MarkJones

Partner

London + 44.20.7039.5719

Mark Jones has over 25 years of experience advising on complex and high-profile competition/antitrust issues. He has obtained competition clearances for M&A transactions and joint ventures and has represented clients in cartel, monopoly, and market investigations. Mark advises on UK, EU, and multijurisdictional matters. Sectors in which he has particular experience include financial institutions, technology, pharma, energy and infrastructure, entertainment and media, and retail and consumer. Mark has been described in legal directories as an "excellent technician and tactician" and a "fantastic competition lawyer."

Mark also regularly advises on foreign direct investment regimes, the economic regulation of utilities, and subsidy control rules. Mark's experience includes a secondment to the Office of Fair Trading, the predecessor to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).

Prior to joining Jones Day in 2022, Mark's recent cases include: CMA merger clearance for Kustomer, Inc. of its acquisition by Facebook; CMA and European Commission merger clearance for ASM Global, a joint venture between AEG and SMG, to establish a leading worldwide venue management and services company; representing OFGEM, the UK energy regulator, in its successful defense against appeals before the CMA by nine energy companies relating to its RIIO-2 price control decisions for the United Kingdom's electricity and gas transmission and gas distribution networks; successfully defending a generics pharmaceutical company in a cartel investigation by the CMA in relation to the supply of two generic pharmaceutical products in the United Kingdom; and advising a major UK retail bank on the State aid aspects of the UK government's COVID-related support loan schemes.

Experience

  • Acquisition vehicle incorporated by certain funds and accounts managed by GoldenTree Asset Management LP acquires mixed portfolio from abrdn Property Income TrustJones Day advised an acquisition vehicle incorporated by certain funds and accounts managed by GoldenTree Asset Management LP in the £351 million acquisition of a mixed portfolio of industrial, office, leisure and residential assets in England and Scotland from abrdn Property Income Trust Limited.
  • TransDigm disposes of Mastsystem Int'l Oy to Lagercrantz Group ABJones Day advised TransDigm Group Incorporated in the disposal of Mastsystem Int'l Oy, a provider of high-performance telescopic masts, to Lagercrantz Group AB.
  • Molex acquires AirBornJones Day is advising Molex, a leading global connectivity and electronics solutions provider, in the acquisition of AirBorn, Inc., a company specializing in the design and manufacturing of rugged connectors and electronic components for global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) serving the aerospace and defense, commercial air, space exploration, medical, and industrial markets.
  • QSRP invests in ChopstixJones Day advised Kharis Capital backed QSRP on the strategic investment into Chopstix Noodle Bars, a UK franchisor and operator of quick serve noodle bars.
  • Macquarie acquires ZitonJones Day is advising Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund 7 SCSp, a fund advised by Macquarie Asset Management, on its acquisition of Ziton A/S. Ziton is headquartered in Denmark and indirectly owns and operates a fleet of jack-up vessels designed for servicing large offshore wind turbines, and it offers turnkey services that cover aspects like repairing and replacing blades and the decommissioning of turbine components.
  • Accurate Background acquires Orange Tree Employment Screening LLCJones Day advised Accurate Background, the largest privately held and minority-owned global provider of compliant background checks, drug and health screening, and workforce monitoring solutions, in its acquisition of Orange Tree Employment Screening, a technology-driven background screening provider.
  • Société Générale sells Société Générale Equipment Finance's (SGEF) activitiesJones Day is advising Société Générale in the sale of the professional equipment financing businesses operated by Societe Generale Equipment Finance (SGEF) to Groupe BPCE.
  • Eni and Vår Energi acquire Neptune Energy GroupJones Day acted as antitrust counsel to Eni S.p.A. in the $4.9 billion acquisition jointly with Norwegian energy provider Vår Energi, of the oil and gas producer, Neptune Energy.
  • Macquarie acquires 50% of Enel Green Power HellasJones Day represented Macquarie Asset Management, via Macquarie GIG Renewable Energy Fund 2 SCSp, in its acquisition of 50% of Enel Green Power Hellas from Enel Green Power S.p.A. for an enterprise value of approximately €980 million.
  • LaSalle forms JV with Swiss Life Asset ManagersJones Day advised LaSalle Investment Management on a German-focused logistics real estate joint venture with Swiss Life Asset Managers.
  • Ubisoft signs deal for streaming Call of Duty and other Activision Blizzard gamesJones Day represented Ubisoft Entertainment SA (“Ubisoft”) on the corporate and antitrust aspects of its agreement with Activision Blizzard and Microsoft giving Ubisoft the cloud streaming rights for Call of Duty and all existing and current Activision Blizzard titles, as well as those to be released over the next 15 years once Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard is completed.
  • Consilio acquires Lawyers on Demand and SYKEJones Day advised Consilio, Inc. in the acquisition of Lawyers On Demand (LOD), a provider of legal resourcing and SYKE, a legal technology consultancy from Bowmark Capital.
  • VSE Corporation partners with The Loar Group to acquire Desser AerospaceJones Day advised VSE Corporation (NASDAQ: VSEC) ("VSE") in its acquisition (the "Acquisition") of Desser Aerospace ("Desser") for a purchase price of $124 million.
  • DOOR and APG joined by Aware Super in Get Living investmentJones Day represented DOOR, S.L.P. (a residential investment vehicle co-sponsored by Delancey and Oxford Properties) in relation to the acquisition by Aware Super of Qatari Diar's 22% stake in Get Living PLC, the UK's most experienced and pioneering developer and operator of large scale BTR neighborhoods, joining APG and DOOR who each control a 39% stake.
  • Stellex completes buyout of David Brown Santasalo GroupJones Day advised Stellex Capital Management LLC on its buyout of DB Santasalo S.à r.l from N4 Partners.
  • FLEETCOR acquires Global Reach GroupJones Day advised FLEETCOR Technologies, Inc. in the acquisition of Global Reach Group, a UK-based cross-border payments provider.
  • Greystar and GIC joint venture acquires Student RoostJones Day advised Greystar Real Estate Partners, LLC on the joint venture and antitrust aspects of its acquisition of Student Roost, the UK’s third largest purpose-built student accommodation provider, from one of Brookfield’s real estate private funds, through a joint venture partnership with GIC.
  • Macquarie agrees to acquire Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Group for approximately €2.4 billionJones Day advised Macquarie Asset Management in the execution of a put option agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of Suez Recycling and Recovery UK Group for €2.4 billion.
  • J.F. Lehman sells offshore support vessel Global SymphonyJones Day advised J.F. Lehman & Company and its portfolio company, Global Marine, in the sale of the Global Symphony offshore support vessel to Jan de Nul Group, and sale of other related assets to another strategic investor.
  • Macquarie acquires Euston Solar FarmJones Day advised Macquarie in the acquisition of 100% of the shares in Euston Solar Farm Limited, a UK-based renewable energy developer focused primarily on the development of utility-scale solar plants.