Alex Stratakis

Overview

Head of VBB’s London competition team, dual qualified (UK and EU) and with 20 years of experience in all aspects of competition law, Alex's practice covers predominantly the UK and EU, focusing on complex merger control and FDI screening, distribution/licensing, cartel and other investigations, dominance and state aid/subsidy control.

Alex has successfully represented clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the European Commission (EC) and  competition authorities (Greece and Cyprus in particular) across the globe, as well as before the UK, European and national courts.

His practice covers a wide range of sectors, including life sciences, automotive, energy & mining, industrials, FMCG, luxury goods, digital (including fintech, platforms and software developers), telecoms, media, defence, transport and infrastructure.  Alex regularly delivers sector-focused presentation/training sessions on competition law matters to clients.

Before joining VBB, Alex was Of Counsel in the London office of Baker & McKenzie, and previously was an associate at VBB.

Representative merger control/FDI experience, including a number of Phase II reviews and co-ordination of multiple filings across the globe:

Rio Tinto/Matalco, Ali Holding/Welbilt, JD Sports/Footasylum, Microsoft/Nuance, Ebiquity/MediaPath, Utmost Group/Quilter International, AstraZeneca/Alexion, CVC Partners/Ethniki Asfalistiki, Take-Two/Codemasters Gilead/Galapagos, Olyan/Intu, TDC/Macquarie, Tesco/Bidvest, Ultra/Sparton, Hydro/Rio Tinto (ISAL), Imerys/Rio Tinto, Bain Capital/Zenith Hygiene, Baxter/Hospira, numerous transactions for Platinum Equity, BT/EE and creation of EE, Crane/MEI, Altas Electronik/Qinetiq, Itochu/Kwik Fit, Gardner Denver/CompAir, Motorola/Vertex, Sabic/GE Plastics. 

Representative investigations and litigation experience:

ELV (EC and CMA), Woodpulp (EC), Machinery (multiple national), Musical instruments (CMA), multiple FMCG investigations and claims (EC, CMA and national), Freight Forwarding (EC and EU courts), Fintech (CMA and EC), Fruits (UK Courts), multiple pharma pricing and territorial restrictions (CMA, EC and national).  

Additional notable work: 

Alex advises large corporates on their distribution networks and licensing practices to optimise their go-to-market strategy and brand protection, including assessing risk of dominance and minimising competition law implications of desired commercial practices. 

He also advises clients on the establishment of complex R&D, joint production, distribution and other cooperation arrangements, including sustainability-driven collaborations, technology transfer, patent pools, IP settlements and setting up and managing non-reportable JVs.  

Alex has assisted clients, as both directly involved parties and as third parties, in a number of market studies and investigations, including CMA and EC investigations into multiple digital/tech inquiries (e.g. mobile browsers, online platforms and digital advertising, as well as specific behavioural practices of digital platforms), statutory audit, investment consultants, EC and national e-commerce and IoT inquiries, EC pharma sector review and CMA supply of medicines review, pay TV, and BAA airports market investigation.

Finally, he advises corporates on State aid/subsidy matters both in the UK and across Europe. Notable mandates include representing Rio Tinto and Eurallumina before the EU Courts on State aid cases and advising the BBC Trust on competition and State aid implications of all aspects of the BBC's public service and commercial subsidiaries’ behaviour and business ventures, including iPlayer and YouView.