“Melanie Martin is a highly regarded competition lawyer whose expertise in EU and UK merger control makes her a trusted adviser on complex, cross-border transactions. Recognised by Chambers and Legal 500, she combines technical precision with commercial clarity, guiding clients through regulatory scrutiny with confidence and securing clearance where timing and strategy are critical.”

Fantastic Lawyers® Editorial, 2026

Melanie Martin is a Partner in the Competition team, with a wide-ranging practice spanning EU and UK competition law. She is particularly recognised for her expertise in merger control, regularly representing clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and the European Commission to secure transaction clearance.

Recognised as a Rising Star by Legal 500 and an Associate to Watch by Chambers, clients describe Melanie as “very good and thorough, and on top of everything.”

What She Actually Does

In practical terms, Melanie helps businesses navigate complex merger control and competition law issues in high-value, often cross-border transactions.

Her core expertise includes:

• EU and UK merger control
• Competition and antitrust investigations
• Cartel investigations and leniency applications
• Dominance and abuse of market power issues
• Subsidy control and state aid
• Foreign direct investment (FDI) and National Security & Investment Act (NSIA) matters
• Market investigations and regulatory reviews
• Distribution and agency arrangements

She has handled merger filings in multiple foreign jurisdictions and has attended both civil and criminal dawn raids by competition authorities, including a European Commission investigation in 2019.

Representative Experience

• Avis Budget Group Inc. & Koç Holding – Advising on EU merger control clearance for the acquisition of Olympic Commercial and Tourist Enterprises.
• C&C Group PLC – Advising on competition aspects of the acquisition of Matthew Clark and Bibendum PLB.
• KKR – Advising on regulatory and competition due diligence for the acquisition of Unilever’s global baking, cooking and spreads business.
• KPS Capital Partners – Handling merger control and multiple foreign merger and FDI filings for the acquisition of the Howden group.
• World Fuels Inc – Securing CMA merger control clearance for the acquisition of UVair European Fuelling Services Limited.

Commercial & In-House Perspective

Melanie completed a six-month secondment as legal adviser to a leading oil and gas services company. During that time, she gained practical experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts and advising on international trade issues, strengthening her commercial understanding of competition risk in operational environments.

Recognition

• Legal 500 2026 – Recognised for delivering technically complex competition advice in clear, practical terms.
• Rising Star – Legal 500 (Competition Law)
• Associate to Watch – Chambers (Competition Law)

Thought Leadership

Melanie regularly publishes and speaks on merger control, foreign subsidies regulation, AI and competition risk, and the National Security and Investment Act. She has co-authored numerous insights on CMA enforcement trends, foreign subsidy rules and digital market regulation.

Why She Is Different

Melanie combines deep technical knowledge of EU and UK competition frameworks with a calm, commercially focused delivery style. Clients value her ability to distil complex regulatory issues into clear, actionable advice that supports deal timelines and strategic growth.

Contact:
Direct: +44 33 0222 1880
Email: Available via firm contact page
LinkedIn: Available via firm profile