People
Christopher Best
Biography
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.
Practice areas
- Antitrust
- Corporate and M&A
- Disputes
- Foreign direct investment and CFIUS
- Administrative and public law
Selected experience
- 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.
Education
- Postgraduate Diploma in Economics for Competition Law, King’s College London, 2014
- Bachelor of Civil Law, Oxford University, 2009
- MA, Law, Cambridge University, 2008
Admissions
- Admitted as a solicitor (England and Wales), 2012