Sharon is a partner based in our Antitrust, Competition and Trade group in London. Having also spent time working in Brussels, she has experience of working on all aspects of UK and EU competition law including global transactions, antitrust investigations, sector-wide market inquiries and competition litigation.
A leading member of the firm’s global Tech practice, Sharon has particular experience in advising technology, digital platform, healthcare and financial services infrastructure clients on contentious and non-contentious matters before the UK Competition and Markets Authority, the European Commission and the English and European courts.
More broadly, Sharon has served as a Visiting Lecturer at Kings College London on the intersection of competition law and intellectual property law in relation to FRAND licensing arrangements for standard essential technology patents. She has also co-authored a number of publications relating to antitrust and regulatory developments concerning businesses in innovation-heavy industries.
Sharon has served as a Non-Executive Director and Trustee of Rosa – the UK Fund for Women and Girls. She has also co-chaired the Freshfields London Women’s Network, of which she is a founding member.
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Highlights of Sharon's experience include acting for:
- Facebook in relation to the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) Online Platforms and Digital Advertising market study; and the defence and co-ordination of proceedings before the CMA, the European Commission (EC) and the European General Court.
- Hellman & Friedman on successfully obtaining merger control approval from the EC for its $5.3bn and $6bn acquisitions of payments platforms Nets and Concardis.
- London Stock Exchange Group on the EC’s Phase II investigation into its proposed £21bn merger with Deutsche Börse; and on obtaining merger control approval for its acquisition of a majority stake in LCH.Clearnet.
- A global pharma company on successfully obtaining merger control approval from the CMA in relation to its acquisition of an innovative biotech.
- A global tech company in relation to its defence and resolution of the landmark Unwired Planet v Huawei litigation concerning the transfer and licensing of standard essential patents before the English High Court and the Court of Appeal.
- A global tech company on securing international merger control approval for acquisitions in the high-tech and media sectors; and on a successful antitrust complaint to the EC.
- Visa on its successful resolution of the EC’s investigation into its international interchange fees; and on successfully dismissing the first application for interim measures made to the CMA following changes to UK antitrust legislation.
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University education
- University of Bristol, Law (LL.B)
Professional qualifications
- BPP Law School, Legal Practice Course (Distinction)
- Solicitor (England and Wales)
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