Overview
Omar Shah advises global clients on complex merger control transactions, cartel and antitrust investigations, and high-stakes competition litigation as well as FDI advice and filings worldwide. With more than two decades of experience, he is particularly known for navigating matters at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property, and across media and communications, pharmaceuticals, transport, financial services, and data privacy. Omar regularly represents clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the European Commission, and other global competition authorities, as well as in commercial and regulatory litigation before the UK courts, including judicial review proceedings.
Omar is recognized as a “smart and outstanding lawyer who is a true global player” and a “charming and effective partner who instantly wins the client’s confidence and respect,” according to Chambers UK.
Results
Further examples of Omar’s work include:
- Advised on several complex international transactions including WE Soda/Sisecam, Connect Airways/Flybe, ResMed JV, Yandex/Uber JV, Rexnord/Regal Beloit, Expedia/Orbitz, Oracle/Peoplesoft, AOL/Time Warner, Vodafone/Mannesmann, and Guinness/Grand Metropolitan*
- Advised TFL/Lanxess, Tadano/Terex, Werner/Youngman, The Cooper Companies/Sauflon, Ticketmaster/Seatwave, and several other UK mergers before the UK Competition and Markets Authority*
- Advised several global corporations in major international antitrust and cartel investigations in the pharmaceutical, technology, electronic components, airline, steel, automotive, and maritime sectors*
- Acted for Advanz in relation to an ongoing investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority into alleged excessive pricing in the pharmaceuticals sector*
- Acted for Advanz in relation to a statement of objections by the Competition and Markets Authority in relation to an alleged pay-for-delay arrangement in the pharmaceuticals sector*
- Successfully intervened in litigation before the EU General Court to defend European Commission decision granting marketing authorization for a blockbuster drug to global life sciences company*
- Advised Singapore Airlines and Singapore Airlines Cargo in multiple civil claims in the English High Court for damages arising out of the Commission’s infringement decision imposing $799 million on air cargo carriers for a global price-fixing cartel on fuel surcharges*
- Advised Harvard International PLC in an antitrust defense and counterclaim to a patent infringement action brought in the High Court by nine members of the MPEG-2 patent pool*
- Advised a major transport company on its successful application for judicial review in the High Court against a decision by HM Revenue and Customs to impose significant value-added tax liability on the company*
- Represented London Metal Exchange (LME) before the High Court and Court of Appeal in its successful defense against Rusal in judicial review proceedings relating to changes in the LME’s warehousing rules; the case proceeded to the UK Supreme Court, which refused Rusal permission to appeal LME’s victory in the Court of Appeal* ·
Recognitions
- Ranked, Competition Law, Chambers UK (2025)
- Ranked, Competition Law, UK, Chambers Europe (2025)
- Ranked, Competition Law, UK, Chambers Global (2013–2025)
- Recognized, Competition Law, London, The Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom (2020–2022)
- Recommended, Dispute Resolution: Competition Litigation, The Legal 500 UK (2025)
- Recommended, Industry Focus: Life Sciences and Healthcare, The Legal 500 UK (2024, 2025)
- Recommended, Corporate and Commercial: EU and Competition, The Legal 500 UK (2014–2024)
- Member, Practice Group of the Year, Competition, Law360 (2017–2021)
- Recognized, Global Competition, Global Competition Review’s Who’s Who Legal (2019, 2020)
- Recognized, US News & World Report and Best Lawyers 2017 Practice Group of the Year for Antitrust Law
- Ranked, UK: Competition/European Law, Chambers Global (2016–2017)
Community
- Past Chair, Law Society Competition Section Committee
Credentials
- BPP Law School, 1997, LPC
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium, 1996, D.E.S., Wiener Anspach Foundation scholar
- Oxford University, 1995, BA (Worcester College)
