Samantha Zakka
Lawyers
Associate in our Antitrust & Competition practice, based in Brussels.
Samantha advises on all areas of EU competition law, with a particular focus on merger control, foreign direct investment review and subsidy control. Samantha has experience representing and defending clients against investigations by the European Commission and the Belgian Competition Authority. She represents clients across numerous industries including energy, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, financial services and private equity.
Experience
Bridgepoint sale of a minority interest in Humanetics
Prior to joining Davis Polk, Samantha’s experience includes advising:
- Hitachi on merger control and FDI matters in relation to its $11 billion acquisition of a power grid business
- Saudi Aramco in numerous merger control proceedings
- A multinational investment bank on a European Commission cartel investigation
- A major gambling company on a Belgian Competition Authority cartel investigation
- A European energy company in its appeal to the General Court of the European Union of a decision obliging it to build a gas interconnection project connecting Austria and Hungary
Education
LL.M., Competition Law, King's College London
- with merit
Master, International Business Law, Université Catholique de Lille
Master, Public and International Law, Université Libre de Bruxelles
LL.M., Corporate Law and Finance, Widener University
Bachelor, French and European Law, Université Catholique de Lille
Prior experience
- Allen & Overy (Brussels), 2022-2023
- Baker McKenzie (Brussels), 2019-2021
- Belgian Competition Authority (Brussels), 2017-2018
Qualifications and admissions
- Brussels A-List