Microsoft hires lawyer to challenge UK regulator's merger block.

Microsoft has hired Daniel Beard KC, a lawyer known for defeating the EU regulator in competition cases, to appeal the UK regulator's decision to block its acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) prevented the deal from going ahead last month, citing concerns over its effect on competition in the cloud gaming market. Microsoft hopes Beard will be successful in appealing the CMA's decision, while the EU is also investigating the acquisition and is expected to make its decision within the next two weeks.