The CMA (Competition and Markets Authority) has stood in the way of the merger of Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard. Now it has come to light one of the organization’s senior directors has formerly worked for a law firm with ties to Sony.

According to industry blogger Florian Mueller, a senior director at the CMA Colin Raftery has past ties with Sony. Until 2013, Raftery worked at Cleary Gottlieb as an associate. Gottlieb is reportedly representing Sony as a complainant in the matter of the Microsoft and Activision-Blizzard merger.

Mueller goes on to claim that Raftery was a “key decision maker” in the CMA’s refusal to accept the merger.

For those who don’t know, the UK’s Consumer and Markets Authority has attempted to block Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision-Blizzard. They’ve done so on the grounds that the deal would inhibit innovation and competition when it comes to cloud gaming, despite Sony’s “aggressive” plans in the market.

The European Commission representing EU interests shared the CMA’s concern but ultimately decided to allow the deal with some concessions by Microsoft.