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Microsoft Hires Top Lawyer To Revive Mega-Merger

By  |  May 7, 2023
Microsoft Hires Top Lawyer To Revive Mega-Merger

Microsoft has hired a lawyer, Daniel Beard KC, who has a history of success in defeating the EU. The company is seeking to overturn the decision made by the UK’s competition regulator to block its £55bn gaming takeover. An appeal will be lodged at the Competition Appeal Tribunal soon.

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    The company intends to file an appeal within a few days. It has been reported that Beard, a competition barrister, is known for successfully reversing significant rulings made by EU regulators.

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    Beard successfully appealed for Apple when the EU demanded a tax payment of €13 billion and also overturned a €1.1 billion fine against Intel after the EU claimed it was dominating the microchip market unfairly for a decade, reported The Telegraph. 

    Microsoft has hired Beard to appeal the UK CMA’s decision to block the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard by Xbox, with the hope of achieving a successful outcome.

    Related: Microsoft Offers To Charge For Teams In EU To Appease Watchdog

    The CMA made the decision to halt the deal last month due to concerns about its potential impact on competition within the cloud gaming market sector.

    EU regulators are investigating the acquisition and are expected to make a decision within the next two weeks, according to reports. This is happening across the English Channel.

    The European Commission is set to approve the takeover but under specific conditions, including Microsoft’s commitment to maintaining access to games like “Call of Duty” on other gaming consoles.