Leading international law firm Herbert Smith Freehills has appointed Kyriakos Fountoukakos as Managing Partner of the firm’s global Competition, Regulation and Trade (CRT) Practice, effective from 1 May.
Kyriakos will succeed Stephen Wisking, who will continue as a full-time practice partner in the firm’s London CRT team focussing on competition disputes and class actions and the TMT sector. Alongside this new role, Kyriakos will continue as CRT Regional Head of Practice for EMEA, where he will work closely with the CRT Regional Head of Practice for Australia, Linda Evans, and will also continue as Brussels Office Managing Partner.
Kyriakos has more than two decades of experience in all aspects of EU and UK competition law. He advises international clients in sectors including TMT, life sciences, energy and mining, consumer products, financial services and manufacturing on a range of areas including merger control (M&A and joint ventures), cartels, antitrust investigations and advice, distribution agreements, dominance, and competition litigation before the EU courts. He is also particularly active in advising clients in Japan working closely with HSF’s specialist competition teams in Asia.
Kyriakos started his career at Herbert Smith Freehills before working as a European Commission official at the Directorate General for Competition’s Merger Task Force and as a RĂ©fĂ©rendaire (legal assistant) in the cabinet of the President of the General Court of the EU. He subsequently rejoined the firm in 2006 as a partner. Kyriakos is also active as a visiting lecturer at University College London and as senior-vice chair of the IBA’s Antitrust Committee.
Kyriakos comments: “Our global competition and trade practice has gone from strength to strength under Stephen’s leadership, picking up major M&A and contentious mandates including a number of class actions. I’m looking forward to building on these great foundations as I take on this role. I am very privileged to be able to count on the support of a fantastic, high-quality team of colleagues in our global network. Our team thrives at working together seamlessly across borders to support clients in their most complex legal and commercial challenges as their trusted advisors.”
Ian Cox, Executive Partner, Practices at Herbert Smith Freehills, says:
“Kyriakos has shown a strong track record of leadership credentials with his various management roles in the firm. Coupled with his technical expertise as a highly regarded competition lawyer, he is well placed to build on our successes and drive the team forward in providing the best for our clients. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Stephen for his excellent leadership of the practice over the past six years.”
