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Paul Hastings Hires EU Competition Partner for Brussels Office

By  |  March 11, 2026

Paul Hastings has expanded its presence in Brussels by recruiting EU competition partner Salomé Cisnal de Ugarte from King & Spalding, strengthening the firm’s European antitrust capabilities as it continues to build its regulatory and deal-related services in the region.

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    Ugarte joins the firm as a partner and will also serve as chair of the Brussels office. According to a statement from the firm, she previously led the EU antitrust and competition practice at King & Spalding, bringing experience in European competition law and regulatory matters.

    Her appointment is being framed by Paul Hastings as part of the launch of an “enhanced Brussels platform,” according to a statement. The move reflects the increasing role EU competition enforcement plays in cross-border transactions and regulatory oversight tied to major deals.

    Ugarte advises clients on a broad range of EU competition issues, including merger control, joint ventures, antitrust investigations, and vertical agreements, per a statement from the firm. Her experience also includes handling cross-border matters involving multinational companies.

    The hire follows another recent addition to the firm’s European antitrust team. Last September, Paul Hastings brought in senior competition partner Sally Evans from Kirkland & Ellis in London as part of its effort to expand its competition practice across key European markets, according to a statement.

    Related: Paul Hastings Expands Antitrust Bench With Washington Hire

    Firm chair Frank Lopez highlighted Brussels as a strategic location for the firm’s continued growth in antitrust and regulatory work tied to global dealmaking.

    “As the center of European antitrust law and policy, Brussels is a critical market in which to add premier talent such as Salomé as we continue building our destination European and global antitrust practice and supporting our growing M&A and PE platform,” Lopez said.

    The Brussels hire also comes amid a broader push by Paul Hastings to strengthen its European bench through lateral recruitment. The firm has been adding partners across multiple practice areas following a period in which several partners departed its London office over the past year.

    Recent hires include tax partners Jenny Doak, who joined from Weil, Catherine Richardson, previously with Cadwalader, and Alicia Osei, who moved from Macfarlanes, according to a statement.

    In February, the firm also recruited corporate partner Mark Zerdin from Slaughter and May, marking an uncommon lateral move from the prominent City firm. The additions reflect Paul Hastings’ ongoing strategy to bolster its European capabilities across regulatory, tax, and corporate practices.

    Source: Nonbillable