The draft EU merger guidelines seek to respond to a rapidly changing trade and global geopolitical landscape and challenges facing the competitiveness of EU companies. Our speakers will explore the key proposed changes to the guidelines and the practical implications for merging parties and their advisers from a legal and economic perspective.

Stavroula Vryna is a Partner in Clifford Chance’s global Antitrust Group, working across London and Brussels. She has extensive experience advising clients on the full spectrum of competition law, and in particular multi-jurisdictional merger control and foreign investment / national security processes, as well as antitrust investigations across a range of sectors, including technology, financial services, infrastructure, media, transport & logistics and others. Stavroula is a member of the firm’s Global Tech Group and co-chairs the ICC’s Digital Economy Taskforce.

Neil Dryden is a Senior Managing Director and a member of Compass Lexecon International’s Board. Neil was awarded the 2025 Competition Economist of the Year by Lexology Index. He was previously awarded the 2016 Economist of the Year by Global Competition Review. He has also been listed eight times among the most highly regarded “Global Elite Thought Leaders” in Competition Economics by Lexology Index.

Cases in the past 12 months include FIS/Global Payments, Ball/Benepack, Rio/Arcadium, mobile ecosystems SMS designation and interchange fees.

The session will be followed by drinks and canapés. There is no additional charge for members. There will be a registration fee for non-members: £50 (full rate); £35 (full time academic/public sector employees); £10 (students, trainees, pupil barristers).