Offering a competition service that is well-versed to assist on the full scope of transactional, transactional, behavioural and advisory matters, Stephenson Harwood regularly handles work concerning the financial services and transport sectors. Notably, the practice is highly regarded for its expertise in cartel investigations, providing guidance to clients involved in complex multi-jurisdictional inquiries. The ‘brilliant’ Marta Isabel Garcia leads the team and is highly regarded for her specialised knowledge across the financial services, transport, insurance, retail and healthcare sectors. Managing associate Bryony Roy has particular expertise in cartel investigations, merger control and vertical agreements.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Marta Isabel Garcia is brilliant - commercial, accessible and great to work with.’

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Key clients

  • WindAcre Partnership LLC
  • bd-capital
  • Abellio UK
  • Bicycletx

Work highlights

  • Advising Windacre Partners LLP on all antitrust, merger control and foreign direct investment aspects in connection with its proposed $16bn takeover of Nielsen Holdings, the US information, data and market measurement firm.
  • Advising Abellio UK on all merger control and National Security and Investment Act aspects pertaining to the management buyout of Abellio from the Dutch state-owned rail company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen.
  • Advising Bicycletx, a bicycle precision therapeutics company on all antitrust, merger control and FDI aspects of its radiopharmaceuticals deal with Novartis, a global pharmaceutical company worth up to $1.7bn.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Marta Isabel Garcia
Stephenson Harwood
An EU and UK competition law expert, Marta is well-known for advising clients on global multi-jurisdictional merger control, cartel and behavioural investigations. Clients highly value her practical and commercial approach to complicated antitrust issues, and her real ability to provide global insights to increasingly global antitrust issues. Marta also advises on foreign direct investment rules. Marta joined us from international law firm Clifford Chance LLP and prior to this she was at Baker & McKenzie LLP (which included a year-long secondment to their Brasilia office, the capital of Brazil). Marta has significant experience advising companies on merger control issues arising in all different types of corporate transactions both in the UK and EU as well as globally. She regularly advises on jurisdictional and substantive merger control issues, due diligence, data room procedures and clean teams, gun-jumping and information exchange. Marta also has extensive experience advising and defending companies involved in international cartels and abuse of dominance investigations by the European Commission, the European courts and the UK competition authorities. She assists companies on all stages of investigations, from any unannounced inspections through to internal investigations/audits, leniency/immunity applications, preparation of defences, settlements and appeals before the courts. Marta also advises more generally on competition compliance and commercial agreement matters, including the review of commercial arrangements such as distribution, agency, R&D, specialisation, selective distribution and franchising systems, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Marta also advises on foreign direct investment rules, in particular, the UK's new National Security & Investment Act and public interest regime under the Enterprise Act. She has worked with companies across various industries (in particular, shipping, rail, consumer goods and retail, life sciences, energy, financial services and banking, insurance, real estate and funds and asset management) and her work has taken her across the globe (i.e. Europe, Asia, Latin America and Africa). Marta is renowned for her extremely knowledgeable, technical yet straightforward and practical approach which is appreciated by clients.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Marta Isabel Garcia

Other key lawyers

Bryony Roy