Both Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have reportedly hired high-profile lawyers to lead their appeals of the recent decision by the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority to block their $68.7 billion merger.
According to The Financial Times, Activision Blizzard has hired Lord David Pannick KC, who previously represented Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Johnson, and Princess Diana. Pannick works for Blackstone Chambers and his clients have also included the prime minister of the UAE and the entire kingdom of Saudi Arabia. More recently, he represented Boris Johnson amid the former prime minister’s “partygate” scandal.
For its part, Microsoft has retained the legal services of Daniel Beard KC of Monckton Chambers, according to The Telegraph. Beard is described as a big player in the market of legal matters pertaining to competition, public policy, and regulatory matters.