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 Neil Baylis
Partner

Neil Baylis

Languages
  • English
  • French
  • German

Neil has over 20 years experience as a competition law partner and also has significant commercial and regulatory expertise.  He sits as a non-executive director on a number of boards.  His clients span a broad range of industries but has particular knowledge of the automotive, transport and travel sectors. 

He has advised on complex mergers, investigations as well as advising on competition compliance.  He has litigated in the CAT and Court of Appeal as well as defended clients on criminal cartel cases in the Crown Court.

Neil’s broader business experience gives him an understanding of markets and business strategies that in turn enable him to give practical and focused legal advice.   His clients include:

  • Corporates of all sizes from owner-managed businesses to multi-billion dollar multinationals
  • Trade associations (notably for a number of metals trade associations)

Neil’s clients are global and the frequently advises clients in relation to doing business in the UK and EU.

Neil is committed to pro bono and for many years has advised BLISS the national charity for premature babies.

Relevant experience

  • Fox on the multi-jurisdictional filing process in relation to a joint venture with Disney and Warner Bros Discovery to build a new platform to house a streaming sports service. The platform brings together the companies’ portfolios of sports networks, certain direct-to-consumer (DTC) sports services and college sports.
  • On dawn raid in fragrances sector (UK, EU and US co-ordinated raids).
  • On numerous Phase 2 merger control inquiries in publishing and automotive sectors.
  • On a leading UK information sharing case up to Court of Appeal.
  • On cartel offence prosecution in the Crown Court.
  • Judicial review against Ofcom on behalf of Radiocentre.
  • On FCA competition law investigation.
  • Numerous trade associations on competition law compliance; providing training programmes.
  • Automotive companies on distribution strategies for cars and vehicle parts across Europe.
  • Major chemical and energy companies on sanctions issues and obtaining OFSI clearances/licences.
  • On export control investigation into dual use goods.
  • BYD on its joint venture with Alexander Dennis, as well as commercial, trade and employment issues.
  • AC Cars on its commercial agreements, IP registrations and disputes and investment agreements.
  • De Tomaso on its acquisition, subsequent IP and commercial strategy and agreements.
  • Apollo Automobile on its acquisition from Gumpert and subsequent commercial strategy and agreements.
  • Continental on mergers in the tyre and rubber sectors.
  • F1 Management on competition law issues.
  • Invicta Cars on dealership collaboration agreements.
  • Inchcape on numerous dealer agreement negotiations.
  • Maranello on its dealer agreements and Ferrari parts business.

Publications

  • Gore Brown on Companies Special Release 2025 (Article on DMCCA 2024)
  • Tolley’s Company Law (merger control chapters)

Memberships & Roles

  • Member of Law Society
  • Member of SMMT
  • Member of Wine Society

Education

  • 1990 - Law (LLM), International Law and Legal Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge.