Alasdair Bell is a partner in the law firm of McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, based in its
He has practised in both
Alasdair has extensive experience in the media sector, especially relating to professional sports, where he is recognised as a pre-eminent lawyer. His clients have included a number of sports governing bodies and he has been involved in many high profile cases with the European Commission in
Representative Experience:
-
Acting for UEFA to obtain the first exemption decision for the central marketing of commercial rights in the UEFA Champions League case
-
Acting for UEFA in the Bosman case and subsequently to obtain a settlement with the European Commission in a competition proceeding relating to the international player transfer system
-
Acting for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to obtain an exemption in relation to collective buying of television rights
-
Acting on behalf of Cheil Jedang (Samsung) in the lysine cartel and subsequently in the appeal to the European Court of First Instance against fine imposed by the European Commission
-
Acting on behalf of Clear Channel to obtain merger clearance for the acquisition of Mean Fiddler (music festivals and venues)
-
Acting on behalf of Thomson CSF (Thales) to obtain merger clearance for the acquisition of Avimo (defence industry)
-
Acting on behalf of Pihsiang in UK High Court Article 81(1) litigation against DMA (pan-European distribution strategy)
- Advising SSL (Durex) concerning distribution strategy, pricing, parallel trade and state aid issues
Education
- Glasgow University, LLB
- Amsterdam University, European Law
