Sara Ashall is Deputy Head of Unit in the Merger Control Department (D5) at the EU Commission, Brussels. Before, she worked as a counsel in the Antitrust practice of Shearman & Sterling. She focuses on EU merger control, cartel investigations, antitrust proceedings and EU State aid law. Sara spent 5 years as an associate in the Shearman & Sterling antitrust group before moving to the technology, media and telecommunications merger unit of DG Competition at the European Commission. This time at DG COMP gives her unparalleled insight into the procedures and decision-making practices of the Commission. Sara represents clients in a range of industries including high tech, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals and aviation before the EU and UK competition law authorities.