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Paul Culliford

Paul Culliford

Counsel

Brussels

T: +32 (0) 2 792 2424

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Biography

Paul is a New Zealand qualified Counsel and registered as a foreign lawyer with the Brussels Bar based in BCLP’s Brussels office, where his practices focuses on antitrust and competition law. Paul’s experience covers all the key areas of competition law, with a particular focus on merger control and foreign investment regulation. Paul holds a postgraduate qualification in EU competition law from King’s College London.

Paul regularly advises clients on multi-jurisdictional merger control and foreign investment, competition law compliance and regulatory investigations. Paul has advised clients across multiple sectors including technology, online platforms, retail, energy and entertainment.

Admissions

  • New Zealand

Related Capabilities

Antitrust & Competition Antitrust & Competition

Foreign Direct Investment Foreign Direct Investment

Investigations Investigations

Litigation & Dispute Resolution Litigation & Dispute Resolution

Real Estate Real Estate

Regulation, Compliance & Advisory Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

  • Antitrust & Competition

  • Foreign Direct Investment

  • Investigations

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution

  • Real Estate

  • Regulation, Compliance & Advisory

Experience

  • McWin-backed L’Osteria, a Germany-based casual dining restaurant group specialising in Italian cuisine, on its acquisition of Pizza Pilgrims from its founders, James and Thomas Elliot, along with several other shareholders.

Related Insights

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Insights
May 08, 2026

The Draft EU Merger Guidelines – Key Takeaways for Dealmakers

On 30 April 2026, the European Commission released its much awaited draft merger guidelines (“Draft Guidelines”). The Draft Guidelines are intended to replace two current and dated guidance documents: the Commission’s Horizontal Merger Guidelines (published in 2004) and its Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines (published in 2008). The Draft Guidelines propose to bring the approach to European merger control into line with a changed geo-political, security and trade context, as well as reflecting other policy drivers that have become much more prominent since 2004 and 2008, such as innovation, resilience and sustainability. The release of the Draft Guidelines follows significant political pressure within the Commission to modernise the approach to merger control and help European businesses succeed on the world stage. The release of the Draft Guidelines – an area traditionally reserved to the Competition Commissioner and specialists within the Directorate General for Competition – has  been a key priority for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who noted when the Draft Guidelines were released that they are intended to better support companies to thrive, scale and innovate, and to “meet the realities of the fiercely competitive global economy and boost our competitiveness, while preserving the predictability and certainty that investors value most in Europe.”
Insights
Jan 29, 2026

M&A Regulation in the EU (and UK) – What to Expect in 2026

Teresa Ribera has completed her first year at the helm of the European Commission’s competition directorate (“DG COMP”). It was a year in which DG COMP has been busy working on possible amendments to key competition policies and guidance. But it was also a year that ended with questions unanswered regarding DG COMP’s strategic direction for the next four years.2026 could be the year in which we gain greater clarity on major policies and priorities at DG COMP, in particular in the regulation of M&A. In this article, we examine the strategic decisions that could be taken over the next 12 months, looking ahead to the draft revised merger guidelines and at the evolving relationship between DG COMP and its major international counterparts, notably in the US. We also consider key updates regarding the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation – which is attracting greater political attention after a notable case in 2025. And, as an addition to our annual look-ahead article, we cast our eye to the recently-revised merger remedies guidance in the EU’s former Member State, the UK.
Insights
Oct 07, 2025

Spotlight on the UK’s NSI regime

It’s been over three years since the UK’s National Security and Investment (NSI) regime came into force. Since then, the regime has remained largely unchanged, with several attempts over the period to increase the transparency and clarity of the regime through the publication of Annual Reports and market guidance notes. On 22 July 2025, the UK Government announced three significant updates to the regime: A 12-week consultation on proposed reforms to the 17 sectors that give rise to mandatory notification; An announcement that certain types of transactions (notably in respect of internal reorganisations) would be removed from the scope of the NSI regime; and The publication of its fourth Annual Report on the operation of the regime. Together with the Government’s Industrial Strategy and National Security Strategy, these updates reflect the Government’s efforts to ensure that the NSI regime keeps apace with growing national security threats while at the same time promoting investment in line with the Government’s broader growth agenda. For investors and corporates active in the UK, these developments are important: they highlight where the focus of the Government is shifting, how the regime is operating in practice and the implications for deal execution. Below we consider the main reforms proposed and the impact for businesses.

Related Insights

Insights
May 08, 2026
The Draft EU Merger Guidelines – Key Takeaways for Dealmakers
On 30 April 2026, the European Commission released its much awaited draft merger guidelines (“Draft Guidelines”). The Draft Guidelines are intended to replace two current and dated guidance documents: the Commission’s Horizontal Merger Guidelines (published in 2004) and its Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines (published in 2008). The Draft Guidelines propose to bring the approach to European merger control into line with a changed geo-political, security and trade context, as well as reflecting other policy drivers that have become much more prominent since 2004 and 2008, such as innovation, resilience and sustainability. The release of the Draft Guidelines follows significant political pressure within the Commission to modernise the approach to merger control and help European businesses succeed on the world stage. The release of the Draft Guidelines – an area traditionally reserved to the Competition Commissioner and specialists within the Directorate General for Competition – has  been a key priority for Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who noted when the Draft Guidelines were released that they are intended to better support companies to thrive, scale and innovate, and to “meet the realities of the fiercely competitive global economy and boost our competitiveness, while preserving the predictability and certainty that investors value most in Europe.”
News
Mar 05, 2026
BCLP advises Constellation Automotive on CMA Phase 2 Clearance for Aston Barclay Acquisition
Insights
Jan 29, 2026
M&A Regulation in the EU (and UK) – What to Expect in 2026
Teresa Ribera has completed her first year at the helm of the European Commission’s competition directorate (“DG COMP”). It was a year in which DG COMP has been busy working on possible amendments to key competition policies and guidance. But it was also a year that ended with questions unanswered regarding DG COMP’s strategic direction for the next four years.2026 could be the year in which we gain greater clarity on major policies and priorities at DG COMP, in particular in the regulation of M&A. In this article, we examine the strategic decisions that could be taken over the next 12 months, looking ahead to the draft revised merger guidelines and at the evolving relationship between DG COMP and its major international counterparts, notably in the US. We also consider key updates regarding the EU’s Foreign Subsidies Regulation – which is attracting greater political attention after a notable case in 2025. And, as an addition to our annual look-ahead article, we cast our eye to the recently-revised merger remedies guidance in the EU’s former Member State, the UK.
News
Nov 10, 2025
BCLP advises McWin-backed L’Osteria on Pizza Pilgrims acquisition
Insights
Oct 07, 2025
Spotlight on the UK’s NSI regime
It’s been over three years since the UK’s National Security and Investment (NSI) regime came into force. Since then, the regime has remained largely unchanged, with several attempts over the period to increase the transparency and clarity of the regime through the publication of Annual Reports and market guidance notes. On 22 July 2025, the UK Government announced three significant updates to the regime: A 12-week consultation on proposed reforms to the 17 sectors that give rise to mandatory notification; An announcement that certain types of transactions (notably in respect of internal reorganisations) would be removed from the scope of the NSI regime; and The publication of its fourth Annual Report on the operation of the regime. Together with the Government’s Industrial Strategy and National Security Strategy, these updates reflect the Government’s efforts to ensure that the NSI regime keeps apace with growing national security threats while at the same time promoting investment in line with the Government’s broader growth agenda. For investors and corporates active in the UK, these developments are important: they highlight where the focus of the Government is shifting, how the regime is operating in practice and the implications for deal execution. Below we consider the main reforms proposed and the impact for businesses.
News
Sep 26, 2025
BCLP advises Safran Defense and Space on Attollo Engineering acquisition
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Sep 25, 2025
BCLP Advises STRABAG:Equitix Consortium on first of a kind £2.9bn Haweswater Aqueduct Resilience Programme
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Sep 23, 2025
BCLP advises Canal+ on acquisition of South African media company MultiChoice
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Jun 13, 2025
BCLP advised Dundee Precious Metals on cash and shares offer for Adriatic Metals