John Messent’s practice covers all aspects of UK and EU competition law, as well as rules on national security and investment screening.

He has represented clients before the European Commission, the Competition and Markets Authority, and UK sectoral regulators, as well as before the EU and UK Courts.

John was seconded in 2013 to the Policy department of the Office of Fair Trading, working on guidance documents to be published by the new Competition and Markets Authority (including on mergers, Competition Act investigations, and criminal cartel prosecutions).

He became counsel in 2024.

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Notable Experiences

  • Ryanair in the European Commission’s Phase 1 clearance of its acquisition of Laudamotion, its bids for Aer Lingus, and various other UK and EU antitrust matters.

  • Whirlpool in the EC’s Phase 2 clearance of the sale of its Embraco compressor business to Nidec.

  • Essilor in its merger with Luxottica, cleared by the EC in Phase 2.

  • HCA in its successful appeal of the CMA’s Private Healthcare Market Investigation and in the remitted Market Investigation before the CMA.

  • Dassault Systèmes in its successful defence against a complaint to the EC regarding alleged abuse of dominance, and then before the General Court in the appeal by Contact Software.

  • The Coca-Cola Company in connection with various UK and EU antitrust matters.

  • Sony Music in connection with various UK and EU antitrust matters.

  • American Express in connection with various UK and EU antitrust matters.

  • J-Power Systems in relation to the European Commission’s investigation into producers of high-voltage power cables, in which JPS achieved a leniency discount of 45%.

  • Sony Corporation in relation to the European Commission’s investigation into producers of rechargeable batteries, in which Sony received a leniency discount of 50% and a further settlement discount of 10%.

  • Recticel in relation to the European Commission’s investigation into producers of flexible polyurethane foam, in which Recticel achieved a leniency discount of 50% and a further settlement discount of 10%.

  • OpenText before the OFT on its $1.165 billion acquisition of GXS.

  • Lafarge in connection with its UK building materials joint venture with Anglo American’s Tarmac business.

  • Various other companies in relation to unannounced antitrust investigations by the European Commission and the CMA.

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Publications

Events