Shearman & Sterling has bolstered its antitrust practice with the re-election of London-based Christopher Bright to the partnership.

Bright first joined Shearman & Sterling as a partner in May 2001, when he established the firm's antitrust practice in London. In 2006 he was appointed by the government as a member of the UK Competition Commission in a part-time quasi-judicial decision-making role. Throughout this time, Bright worked with the firm as an independent consultant focusing on EU cases for certain firm clients. He served on the Commission for four years, during which time he sat on the decision panels for several major investigations and was a member of the Commission's Remedies Standing Group and Cost of Capital Group.

Bright advises in the field of antitrust law and utilities regulation in the UK and EU. He has extensive experience in major cross-border M&A transactions, as well as advising a wide range of sectors on joint ventures, cartels, monopoly infringement, complex contractual arrangements and the European Union public procurement and State aid rules. His client roster includes Intercontinental Exchange, Citibank, AngloAmerican, Viacom, Paramount Pictures, General Healthcare Group, and Halcyon Partnerships among others.

Previously, he was an advisor to the UK government in the Competition Policy Division of the Department of Trade and Industry from 1989 to 1991. From 2004 to 2010, he was non-executive director of the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority where he was responsible for the competition enforcement and the deregulation of telecoms and postal services in Jersey.

"We are delighted that Chris has returned to the partnership," said Creighton Condon, the firm's Senior Partner. "He is an outstanding and well-experienced antitrust attorney with an excellent market reputation. Chris was integral to the initial development of our antitrust practice in London, and his return to the partnership further strengthens our antitrust practice capability."

"We have an excellent bench of partners in the London office and I'm excited to be returning to the fold," said Bright. "I look forward to helping build our UK antitrust capabilities as well as developing our European offering to best serve and support our clients through Brexit and navigate the market changes to come."