Peter Crowther

Partner

Peter Crowther coordinates the Competition/EU practice, working out of our London and Brussels offices. Peter has significant experience of EU merger control, national and international cartels, state aid, trade/sanctions, free movement and other general EU and competition law. Peter also has a long track record of advising broadcasting and telecommunications companies on regulatory matters.

A significant part of Peter’s practice involves defending companies in a wide range of national and international enforcement proceedings, often simultaneously across a range of jurisdictions. Peter also devises and implements compliance programmes covering areas such as competition, trade/sanctions, bribery and corruption.

Peter is a former law lecturer and former holder of a Jean Monnet Professorship in European Law. He has been recognised in Chambers 2006-2009 and has been named one of The Lawyer’s “Hot 100” for 2011.

Recent merger work (most requiring EC Merger Regulation clearance) includes advising:

  • AIG on the sale of a banking business to Santander
  • CEDC, the leading Vodka producer in Russia and Central and Eastern Europe, on its acquisition of Russian Alcohol Group
  • Citigroup Venture Capital International on a number of acquisitions requiring EC Merger Regulation and non-EU clearances
  • CME, the leading Central and Eastern European broadcaster, on its acquisition of the leading Bulgarian free-to-air broadcaster
  • CNPC, the Chinese State oil company, in relation to a variety of acquisitions
  • Finmeccanica, the Italian State defence company, on special public interest aspects under the Enterprise Act 2002 in respect of its acquisition of a UK target
  • Munich Re on its acquisition of Hartford Steam Boiler Company
  • Lyondell Basell on its acquisition of a major refinery from Shell
  • Metlife on its acquisition of Alico, the worldwide life insurance business of AIG
  • RWE on a proposed acquisition requiring EC Merger Regulation clearance
  • Vedanta Resources, a major metals and mining company on its acquisition of zinc assets of Anglo American
  • A variety of Hedge Funds on merger arbitrage

Other recent work includes advising:

  • Global manufacturing companies in a number of industrial sectors on alleged cartels under simultaneous investigation by regulators in a range of jurisdictions
  • A global oil and gas company on simultaneous civil and criminal investigations into alleged corruption activities
  • A leading European oil company on a successful challenge to national legislation for being contrary to EU rules on free movement and discriminatory taxation
  • A major mining business on a global joint venture with a major competitor
  • A major integrated oil and gas company on international competition proceedings

Publications

Peter is widely published, including for many years authoring a chapter of the looseleaf publication Butterworths Competition Law (eds Freeman and Whish). Peter’s articles have appeared in many journals including the European Competition Law Review. He has written over 20 publications on the application of competition law in the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors.

Education

  • Copenhagen Business School, 1997, Ph.D. (EU Competition Law in Telecommunications)
  • University of Oxford, 1993, Masters (Law and Economics)
  • Keele University, 1992, BA (Jt Hons)

Bar Admissions

  • Brussels, Belgium (EU list)

Court Admissions

  • Solicitor, Supreme Court of England and Wales