Joel Gory
Overview
I would particularly highlight Joel Gory. In the fast-paced, deadline-driven world of antitrust law, his standout attributes are responsiveness and decisiveness, rooted in a deep understanding of the law and practical commercial insight.” - Legal 500, 2025
Joel Gory is a partner in the Antitrust & Competition Team based in London. Joel advises on a wide range of issues under the EU and UK competition law regimes, including merger control, foreign investment review, the EU foreign subsidies regime, antitrust advisory work, cartel investigations and competition law compliance. Joel frequently leads the coordination of merger control and foreign investment review processes for high-profile, cross-border transactions.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Joel practiced competition law in Hong Kong, during the introduction of its competition law regime.
Joel also regularly represents pro bono clients in disputes before the UK Employment Tribunal.
External Recognition
- EU and Competition, Legal 500, 2025
Experience
Representative Matters
Since joining Kirkland, Joel’s representative matters have included:
- K1 Investment Management on strategic growth investment in Board Intelligence.
- TDR Capital on the acquisition of a majority stake in Asda.
- AppLearn International on its sale to Permira-backed Nexthink.
- Centerbridge Partners on the sale of its majority interests in APCOA.
- GIC on its long-term strategic partnership with industrial gas maker, Messer Group.
- Moderna on its collaboration with Immatics in relation to ground-breaking cancer vaccine development.
- Brookfield on the sale of Student Roost, the UK’s third largest purpose-built student accommodation provider, to GIC/Greystar.
- Huntsman Corporation on the $718 million sale of Textile Effects business to Archroma.
- A confidential private equity client in relation to alleged breaches by its portfolio company of UK competition law.
- JBT Corporation on the sale of its AeroTech business.
- Vista Equity Partners, alongside an affiliate of Elliott Investment Management, on its $16.5 billion acquisition of Citrix Systems, Inc.
- I Squared and TDR Capital on the £2.3 billion recommended cash acquisition of Aggreko.
- Huntsman Corporation on its $300 million acquisition of CVC Thermoset Specialties.
- GlaxoSmithKline plc on its transaction with Pfizer Inc. to combine their consumer healthcare businesses in a new world-leading joint venture, with combined sales of approximately $12.7 billion.
Prior to joining Kirkland, Joel’s representative matters included:
Merger Control
Advising VTech, a global manufacturer and supplier of children’s toys, on its acquisition of US-based LeapFrog, in relation to its Phase II merger control referral to the UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”).
Advising Home Retail Group (owner of Argos) as the target of a £1.3 billion takeover by Sainsbury’s plc.
Advising CMA CGM, a major international shipping company, in relation to its acquisition of Singapore shipping company NOL, on its merger control notification in China.
Advising Greene King plc on its £774 million takeover of Spirit Pub Company plc.
Advising a number of private equity clients and funds on global merger control requirements.
Cartel and Advisory Work
Advising a confidential client in relation to a cartel investigation by the CMA and a concurrent regulator.
Conducting a multijurisdictional dominance assessment of a global marketing and financial services company.
Advising a major international bank in relation its position of market power in Hong Kong.
Advising a company in the marine shipping sector on the risk of information exchange.
Acting for a company in response to a dawn raid and subsequent cartel investigation in China.
Advising a number of Hong Kong and international companies in relation to compliance with the newly-introduced Hong Kong competition law.
Assisting Visa Europe in its defence against standalone private damages claims in UK courts.
Prior Experience
Linklaters LLP, London
Associate (2016–2017)
Trainee Solicitor (2014–2016)
More
Thought Leadership
Publications
Co-author, “European Cartel Digest” (United Kingdom chapter) (July 2016)
Credentials
Admissions & Qualifications
- 2013, Admitted to practice as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Australia
Languages
- English
- Spanish
Education
- Monash UniversityFirst Class Honours2013
News &
Insights
- Press Release Kirkland Advises Walgreens Boots Alliance on $23.7 Billion Acquisition by Sycamore Partners
- Press Release Kirkland Advises K1 Investment Management on Strategic Growth Investment in Board Intelligence
- Press Release Kirkland Advises Simpro Group on Acquisition of BigChange
- Kirkland Alert Top EU Court Finds That the EU Commission Cannot Review Below-Threshold Transactions
- Press Release Kirkland Advises TDR Capital on Acquisition of Majority Stake in Asda