA*
• Sainsbury’s on the first successful interim challenge to the CMA’s procedure in Sainsbury’s/Asda*
• JD Sports Fashion in two rounds of merger litigation, two Phase 2 CMA reviews and satellite inquiries with respect to its completed acquisition of Footasylum plc*
• A merging party, third party, or divestiture buyer in connection with other UK Phase 2 reviews such as Sony/AWAL, Amazon/Deliveroo, and ICE/Trayport*

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham