CC lawyer wins plum role at the OFT

The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has turned to the magic circle for its deputy director of competition enforcement, taking on an associate from Clifford Chance.

Competition lawyer Ali Nikpay’s appointment completes a series of moves which last year saw the former director of competition enforcement Margaret Bloom go to Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Bloom was subsequently replaced by Vincent Smith who Nikpay will act as deputy to on joining the OFT on June 1. Nikpay, successor to Chris Mayock who is taking a role at DG Competition in Brussels, will also become director of competition policy co-ordination at the OFT.

Clifford Chance’s London head of competition and regulation Alex Nourry said, “Opportunities such as this are rare and, it is pleasing that a Clifford Chance lawyer has been picked for this important role.

He added: “Although we are sorry to see him leave, we support the revolving door policy and wish him great success for the future.”