James Ashe-Taylor

• Representing a U.S.-based payment processing services provider in its acquisition of a UK-based provider of payment solutions.
• Representing an international payments technology and software company in its acquisition of the European business assets of a leading European player in payment services.
• Representing one of the largest and most diversified global leaders in the foodservice equipment industry in its acquisition of a leading global supplier of commercial foodservice equipment.
• Representing a U.S.-based financial technology solutions and payments provider in litigation against two global retail electronic payments networks.
• Representing a UK-based provider of property-related digital information for real estate agents in its acquisition of a UK-based company operating an internet real estate search engine.
• Representing a France-based provider of media and entertainment services in its acquisition of a UK-based provider of ticketing services.
• Representing an entertainment ticketing and marketing company in its merger with the world’s leading live entertainment company.
• Representing a major airline in the investigation of the SkyTeam Alliance by the European Commission.
• Advising a Japanese client in the marine-hose cartel investigation.
• Representing a major U.S. branded goods manufacturer in the OFT investigation of the UK grocery retailing sector.

James Ashe-Taylor focuses his practice on competition law at the European Union level and in the UK. He concentrates on merger control, state aid, and the antitrust aspects of joint ventures, distribution, and agency agreements.

James has significant experience in European cartel investigations with a private U.S. litigation dimension and has represented companies and individuals in a number of recent prominent cases involving rubber chemicals, grocery retailing, marine hose, and air cargo. He has considerable knowledge of EU payments legislation, is a frequent speaker at FinTech conferences, and mentors startup companies in the FinTech sector.

Before joining Alston & Bird, James served as partner-in-charge of the antitrust practices for both international and U.S. law firms and spent two years at JP Morgan Inc.

Languages

• French
• German

Bar Admissions

• Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
• Brussels Bar (A-list)

Education

• Inns of Court School of Law (Bar Finals)
• Magdalen College, Oxford University (B.A., M.A.)

Memberships