Profile details
About Sharon Malhi
Sharon is a partner in our Antitrust, Competition and Trade group, and sits on the firm's Global Tech & Data SteerCo. Having spent time working in London, Brussels and Milan, she has a vibrant practice that spans all aspects of EU and UK competition law including global M&A, antitrust investigations and competition litigation. With a particular specialism in fast-evolving digital markets, Sharon regularly advises clients on the intersection of competition law with privacy, intellectual property and consumer laws, and on new digital regulation such as the EU Digital Markets Act.
Sharon is a passionate advocate for gender diversity. She was a founding member and co-chair of the Freshfields Women's Network, and a former Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Rosa – the UK Fund for Women and Girls. She currently sits on the Executive Committee of W@CompetitionUK. Her work in promoting gender diversity has received various accolades including from the Financial Times who recognised Sharon as a global top 50 future female leader.
In 2023, Sharon was listed as one of five "Private Practice Shining Star" lawyers in the UK and Ireland by W@Competition, and shortlisted as Lawyer of the Year - Under 40 by Global Competition Review.
Recent work
Sharon's experience includes advising:
- Carta on its acquisitions of digital equity management fintech Capdesk and online capital-raising fintech Vauban.
- Ericsson on its defence and successful resolution of the landmark Unwired Planet v Huawei standard essential patent FRAND litigation before the English High Court and Court of Appeal.
- Hellman & Friedman on successfully obtaining unconditional Phase I approval from the EC for its $5.3bn acquisition of payments platform Nets, and $6bn acquisition of payments platform Concardis.
- A Global Pharma Company on successflly obtaining unconditional Phase 1 approval from the UK CMA for its $5bn acquisition of an innovative global gene therapy platform.
- A Global Tech Company on its successful acquisition of a credit analytics fintech company before the UK CMA, and previously on other acquisitions in the high-tech and media sectors including before the EC.
- London Stock Exchange Group on the EC's Phase II investigation of its £21bn proposed global merger with Deutsche Börse, and previously on successfully obtaining unconditional Phase 1 approval from the UK, Portuguese and Spanish competition authorities for its acquisition of a majority stake in global clearing house LCH.
- Meta on its defence against the EC and UK CMA's parallel antitrust investigations into Facebook Marketplace, and on its defence and coordination of other antitrust proceedings around the world.
- Meta on its response to the UK CMA's Online Platforms and Digital Advertising Market Study.
- Meta on its landmark challenge against the EC before the EU General Court, with Meta having obtained rarely granted interim relief from the Court.
- Visa on its defence and successful resolution of the EC's antitrust investigation into its international interchange fees with commitments.
- Visa on successfully dismissing an urgent application for interim measures before the UK CMA (the first application made under revised UK legislation).
Qualifications
Education
- University of Bristol, Law (LL.B)
- BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
Professional roles
- Executive Committee Member of W@CompetitionUK
- Former Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Rosa - the UK Fund for Women and Girls
- Former Guest Lecturer at Kings College London (LL.M Competition Law and Patent Law)
- Founding Member and Former Co-Chair of the Freshfields Women's Network