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

Without question the standout chambers in the competition field’, Brick Court Chambers has a ‘leading line-up’ of specialists. Most prominent among the practitioners is Nicholas Green QC, chairman of the Bar Council in 2010; noted as ‘one of the outstanding advocates of his generation’, he appeared for Intel in its large and complex abuse of dominance case. Mark Brealey QCleads in competition law damages claims’ and ‘demonstrates an intelligent and balanced approach that attracts both judges and clients’, and appeared in the Competition Appeal Tribunal of Hays v OFT, where he represented Hays on concerns of a recruitment cartel and an appeal against a fine. Aidan Robertson QCcuts to the heart of any issue’ and is a ‘totally reliable pair of hands’, and appeared in WHA v HMRC, a VAT appeal case on the abuse of rights principle in EU law. Fergus Randolph QC appeared in Churchill Insurance v Wilkinson & Others on the compatibility of an insurer’s right of recovery under English law with EU law, and is ‘pragmatic, and involved, and brings real momentum to a case’. Further notable silks include James Flynn QC, ‘a class act, very experienced in front of the CAT’, and ‘excellent advocateDavid Anderson QC, who appeared in Kadi II on a successful judicial review in the ECJ of asset freezing measures taken by the EU against an alleged terrorist sympathiser. Several of the juniors have excellent reputations, including ‘strong intellectKelyn Bacon, who has expertise in telecoms, pharmaceuticals, technology markets and taxation and appears regularly in matters on behalf of HMRC. The ‘dedicated, committed and hardworkingMargaret Gray acted in the High Court of Northern Ireland, with David Vaughan QC, for Norbrook in its successful application to be granted leave to seek a judicial review; and the ‘bright, able and thoroughMaya Lester has expertise in cartels, mergers and regulatory investigations.

Monckton Chambers has an ‘excellent’ reputation in EU & competition matters and its ‘deep reliability’ is praised by clients, which include government departments, local authorities, NGOs, and EU institutions. In addition to the wide number of able silks and juniors, the set receives praise for its ‘high-quality’ clerks, who ‘always provide support and assistance’ and whose accessibility ‘really impresses clients’. ‘Fantastic’ silk Jon Turner QC is ‘impressive and hardworking’, and appeared in Humber Oil Terminals Trustees Limited (joint venture Totel and Conocophilips) v Associated British Ports. Michael Bowsher QC appeared in United Utilities Electricity Service Ltd v Electricity Northwest Ltd and is ‘very accessible, with a wide knowledge base and is very adaptable to different niche areas in what can be a specialised field’. The ‘engagingPaul Lasok QC gives advice in a ‘client-friendly and good-humoured’ way, and acted in ISG Pearce Ltd v The Office of Fair Trading. Further recommended silks include John Swift QC, who is ‘practical and friendly, with excellent capabilities’, Christopher Vajda QC, Paul Harris QC, Nicholas Paines QC, and longstanding expert at the Bar Sir Jeremy Lever QC. There are a large number of ‘outstanding’ juniors at the set, with notable names being Meredith Pickford, who has ‘excellent knowledge, and is good on his feet, genuinely nice and easy to work with’; Ben Rayment, whom clients ‘only have good things to say about’ and who acted in Emerald Supplies Ltd and Anor v British Airways; and Josh Holmes, who ‘always makes himself available and provides excellent advice that the client finds incredibly useful’ and has a ‘unique combination of economic, legal and regulatory experience’. Ian Rogersgets to the heart of an issue quickly’ and ‘provides clear and concise’ advice; antitrust barrister Alistair Lindsay gives ‘well-reasoned, balanced’ advice in an ‘unflustered’ way; and George Peretz and ‘strong intellectAnneli Howard are also recommended.

The ‘exceptionalBlackstone Chambers is praised for its strength in depth and ‘high-quality and efficient clerking’. Its EU and competition offering has expanded over recent years and it regularly acts for a host of high-profile corporate bodies and public organisations. Leading members in the sector include Dinah Rose QC, who is ‘dogged, clear and an excellent advocate’; Monica Carss-Frisk QC, ‘a steel hand in a velvet glove’; Adam Lewis QC, who is ‘very pragmatic and commercially minded’; Michael Fordham QC, noted for his ‘encyclopaedic knowledge, and clear and concise manner’; and the ‘extremely talentedPushpinder Saini QC. Juniors of note include the ‘very tenacious’ and ‘plain fantasticKieron Beal; Tom de la Mare, ‘a great team player and very thoughtful’; the ‘all-round excellentTristan Jones; the ‘really hardworking and great communicatorHanif Mussa, and Brian Kennelly, who ‘fights his client’s cause tooth and nail’, and represented Shell in a CAT appeal on alleged price fixing in tobacco.

One Essex Courtdelivers quality every time’. Thomas Sharpe QC is ‘first choice for competition issues’ and is ‘great on strategy and fantastic to work with’; he represented John Sisk and Son in an appeal to the CAT on the OFT’s general analysis of cover pricing. Leading junior and ‘excellent advocateMatthew Cook is ‘very clever, demonstrates great promise’ and is ‘very user friendly’, with an ‘impressive grasp of the economics of competition law’; and ‘outstanding young barristerConall Patton is also recommended.

20 Essex Street is an ‘extremely commercially minded and responsive’ set. Stephen Morris QC has expertise in private damages claims; he is praised as ‘phenomenally hardworking and thorough’ and his ‘energy, commitment, and willingness to go the extra mile’ are popular. Iain Milligan QC appeared in Emerald v BA concerning price fixing by airlines of airfreight rates, and has ‘elevated courtroom gravitas and mastery of briefs’. Colleen Hanley and Sara Masters are leading juniors.

Matrix Chambers is a ‘strong set’ with ‘friendly and efficient’ clerking. Leading individuals include the ‘bright, personable, incisive, client friendlyRhodri Thompson QC and the ‘very fineRabinder Singh QC, who were involved in R (CGTSN and GKL) v Civil Aviation Authority concerning the compatibility of UK rules on aircraft detention with EU treaties and the ECHR. Recommended juniors include the ‘incredibly hardworkingEleni Mitrophanous and ‘clear, concise, natural advocateChristopher Brown.

Other recommended individuals include: Gregory Jones QC at FTB, who is ‘at the top of his game’, and has ‘deep knowledge and experience’; the ‘very well-regardedDeok Joo Rhee at 11KBW; and ‘brilliant advocateConor Quigley QC at Serle Court.

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