International law firm Clifford Chance announced today that Nelson Jung is to join the firm's leading global Antitrust practice as a partner, based in the London office.

Nelson joins from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) where he is the Director of Mergers Group. He previously held a number of senior positions at the CMA's predecessor, The Office of Fair Trading, including Director of Competition Enforcement and Head of Mergers. At the CMA, Nelson has overseen the CMA's merger caseload and has led on the CMA’s position on EU merger policy. He also represented the CMA in significant mergers that are notified with the European Commission insofar as they give rise to potential issues in the UK, including GE on its acquisition of Alstom and recent transactions in the telecoms sector. He has also played a leading role in shaping the CMA’s role and contributions in the context of the European Commission’s Digital Single Market agenda.

Most recently, Nelson took the lead role in the CMA's assessment of Muller's acquisition of Dairy Crest, a case that had originally been notified with the European Commission. He also oversaw the CMA's recent conditional merger control clearance of the InterCity East Coast rail franchise award and led the merger control assessment of Greene King's acquisition of Spirit Pub Company.
Nelson Jung is a qualified lawyer in Germany as well as a solicitor in England and Wales. He began his career at Clifford Chance, where he spent six years developing his practice in the firm's London Antitrust group.

Alex Nourry, Head of Clifford Chance's UK Antitrust practice said: "We are delighted that Nelson has chosen to return to Clifford Chance after his time at the OFT and the CMA during which he has gained a wealth of experience at‎ a senior level both in relation to merger control and antitrust enforcement. His experience will be invaluable to the Firm's antitrust practice and to its clients, as will Nelson's deep understanding of the new institutional framework at the CMA."

Guy Norman, Head of Clifford Chance's Global Corporate practice added: "As Antitrust regimes across the world become more challenging, a well-executed merger control strategy can be critical to the success of an M&A transaction. Nelson's deep understanding of the UK and European regulators will further strengthen our leading team as we help our Corporate clients to navigate the risks and opportunities this new landscape brings."

Nelson Jung said: "I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the CMA and OFT, where I have worked on hugely interesting matters and policy developments with great people. I am now delighted to return to Clifford Chance, where I look forward to applying the regulatory experience I gained in advising clients as well as playing a very active part in the development of Clifford Chance's leading and ambitious antitrust practice in London and internationally."

Clifford Chance has a top ranked global Corporate practice, regularly advising clients on some of the most complex, high-profile mandates thanks to the firm's international reach, extensive experience and deep expertise. The firm's Antitrust team combines specialised knowledge with economic and regulatory expertise and regularly advises on some of the most high-profile, complex work. Recently, the firm advised EE and Deutsche Telekom in obtaining unconditional clearance of the acquisition of EE by BT Group plc following a Phase 2 investigation by the CMA and Pfizer on the EU clearance of its acquisition of Hospira.