Dominic is Global Deputy Head of Antitrust and splits his time between our London and Brussels offices.

Dominic has extensive experience advising on complex multi-jurisdictional merger clearances before both the European Commission and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority, as well as abuse of dominance and cartel investigations, EU State aid considerations, national security/foreign direct investment reviews and the EU Foreign Subsidy Regulation.

In the UK, Dominic has advised clients on the merger control aspects of a number of high profile transactions including four public interest interventions under the UK’s Enterprise Act 2002. This includes 21st Century Fox on the merger and UK regulatory aspects of its GBP 27.7 billion takeover bid for Sky and the subsequent GBP11.6bn sale of its 39% stake in Sky to Comcast, News Corporation on its proposed acquisition of Sky, Sky on its acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV (including before both the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) and the Court of Appeal), and a leading UK retail financial institution on its acquisition by another of the UK’s largest retail financial institutions (including before the CAT). He also advises a number of international clients on highly confidential matters relevant to UK national security considerations and advised one of the UK’s 6 large energy companies on the Competition and Markets Authority’s investigation into GB energy markets, the largest market investigation undertaken in the UK.

At the European level, Dominic has advised on several major cross border transactions including three Phase II clearances before the European Commission. These include advising a global telecommunications services provider on the EU merger control approval of its 50/50 Italian mobile telecoms joint venture with CK Hutchison, the first ‘four-to-three’ mobile telecoms consolidation cleared by the current EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, on Hutchison 3G Austria's acquisition of Orange Austria and on Oracle's acquisition of Sun Microsystems.

Dominic is described in the Legal 500 as ‘smart and effective’, a ‘rising star’ and praised for his ‘strong intellect’ and ‘ability to translate legal advice with ease’. WWL, 2022 describes him as having ‘a strong technical grasp of competition law’ whose ‘style is eloquent and persuasive’. Chambers UK 2024 says ‘Dominic Long has a broad competition law practice, assisting clients with issues around subsidy control, behavioural investigations, phase I merger clearance reviews and National Security and Investment Act mandates. He often acts on matters involving the technology and energy sectors.’.

Experience

Representative matters

21st Century Fox on the merger and UK regulatory aspects of its GBP27.7bn takeover bid for Sky and the subsequent GBP11.6bn sale of its 39% stake in Sky to Comcast, and separately on its proposed USD71bn acquisition by The Walt Disney Company.
 
A Big 6 energy supplier on the CMA energy market investigation and on Ofgem's RIIO2 price control reviews.
 
Various international clients on highly confidential matters relevant to UK national security considerations.
 
A major pharma business on a CMA investigation under UK antitrust rules.
 
TVS Europe Distribution Ltd on the CMA’s Phase II merger control investigation of its completed acquisition of 3G Truck & Trailer Parts.
 
A global telecommunications services provider on the merger control and regulatory aspects of the Wind Tre joint venture and the subsequent sale of the 50% stake to CK Hutchison.
 
Brinks on its acquisition of certain businesses of G4S.
 
Sky on its acquisition of a 17.9% stake in ITV (including before both the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal and the UK Court of Appeal).
 
DLG on various merger control and antirust behavioural matters.
 
Bord Gáis Éireann on the competition aspects of the privatisation of its energy division.
 
Orange Austria and its controlling shareholder Mid Europa Partners on the EU Phase II merger control clearance of its acquisition by Hutchison 3G Austria.
 
A state owned petroleum company on various confidential matters.
 
A major renewables electricity generator on the disposal of certain wind farm assets.
 
British Gas on various regulatory issues relating to the roll-out of smart meters.
Recognition
Clients comment that "He is really smart, very responsible and really digs in to get to the right answer." "I want to call out Dominic Long for his work on the new national security act, he is the one that has the best insight on this." "He is one of the smartest guys I know, but practical as well."
Chambers UK, 2024
‘Dominic is highly experienced in dealing with competition authorities’. ‘He has a strong technical grasp of competition law’. ‘His style is eloquent and persuasive’, and ‘Dominic is an up and coming star’.
Who's Who Legal, 2022

Awards

  • Top 3, Global Elite firms - Global Competition Review 2020
  • TMT Firm of the Year - Legal 500 UK Awards 2019
  • Competition Team of the Year - British Legal Awards 2018
  • Competition Team of the Year - Legal Business Awards 2017
  • TMT Team of the Year -British Legal Awards 2016
  • GCR Behavioural Matter of the Year - Europe 2016

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2007

Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2018

Admitted as “avocat”, Brussels, Belgium

Academic

BA, Politics, Philosophy & Economics, Jesus College, Oxford University, 2000  (First Class)

MPhil, Management Studies, St John's College, Cambridge University, 2002  (Distinction)

Diploma, Economics in Competition Law, King's College London, 2009  (Distinction)

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.