Contact details

Will Spens

T: +44 20 7809 2365 Email Will | vCard Office: London

Will Spens Associate

Contact details

Will Spens

Will Spens
Associate

T: +44 20 7809 2365 Email Will | vCard Office: London

Will is an experienced UK/EU competition lawyer who advises on cross-border M&A/private equity deals, cartel investigations, behavioural practices/policies and market investigations. Will also advises on foreign direct investment regulations.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors

Will joined the Stephenson Harwood competition team from White & Case LLP. He has worked on large cross-border M&A and private equity transactions involving both UK and EU merger control issues, with a particular focus on the bidding process, pre-emptive analysis, clean team arrangements and due diligence, as well as substantive multi-jurisdictional assessments securing merger clearances for clients. He has further worked with clients on cartel investigations and follow-on damages claims, review of behavioural practices/policies and market investigations.

Will also advises on various forms of commercial agreements, including framework and distribution agreements; and has delivered compliance training for corporate entities, covering topics such as dawn raids, resale price maintenance and interaction between IP/competition law.

Will also advises on foreign direct investment rules, in particular, the UK's new National Security & Investment Bill and public interest regime under the Enterprise Act.

Will has worked for a number of multinational clients across a range of sectors, including financial services, insurance, shipping, rail, healthcare and consumer/retail.

  • Shipping
  • Foreign direct investment
  • Competition

Trade Associations

Advising a global trade association in the transport sector on a complaint alleging breach of the competition rules in respect of the introduction of a new scheme for the continuing development of industry participants.

Collaboration agreements

Advising a leading association of shipowners on the legality of a voluntary discussion agreement with application in the Caribbean from an EU competition law perspective.

Advising one of the largest global producers and marketers of fresh fruit/vegetables that operates liner vessels worldwide on entering into a space swap arrangement with another shipping company from an EU/UK competition law perspective.

More: Shipping

Radio frequency and microwave technologies

Advised Alaris Holdings Limited on the public interest regime under the Enterprise Act 2002 and the application of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 in respect of its acquisition of Linwave Technology Limited, a supplier of radio frequency and microwave component products with various end-use applications.

Agriculture

Advised a global agricultural company on the sale of a 50% shareholding in one of its subsidiary companies to an investment firm successfully securing FDI clearances in the United States, Spain, Romania and Australia. Merger control clearances were also secured in this matter from COMESA and in Serbia and Egypt.

Cyber security

Advised Kroll on the implications of its acquisition of Redscan, a UK-based cyber security firm, under the NSIA and the public interest regime under the Enterprise Act 2002, ensuring the transaction was completed successfully.

More: Foreign direct investment

Merger control

Advising a global financial consultancy firm on the acquisition of a UK company active in IT security services, including on the merger control and national security implications.
Advising a U.S. provider of digital supply chain technology on the potential UK merger control and national security implications around the acquisition of a UK target active in the same market.

Advising a UK healthcare company on the merger control implications resulting from the potential sale of one of its portfolio companies to another healthcare company.
Assisting a team in advising a major provider of insurance brokerage services on its proposed acquisition of one of its main competitors in the provision of motorcycle insurance in the UK. 

Advising a global radio frequency technology company on the potential merger control and national security implications around the acquisition of a UK manufacturer of radio frequency and microwave component products.

Assisting a team in advising a multinational agribusiness specialising in the cultivation, production and trading of animal feed and essential food commodities on the sale of a 50% stake in one of its companies to an investment firm, including on merger control and foreign direct investment.

Commercial agreements

Advising a leading association of shipowners on the legality of a voluntary discussion agreement with application in the Caribbean from an EU competition law perspective.
Advising one of the largest global producers and marketers of fresh fruit/vegetables that operates liner vessels worldwide on entering into a space swap arrangement with another shipping company from an EU/UK competition law perspective.

Advising a multinational technology and e-commercial company on the potential implications of an automated pricing software tool under EU/UK competition rules, particularly vis-à-vis restrictions on resale price maintenance. 

Advising a global manufacturing company on the legality of certain provisions contained in a supply arrangement from an EU/UK competition law perspective, including on the prevention of the resale of individual components, tying/bundling and other ancillary restraints.

State Aid / subsidies

Advising a leading rail franchise operator on appropriate State aid / state subsidy clauses to include in a commercial agreement with one of the devolved UK governments.

Joint ventures

Advising a global poultry breeding company in respect of its entry into various joint venture operations across Africa with another leading poultry and animal feed producer for the distribution of chicken stock. 

Compliance

Advising a global trade association in the transport sector on a complaint alleging breach of the competition rules in respect of the introduction of a new scheme for the continuing development of industry participants.

Advising a leading global software and outsourcing solutions provider on its outsourcing arrangement with a leading UK bank, considering in particular issues around information exchange and competition for talent. 

More: Competition

 
  • Technology
  • Consumer

Compliance

Advising a leading global software and outsourcing solutions provider on its outsourcing arrangement with a leading UK bank, considering in particular issues around information exchange and competition for talent.

Merger control

Advising a global radio frequency technology company on the potential merger control and national security implications around the acquisition of a UK manufacturer of radio frequency and microwave component products.

Advising a global financial consultancy firm on the acquisition of a UK company active in IT security services, including on the merger control and national security implications.

More: Technology

Vertical agreements

Advising a multinational technology and e-commercial company on the potential implications of an automated pricing software tool under EU/UK competition rules, particularly vis-à-vis restrictions on resale price maintenance. 

Advising a global manufacturing company on the legality of certain provisions contained in a supply arrangement from an EU/UK competition law perspective, including on the prevention of the resale of individual components, tying/bundling and other ancillary restraints.

Merger control

Advising a U.S. provider of digital supply chain technology on the potential UK merger control and national security implications around the acquisition of a UK target active in the same market.

Assisting a team in advising a multinational agribusiness specialising in the cultivation, production and trading of animal feed and essential food commodities on the sale of a 50% stake in one of its companies to an investment firm, including on merger control and foreign direct investment.

Joint ventures

Advising a global poultry breeding company in respect of its entry into various joint venture operations across Africa with another leading poultry and animal feed producer for the distribution of chicken stock. 

More: Consumer

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