Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP’s London competition practice has swiftly positioned itself as a top-tier contender since its April 2024 launch. The team is notably active in high-stakes merger control and foreign investment clearances across strategic M&A and complex private equity transactions, delivering standout results across the technology, healthcare, industrials, automotive, retail, and infrastructure sectors. Co-chair Nicole Kar joined from Linklaters LLP in May 2024, bringing over 20 years’ experience in competition and regulatory matters. Fellow co-chair Annie Herdman, also a recent addition, is highly experienced in multi-jurisdictional merger control and FDI mandates.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘They have pursued a highly effective strategy to build up their European/UK presence. They now have a large and experienced team. Quality of associates is also very high. Very strategic approach and high-quality written work.’
‘Nicole Kar is a superstar and is more hands on than other partners of comparable levels of seniority. Lauren O'Brien and Rich Pepper are very experienced and effective lawyers.’
'The Paul Weiss UK team is very impressive in that the team is obviously experienced in dealing with the CMA, but the team is also incredibly effective at managing the antitrust process across other jurisdictions.'
'Having managed the antitrust process in M&A previously, Lauren O'Brien distinguishes herself in running a multi-country approach for her clients and staffing strong associates to support the centralized model, which significantly streamlines painstaking reviews and efficiently minimising duplicative cross-border work.'
Key clients
- EP Group
- Outbrain Inc
- AlphaSense
- IBM
- TPG Inc.
- Global Auto Holdings Limited
- SecureWorks
- ZT Systems
- Apollo
- KPS Capital Partners
- ABC Technologies
- Bain Capital
Work highlights
Advised EP Group, a.s. in connection with the UK merger control, foreign investment and government and regulatory relations aspects of its £3.5 billion recommended cash offer for International Distribution Services plc.
Advised ABC Technologies on the regulatory aspects of its £1.8 billion recommended all-cash offer for TI Fluid Systems plc.
Advised IBM in its US$6.4 billion acquisition of HashiCorp.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Nicole Kar
Other key lawyers
Annie Herdman; Lauren O'Brien; Alexandra Hackney