Biography: Competition

Desmond is a partner in the competition practice at Webber Wentzel.

He has a wealth of experience in the areas of competition law and economics and was previously head of research at the South African Competition Tribunal. He has also consulted in the area of economic price cap regulation.

Desmond has a B Com from the University of the Free State (awarded with distinction); a LLB and BCom (honours) (both awarded with distinction) from the University of South Africa; and an advanced studies programme qualification in international economic policy research from the Kiel Institute of World Economics.

Desmond has been involved in a number of significant competition law matters. Some of his recent high-profile matters include acting for: Wal-Mart in its proposed acquisition of control over Massmart; Afgri in its recent acquisition of Pride Milling's yellow maize milling business; a grain silo storage services provider in the Competition Commission's investigation into grain silo storage fees; Unilever in the divestiture of certain of its personal care brands to Colgate Palmolive and Tiger Brands; Johnson Controls in its acquisitions of CR Hammerstein and the automotive business of Keiper Recaro; Unilever in its acquisition of the body care business of Sara Lee; a national retailer in the Competition Commission's supermarket investigation; and a major construction company which was a respondent in the Competition Commission's referral to the Competition Tribunal of complaints relating to reinforcing steel and reinforcing steel mesh and subsequent settlement thereof.