Merger control – the system for assessing mergers and acquisitions to ensure they don’t weaken competition – continues to evolve in the UK and internationally. The CMA is at the centre of UK merger control, and this event helped members better understand how it reaches decisions.
Last year we heard detailed analyses of Phase 1 decisions such as Theramex/Viatris and Phase 2 decisions such as Vodafone/Three. This year, we heard from Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Director in the CMA’s mergers team. As the decision-maker on complex Phase 1 merger cases, her insights on recent and ongoing high-profile cases are invaluable. As well as breaking down key decisions, she answered members questions.
This in-person event, held at the Law Society, was followed by a drinks reception where members had the opportunity to network with peers working across competition law.
Speakers
Sorcha O’Carroll, Senior Director - Mergers, CMA
Sorcha O’Carroll is a Senior Director - Mergers at UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) since April 2022. Before that, she has worked as a Director of Mergers at the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) for 3 years. Between the years 2011 and 2019, Sorcha was a Senior Associate at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. Since 2007 for 4 years, she has occupied the post of an Associate at McMillan. Finally, between the years 2005 and 2006, Sorcha O’Carroll was a Law Clerk at the Federal Court of Canada.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday 23 April 2026
Time: 6pm to 8:30pm
Location: Law Society’s Hall, 113 Chancery Lane, London, WC2A 1PL.
Downloads
CMA mergers update - 230426
PDF, Size 0.58 mb
