"Activision Blizzard Enlists Queen's Lawyer to Fight UK Block of Microsoft Merger"
Activision Blizzard and Microsoft have hired high-profile lawyers to lead their appeals against the UK's Competition & Markets Authority's decision to block their $68.7 billion merger. Activision Blizzard has hired Lord David Pannick KC, who previously represented Queen Elizabeth II, Boris Johnson, and Princess Diana, while Microsoft has retained the legal services of Daniel Beard KC of Monckton Chambers. The companies will file appeals independently with the UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal. The CMA blocked the merger over concerns about the cloud gaming market.