Davis Polk partner and European antitrust practice head Jürgen Schindler discussed the recent growth of the firm’s Antitrust & Competition practice in Europe with The Lawyer.

Jürgen noted that it is imperative in today’s world for any firm aiming to be seen as elite for antitrust regulatory advice to have capabilities in Washington DC, New York, London and Brussels. “There is such an increase in regulation around the world, more than 140 jurisdictions just for merger control, plus there is also a rapid growth of FDI,” he explained. “Antitrust and FDI are becoming a threshold matter for transactions to get through. It used to be the case that regulatory advice was a bit of an afterthought. Now it’s key and must be frontloaded.”

The Lawyer highlighted Matt Yeowart’s promotion this week to partner within the firm’s Antitrust & Competition practice to further build out the team. Matt works across London and Brussels, with extensive experience advising on complex, high-profile global, U.K. and EU merger control and foreign direct investment reviews, as well as conduct issues and enforcement matters.

In addition, the firm recently welcomed counsel Charles Pommiès in the Brussels office. Charles focuses on antitrust investigations, merger control reviews and foreign investment reviews in connection with a broad variety of matters for leading U.S., European and Asian companies across industries.

Davis Polk launched its European antitrust practice in Brussels in 2023 with the hiring of Jürgen and EU Antitrust special advisor Frances Dethmers, marking a major step in the firm’s global expansion and broadening its capabilities to advise clients on sophisticated antitrust matters under EU law. Davis Polk is recognized as a preeminent firm in antitrust and competition law, including with top-tier rankings from publications such as Global Competition Review, Benchmark Litigation and Chambers USA.

The article also discusses Davis Polk’s growth more broadly in London, including through the addition of restructuring partners Jifree Cader and Mark Knight, private equity M&A partner Gordon Milne and finance partner Luke McDougall. 

“Davis Polk targets A&O Shearman for antitrust team boost,” The Lawyer (July 2, 2025) (subscription required) 

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