WongPartnership LLP

Antitrust & Competition; Corporate Regulatory & Licensing; Mergers & Acquisitions

Ameera Ashraf heads the Antitrust & Competition Practice and is a Partner of the Corporate Regulatory & Licensing Practice.

Since the introduction of competition law in Singapore, Ameera has led the WongPartnership antitrust practice in some of the most important antitrust decisions issued by the Competition Commission of Singapore ("CCCS") and the Competition Appeal Board. This includes the first appeal on a merger, as well as in decisions which have established the law and procedure in a number of areas of competition law in Singapore. She advises on a full range of competition issues, including merger control, restrictive practices, abuse of dominance, issues in licensing and other intellectual property agreements and compliance programmes.

Ameera also offers guidance on sectoral competition laws including the codes of practice published under the Telecommunications Act and the Media Development Authority Act.

In her Regulatory Practice, Ameera advises clients in regulated markets on the applicable regulatory framework, and supports them in their dealings with government departments in areas such as trade regulation, consumer protection and fair-trading laws and environment, health and safety regulations. She provides compliance advice, regulatory due diligence and strategic advice on the impact of government regulations on their businesses. Some of the regulatory matters she has been involved in include advising on the legislative framework in the transport, electricity and gas industries and in relation to the food industry. In the transportation industry she has guided clients across complex regulations in areas such as autonomous vehicles, regulation of ride-hailing, taxis, trains and airlines.

She is a regular participant in roundtable discussions organised by the CCCS for the review of competition guidelines and legislation in Singapore, and has participated as a non-governmental advisor at the International Competition Network conference since 2013. Ameera also has experience in UK and EC competition law through a stint with the Antitrust Group of an international law firm in London.

Work Highlights

Significant transactions that Ameera has been involved in include advising / acting for the following:

Nachi Fujikoshi Corporation in its successful appeal against the quantum of financial penalty imposed by the (then) Competition Commission of Singapore. Uber Singapore in the first ever appeal against a merger decision by the CCCS. Singapore Chemi-con (Pte) Ltd, Nachi-Fujikoshi Corporation, and Nishi-Nippon Railroad Co. Ltd. in the first three infringement decisions involving multijurisdictional cartels issued by the CCCS. Luxottica Group in its successful Phase 2 clearance without commitments in its merger with Essilor International.

Publications & Legal Updates

The Merger Control Review, Singapore Chapter – 2nd to 5th Editions

English.

Ameera is a board member of the Competition Appeal Board, which is an independent body hearing appeals against the decisions of the CCCS. She also sits on two statutory boards, Enterprise Singapore, which supports enterprise development, and the Building and Construction Authority, which oversees the development and transformation of the built environment sector. She also sits on the Main Committee of the Yellow Ribbon Fund, which is a charity focused on the development and implementation of rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for ex-offenders and their families. She is an active member of the International Bar Association where she serves as an officer of its Antitrust Committee. She is also a member of the American Bar Association's International Cartel Task Force.

Admitted, 1996, Singapore; 2009, England & Wales; National University of Singapore (LL.B., Hons.); King's College, University of London (M.A. in EC Competition Law).