Europe - Ireland
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EU and competition

William Fry LLP

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William Fry LLP has an established EU and competition practice, achieving further prominence in merger control cases and is noted for its experience in negotiating remedies with the CCPC. The firm also has a significant presence in CCPC and European Commission investigations and follow-on damages actions. Moreover, it has extensive knowledge of state aid, public procurement, trade and regulatory issues. The team has three partners at the helm. Cormac Little SC is one of the top names in the EU and competition field in Ireland, while Claire Waterson is at the forefront of state aid, public procurement and regulatory matters. Sheila Tormey is further noted for merger control and regulatory issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘William Fry is the go-to firm in Ireland and has earned this title for many years in all fields of antitrust. They are pragmatic, efficient and solution-oriented.’

  • ‘ I would like to mention Sheila Tormey. who has led major Phase 2 remedies merger control cases in the last year. She is a market leader in merger control.'

  • 'This is a very good practice, led by the extremely capable Cormac Little SC and the resourceful and focused Claire Waterson amongst others. They have now become statespersons in the competition world.'

  • 'Cormac Little SC and Claire Waterson would be stand-out in any jurisdiction. They possess huge intellectual capital and client-facing capabilities.'

  • 'They give user-friendly, timely advice - have been impressed by them'

  • 'Cormac Little SC is my go-to competition lawyer in Ireland - in my mind the number one in the country. He gives really good advice -- both practical and commercial.'

Key clients

  • Coimisiún na Meán
  • Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
  • FUJIFILM
  • Glanbia Co-Operative Society
  • EirGrid plc
  • Davy
  • Uniphar plc
  • Enterprise Ireland
  • Partners Group
  • DCC plc/Flogas/Emo Oil
  • Phoenix Group Holdings
  • SOLAS
  • Uniphar plc
  • A high profile multi-national tech company
  • Irish Rugby Football Union
  • Phoenix Group Holdings plc
  • A major truck manufacturer
  • Irish Life Group
  • East Cork Oil
  • Valero (Energy) Ireland Limited
  • Cardinal Carlyle Ireland Fund (CCIF) and The City Bin Co
  • DFDS
  • Six mussel producers (Loch Garman Harbour Mussels Limited, TL Mussels Limited, Crescent Seafood Limited, River Bank Mussels Limited, WD Shellfish Limited and Fjord Fresh Mussels Limited)
  • Aurivo
  • Tesco Ireland
  • Dense Air Ireland
  • A number of leading multinational tech clients (confidential)

Work highlights

  • Advised Uniphar plc on merger control aspects of its acquisition of McCauley Chemist and on its proposed acquisition of NaviCorp, both remedies cases.
  • Advised Irish Life Group on the creation of a joint venture between Irish Life Wellbeing Limited and Centric Health Primary Care Limited (EUMR unconditional Phase 1 approval).
  • Advised CCIF / The City Bin Co on the sale of The City Bin Co to Thorntons Recycling, a Phase 2 remedies case.

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.
Cormac Little
Hall of fameWilliam Fry LLP
Cormac is a Partner and head of William Fry’s Competition & Regulation Department, specialising in EU and Irish competition, merger control and public procurement rules. He advises on the compatibility of business arrangements with EU and Irish competition laws and has represented clients in antitrust investigations by both the European Commission and the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission and in proceedings before the European and Irish courts. Cormac has also secured Irish regulatory approval regarding many high-profile corporate transactions. He also advises both public bodies and disappointed bidders regarding challenges to contract decisions under public procurement rules. Cormac also has a broader regulatory focus. He advises clients on complying with anti-money laundering rules and on 'white-collar' crime issues. He has also been appointed as senior counsel by the cabinet.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Sheila Tormey
William Fry LLP
Sheila is a Partner in William Fry’s Competition & Regulation Department. She advises on all aspects of EU, UK and Irish competition law including merger control, anti-competitive agreements and conduct by dominant firms. She has particular experience in merger control and in distribution, parallel imports, rebates and other pricing practices. In addition, she specialises in public procurement law and is an external supervisor for EU Public Procurement Law on the King’s College, London, LLM programme.
Claire Waterson
William Fry LLP
Claire Waterson is a Partner in William Fry’s Competition & Regulation Department advising on all aspects of Irish and EU competition law, including merger control, restrictive practices, State aids, public procurement and free movement. Claire specialises in sectoral regulation with a particular emphasis on telecommunications

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Cormac Little SC

Other key lawyers

Claire Waterson, Sheila Tormey

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