LAWFUEL – UK Law News – Simon Priddis, senior director at the United Kingdom’s Office of Fair Trading, will return to private practice by joining international law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer as a London-based partner in the firm’s highly regarded competition practice, the firm announced today.
Having spent the first five years of his career at a US-based law firm in Brussels and Washington, Mr Priddis’ posts at the OFT have included a very successful term as head of the Mergers Branch. He was subsequently promoted to a new role with responsibility for prioritising and delivering the OFT’s competition caseload. As a member of the OFT’s senior executive team, Mr Priddis has also been leading the work on fundamental changes to the organisation’s structures and working practices.
‘Clients consistently tell us how much they value the strength of our international competition practice. Simon is a high calibre individual and will be a major asset to our market leading team,’ said Guy Morton, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s senior partner.
‘Given his abilities and reputation, it was clear that Simon would only consider joining one of the few leading international competition practices. We are delighted that he has chosen us. As a partner, Simon will play a front line role on competition matters for the firm’s clients’, said Rod Carlton, managing partner of the firm’s London competition team.
‘We have a proven track record of successfully integrating ex-regulators into our US, Asian and European network. Like our other ex-regulators, Simon will play an important role in furthering the success of our international team,’ said Helmut Bergmann, global head of the firm’s competition practice.
‘I’m looking forward to working closely with clients again, and I’m delighted to be joining Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. The firm’s extensive international network and commitment to excellence are highly attractive to clients – as they are to me. I am looking forward to contributing to such a strong team, and the cultural fit feels absolutely right,’ said Mr Priddis.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recognised as being at the forefront of global competition law practice and is a market leader in the UK. Many of the firm’s lawyers are leading practitioners who are recognised authors in their field of expertise. In total the group has more than 245 antitrust, competition and trade specialists based in 15 countries in Europe, the US and Asia.
The firm topped the 2006 Global Competition Review survey, in which in-house counsel were asked to name their ‘preferred competition law firm’ and competitors their ‘biggest rival in competition’.
The firm has also been named Global Competition Law Firm of the Year 2006 for the second consecutive year in the Who’s Who Legal Awards.
Profile
Simon Priddis joined the OFT in 2002 as head of the Mergers Branch where he was responsible for OFT merger analysis (domestic and European), including case analysis, decision drafting, merger policy and guidelines and case management. He was also reponsible for implementing important legislative changes at the OFT. Simon was promoted to senior director, competition casework in summer 2005 where his main responsibilities include leading the OFT’s antitrust caseload, particularly selecting, prioritising, progressing and delivering cases; leading and managing five competition enforcement branches (approx. 130 people). He is a member of the OFT senior executive team.
Prior to joining the OFT, Simon worked with a US-based firm in Brussels and Washington where he advised clients on the application of UK, EU and US merger control and antitrust laws, as well as preparing written and oral submissions to competition authorities. Simon is a frequent speaker at international conferences and has authored a number of publications on antitrust matters. He studied at Downing College, Cambridge, where he was awarded an LLM and MA (law).
ENDS
For more information (and photos) contact: Anna Mitchell head of public relations, E anna.mitchell@freshfields.com T +44 20 7785 2033
Competition practice group contact: Rod Carlton (managing partner of London team)
E rod.carlton@freshfields.com T +44 20 7832 7139
Notes for editors
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer* is a leading international law firm providing a comprehensive worldwide service to national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments.
The firm’s antitrust, competition and trade group practice comprises more than 245 specialists in Europe, the US and Asia. The group’s lawyers advise on a complete range of competition/antitrust, regulatory and trade issues including merger control, licensing and distribution, restrictive practices, market dominance, state aid, cartel investigations, liberalisation, privatisation, public procurement and trade, including WTO matters.
*501 partners and principal consultants, 2,509 lawyers worldwide, 28 offices in 18 countries
