Biography: Competition

David Aitman is a partner in Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's London office. He recently stepped down as co-head of the firm's global antitrust, competition and trade (ACT) group, having run the practice for several years. He has practised in Brussels and London since 1980.

David advises on all areas of EU and UK competition law, particularly in the energy, manufacturing, media, retail, transport and telecommunications sectors. He also advises on regulatory issues for privatised utilities. His work includes investigations, proceedings and complaints before the European Commission, the Office of Fair Trading, the Competition Commission and Competition Appeal Tribunal and industry regulators.

Recent merger experience includes advising Mars on its acquisition of Wrigley; a Citi consortium on the acquisition of Kelda/Yorkshire Water; the acquisition of Volvo by Geely; and the acquisition of leading can maker Impress by Irish packaging group Ardagh. Recent Phase II merger investigations include for English Welsh and Scottish Railway Limited in acquiring Marcroft; and for Rockware in acquiring Rexam's glass businesses.

Recent behavioural and contentious work includes acting for NEC Corporation on the first cartel settlement case by the European Commission; advising Sony on an investigation into pay television; advising BAA on its appeal of the Competition Commission's findings on airport divestment; and advising Thames Water on its price control.

David publishes and lectures frequently on competition law and regulation. He is the author of the chapter in Bellamy & Child's fourth edition of European Community Law of Competition on telecommunications and the chapter in Butterworth's Encyclopaedia of Competition Law on licensing and intellectual property. David is a member of the Joint Bar/Law Society working party on competition law.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer's antitrust, competition and trade (ACT) practice comprises over 50 partners and 250 members in total. Our ACT specialists are based in Austria, Belgium, China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain, the UK and the USA. Our coverage of Asia, Europe and the US enables us to advise our clients in competition cases involving many jurisdictions around the world.