Expertise
Simon is a partner in the Competition and Regulation Group at Matheson. Simon advises on all aspects of EU and Irish competition and regulatory law with a particular focus on regulated sectors primarily the telecoms, media, technology, infrastructure, food & beverage and life sciences sectors. Simon also co-leads Matheson's Foreign Direct Investment / Foreign Investment Review practice advising businesses on navigating Ireland’s new FDI regime and acquisitions of ‘critical’ and ‘sensitive’ assets and businesses.
Simon advises clients in relation to complex competition and merger control issues before the CCPC, Minister for Environment, Climate & Communications and the European Commission as well as advising on regulatory matters including product / service launches across the EMEA, advisory and compliance work, regulatory appeals, investigations and submissions to ComReg, the CCPC, the European Commission, the Coimisiún na Meán and other sectoral regulators.
Simon contributes articles to leading international legal publications and speaks regularly on competition and regulatory law issues. Simon also lectures and tutors in the Law Society of Ireland.
Recent matters on which Simon has led on and advised include:
Telecoms, Media & Digital Regulation
- Advising on all aspects of the regulatory life cycle including product / service launch across the EMEA for telecoms and tech clients, ongoing compliance advice and issues, consumer and product issues (including recalls), regulatory disputes and investigations.
- Advising on High Court challenges of telecoms regulatory decisions and investigations by the Irish telecoms regulator, ComReg, including acting for Three Ireland, Virgin Media, Speed Fibre Group, Sky Ireland and Vodafone Ireland.
- Advising a number of digital platforms and providers on issues and litigation / challenges related to the EU Digital Markets Act and other EU rules for the Digital Sector including advising on ongoing contentious matters against the Coimisiún na Meán.
- Advising traditional media clients on competition, regulatory and M&A matters including Mediahuis, Bauer Media, Daily Mail Group, RTÉ, Virgin Media, News Corp, ComcWarner Bros Discovery.
- Advising on regulatory approvals for Irish telecoms and digital business M&A deals, including multiple transactions involving Cellnex S.A., Sky / Comcast, Liberty Global, Three, Speed Fibre Group, NBI, Towercom and eir.
Merger Control
- Advising Smurfit Kappa Group on obtaining competition approvals across the globe, including from the EU Commission, for its merger into Smurfit WestRock.
- Advising clients in the energy and infrastructure sector (and institutional investors) on Irish and EU approvals such as Vermilion Energy, Irving Oil, Macquarie, Goldman Sachs, Brookfield.
- Advising clients in the healthcare sector on obtaining approvals across the EU including Orpea S.A, Blackrock Health, DIF and a number of healthcare providers and health and life insurance companies.
- Advising on most of the Irish media mergers before the competition and plurality regulators (including the only Phase II Ministerial process) since the regime’s inception in 2014.
Competition Investigations and Litigation
- Advising on inspections by the EU Commission, the CCPC and other sectoral regulators in Ireland, including advising on a number of inspections of international and domestic businesses in the construction, retail, financial services, telecommunications sectors and advising on identifying and mitigating risk after these inspections.
- Acting in defence of a follow-on action for damages arising from the European Commission's decision in the 'Trucks' case.
- Advising on the compliance with, and defending against enforcement of, the Digital Markets Act, the Digital Services Act and various other EU digital regulations.
Ranked as a 'Rising Star' Telecoms: European Legal 500 2023 & 2024
Ranked as a 'Rising Star' Competition: European Legal 500 2023 & 2024
Ranked in the ‘Spotlight’ TMT: Telecoms: Chambers and Partners 2024
“Simon Shinkwin is very alive to issues as they develop and is an expert in his niche.” TMT: Telecommunications: Chambers Europe 2024
Simon Shinkwin is an exceptional associate who is thorough, responsive and a pleasure to work with.” EU and Competition: The European Legal 500 2024
‘Expert advice while also being very practical and commercially focused. Understand the needs of the business and the challenging environment in which we operate.’ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2024
‘The commercial knowledge of the industry and sector is exceptional. The Matheson team knows the telecoms sector in Ireland and provides great insight and commercially astute advice.’ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2024
‘Kate McKenna and Simon Shinkwin are excellent lawyers. Both are practical, demonstrate excellent commercial awareness and know the telecoms industry. They understand the challenges and provide tailored advice.’ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2024
‘Kate McKenna and Simon Shinkwin are stand-out lawyers and have proven expert awareness of the telecoms industry and the challenges facing its clients in this industry. In particular, Simon Shinkwin is extremely responsive and impressive in delivering solutions-orientated advice and support to a very fast-paced business.’ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2023
‘The wonderful team at Matheson brings something specific to the table, and the team grew organically according to the client’s unique needs and is highly customised to those needs….Simon Shinkwin has a similar ability to digest significant amounts of information, interpret a variety of data, listen carefully to clients’ questions and opinions, provide highly trustworthy feedback on those questions and opinions, and collate various documents and resources to our strategic advantage.’ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2023
Simon Shinkwin is also excellent and one to watch. He has shown very strong technical ability and in-depth knowledge of the law and of the telecom industry. He is approachable and a safe pair of hands even in the most complex matters.” Telecoms: The European Legal 500 2022
‘Simon Shinkwin has been very responsive and aims to understand commercial imperatives and tailors his advice accordingly.’ European Legal 500 2021
‘Simon Shinkwin knows the sector and its legislation very well, and is also a strategic adviser in this area.‘ Telecoms: European Legal 500 2020
Simon Shinkwin has a good practice advising on telecoms regulatory matters, and always takes care to understand the commercial goal as well. Chambers Europe 2019