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Index of tables

  1. EU and competition – Leading Sets
  2. EU and competition – Leading Silks
  3. EU and competition – New Silks
  4. EU and competition – Leading Juniors

EU and competition – Leading Silks

Brick Court Chambers is a ‘standout set’ with a list of names that ‘reads like a “who’s who” of EU and competition law experts’. Nicholas Green QC, who appeared in BAA v Competition Commission, is a ‘strategic thinker with a firm grasp of tactics’. ‘One of the most experienced and accomplished English advocates before the European courts’, David Anderson QC has ‘a compendious knowledge of the law’. Daniel Jowell QC is ‘bright, commercial, user friendly and a master of diplomacy’, and appeared in Competition Commission and Ryanair v BAA. Helen Davies QC is ‘first choice for senior input at the competition Bar’, and James Flynn QC has ‘huge experience before the European courts and the Competition Appeal Tribunal’. Mark Brealey QC is ‘easy to work with and enormously impressive’, Jemima Stratford QC is ‘very sound in her tactical appraisal of cases’, and Mark Hoskins QC is ‘incisive, has a pragmatic approach and is an excellent advocate in court’. Among its juniors, telecoms, pharma, and technology expert Kelyn Bacon is ‘outstandingly clever’, and Sarah Ford’s advice is ‘concise and considered’. Sarah Abram is ‘very much in demand and on her way to the very top’, and Sarah Lee is ‘bright, hardworking and utterly reliable’.

Monckton Chambers has a ‘deservedly excellent’ reputation in the market and acts for clients including government departments, local authorities, NGOs, and EU institutions. Clients also praise the ‘efficient, helpful and always available’ clerks, who are a ‘real asset’ at an ‘outstanding’ set. Paul Lasok QC is ‘a real doyen of the Bar’ and appeared in British Sugar v Rural Payments Agency. John Swift QC specialises in competition and regulatory work and appeared in MasterCard & Others v European Commission. Nicholas Paines QC’s practice covers a broad range of competition matters. The ‘informative, helpful and determinedMelanie Hall QC appeared in Commission v The United Kingdom. The ‘very ableMichael Bowsher QC, who has a diverse practice covering competition law, commercial public law, and substantial commercial disputes, appeared in 2 Travel Group Plc (in liquidation) v Cardiff City Transport Services Ltd. The ‘very highly regardedJon Turner QC has great expertise in litigation, EU law, telecoms and utility regulation. Tim Ward QC, Paul Harris QC and Daniel Beard QC are also recommended. Among the juniors, Andrew Macnab appeared in Conex Banninger Limited v The European Commission, George Peretz appeared in Kerry Foods v Headland Foods Merger, and Kassie Smith appeared in Galliford Try v Office of Fair Trading. The ‘brilliant, diligent, and ever-helpfulIan Rogers is also recommended, as are Alistair Lindsay, Ben Rayment and Josh Holmes. The newly appointed Philip Moser QC appeared in the Bonik Eood case.

Blackstone Chambers is a ‘truly outstanding’ with a growing EU and competition offering to complement its pre-existing strength in public and commercial law. Lord Pannick QC advised in relation to BSkyB/News Corporation, and is ‘the complete package’. The ‘immensely helpfulMichael Fordham QC is ‘the expert on judicial review’, and appeared in Tate and Lyle Sugars Ltd v Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change. Adam Lewis QC is ‘very strong on the law, but also very good at taking into account sector-specific issues’, and new silk Thomas de la Mare QC is ‘an excellent advocate who has a good relationship with judges and tribunals’. Other recommended silks include Dinah Rose QC, Pushpinder Saini QC, John Howell QC, Tom Beazley QC and Monica Carss-Frisk QC. New silk Kieron Beal QC appeared in BSkyB and others v Ofcom.Among the juniors, Brian Kennelly is ‘extremely able, prompt, thorough and efficient’, and ‘one-to-watchJessica Boyd is ‘extremely intelligent, diligent and a delight to work with’.

A brilliant set that is really going places’, One Essex Court is known for the EU and competition expertise of ‘unflappable heavyweightThomas Sharpe QC, who appeared in the Competition Commission investigation into local bus services. Matthew Cook is ‘conscientious, thorough and unafraid to consider new angles’, and ‘definitely one to watch for the future’. Conall Patton is ‘diligent and incredibly knowledgeable’, and the ‘thorough, considered and robustDerek Spitzbenefits from having been involved in UK anti-trust litigation from early days’.

20 Essex Street has ‘very good capabilities in the field of EU and competition law’, including Stephen Morris QC, who appeared in Visa v Commission and National Grid v ABB and others; and the highly regarded Iain Milligan QC, who appeared in Emerald v BA. Recommended juniors include Julian Kenny, Colleen Hanley and Josephine Davies.

Matrix Chambers’ barristers have been engaged in a diverse range of matters, including European Arrest Warrant matters, the Equal Treatment Directive, the Durban climate change negotiations, and abuse of dominance cases. Rhodri Thompson QC appeared in Co-operative Group Limited v Office of Fair Trading and ‘gets to the heart of issues and provides practical and client-friendly advice’. The ‘fantasticAidan O’Neill QC (Scot) is ‘perceptive and thorough, with a good understanding of client’s needs’; ‘the Supreme Court is his natural environment’. Among recommended juniors, Nicholas Gibson is ‘enormously competent’ and an ‘excellent team player’; Maurice Sheridan is ‘clear, commercial, proactive and very forward thinking’; and Eleni Mitrophanous is a ‘very thorough and clever opponent’.

Other recommended individuals include the ‘very approachable and practicalAlan Dashwood QC at Henderson Chambers; ‘top EU state-aid silkConor Quigley QC at Serle Court; and ‘absolutely outstanding’ junior Jason Coppel at 11KBW.

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