Michael Reiss

Partner

Michael has over fifteen years’ experience advising on a broad range of UK and EU antitrust matters, frequently involving complex or novel issues. These include cartel and dominance probes, merger control, distribution and e-commerce, state aid, litigation and day-to-day compliance. He has navigated clients on-site through the challenges of numerous dawn raids by the competition authorities.

Michael also has a thriving foreign direct investment practice, with particular expertise in the UK’s National Security & Investment Act regime. He has advised acquirers on a number of sensitive cases called in for a detailed assessment by the UK Government.

Michael’s career has seen him practising competition law in London, Brussels and Beijing, as well as in-house at Diageo plc.

His experience spans a wide variety of sectors, notably technology, media, music, energy, manufacturing, retail, sport, leisure and transport. He has particular expertise in competition law and the online world.

In the Legal 500 directory he is described as “fantastic” and “very knowledgeable and proactive in dealing with our engagement”.

Recent experience includes advising:

  • Copart and Hills Motors on the CMA’s phase 2 unconditional clearance of their completed merger in the car salvaging and green parts recycling sector
  • a leading US electric vehicle manufacturer on the CMA’s market study into electric vehicle charging and other matters
  • a leading sports media rights agency in the European Commission’s bid-rigging investigation
  • numerous clients on National Security & Investment Act and foreign investment screening reviews of acquisitions in the semi-conductor, cyber-security, data centre, energy, defence and life sciences sectors
  • an international online gaming business on complaints of abuse of a dominant position against a competitor in the UK and Sweden
  • Omnicom Media Group on the CMA’s digital advertising market study
  • Vision Express on the UK merger control clearance for its acquisition of the Tesco Opticians chain
  • Expedia on the UK, EU and global hotel online booking investigations into “parity clauses” and in judicial review proceedings in the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal
  • Total Produce on the EU merger clearance for its global fresh produce joint venture with Dole
  • Universal Music Group on the phase 2 EU and global merger control clearances for its acquisition of EMI Music
  • China General Nuclear on the EU state aid and merger control aspects of its joint venture with EDF to build the Hinkley C nuclear power station, including on appeal in the EU courts
  • a leading fashion and beauty brand on its bricks-and-mortar and online selective distribution arrangements
  • a consortium of the world’s largest tyre manufacturers (including Michelin, Pirelli and Continental) in a landmark follow-on damages action against a cartel in the UK’s High Court and Court of Appeal

Includes matters handled at Euclid Law or prior to joining the firm

Education

Post-Graduate Diploma in EU Competition Law, King’s College, London (2010)
Legal Practice Course, BPP (2006)
Graduate Diploma in Law, BPP (2005)
MSc History of International Relations, London School of Economics and Political Science (2004)
MA (Oxon.) Philosophy, Politics and Economics (2002)

Admissions

England & Wales
Ireland (non-practising)

Languages

English, French, German and Spanish

Recent Publications and Speaking Engagements

  • Author, “Reform of the UK’s investment screening regime”, Competition Law Insight, January 2024
  • Speaker, UK and EU approaches to digital regulation, 20th CLU Competition Lawconference, October 2023
  • Author, Report Time for National Security Screening in the UK”, August 2023
  • Chairing a day of the Informa EU Competition Law Summer School, 2021, 2022 and 2023
  • Author, “Big data and competition law: with great opportunities come great risks”, PLC feature, July 2019
  • Speaker, EU Automotive Network conference in Amsterdam (October 2017) and Frankfurt (October 2018)
  • Speaker, Tech Nation competition law seminar for Future Fifty technology companies, September 2018
  • Speaker, “Internet sales: risks, opportunities and the latest competition law developments”, client seminar, January 2018
  • Author, “Austria Asphalt: When to file joint ventures in Brussels?”, Global Competition Review, September 2017
  • Author, “Anti-competitive information exchange in the EU and China: a comparative approach”, Global Competition Review, April 2016
  • Author, “SOEs must be careful with EU filings”, China Daily, April 2016
  • Author, “Chinese SOEs may unexpectedly trigger an EU merger notification”, China Insight, April 2016
  • Author, “Pfizer/AstraZeneca: Seeking a cure for foreign takeovers”, Red Tape, October 2014
  • Author, “United Kingdom: Private Enforcement”, The European Antitrust Review, 2011
  • Author, “Digital evidence searches in competition investigations: Best Practices for effective fundamental rights”, Concurrences, November 2009
  • Author, “Bank Bailouts, State Aid And The Financial Crisis”, Corporate Rescue and Insolvency, August 2009
  • Author, “EU Gas Regulation”, Getting the Deal Through, 2008

Contact Details

+44 20 3816 3015

Email: michael.reiss@euclid-law.eu

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