Brick Court Chambers continues to handle the leading cases in the field of competition law, advising both claimants and defendants across the spectrum of competition areas, from state aid and cartels to abuse of dominant positions and contested mergers. Mark Hoskins KC leads, among others, Sarah Abram KC, who took silk in 2022, in acting for leading mobile operators, including O2 and Telefonica, in a damages claim brought by Phones4U for around £800m; the retailer collapsed into administration in 2014 alleging that the networks conspired to drive it out of business. Marie Demetriou KC continues to lead Victoria Wakefield KC among others in Merricks v Mastercard, the first collection action certified by the CAT, with more proceedings in 2023 following the success in the Court of Appeal in late 2022 – the case seeks damages for virtually every adult in the UK, who allegedly paid inflated prices owing to the payment network’s interchange fees. In Allergen & Ors v CMA, Robert O’Donoghue KC led Emma Mockford when acting Cinven – previous owner of a business now forming part of Advanz Pharmaceuticals – in its appeal against the regulator’s 2021 decision that drug companies overcharged the NHS for hydrocortisone tablets.
Competition in
London Bar
Brick Court Chambers
Testimonials
‘Jo Francis and Tony Burgess are always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Hannah Rayner is helpful and responsive.’
‘The service provided by Brick court chambers is excellent. The clerks are very responsible and take care of all the administrative tasks very swiftly.’
‘The Clerks Room is efficient and businesslike.’
‘Brick Court are the go-to Chambers for competition law with strength in depth.’
‘Brick Court is of course one of the strongest sets, and the competition counsel are in great demand, a situation shared with the few other sets specialising in this area.’
‘A top set of chambers. They have real strength in depth and are the ‘go to’ set for competition matters.’
‘For competition matters, Brick Court Chambers is one of the strongest sets offering enormously talented advocates at every level.’
Work highlights
Monckton Chambers
‘Well established as a first-rate competition law set’, Monckton Chambers is renowned for its expertise concerning the gamut of competition issues, advising and representing clients in proceedings across a wide range of contexts including administrative proceedings, appeals and judicial review, and private competition law actions. Daniel Beard KC led Alison Berridge when acting for Compare the Market, successfully appealing a fine from the CMA for allegedly distorting the market for home insurance comparison services. Jon Turner KC and Meredith Pickford KC continue to act for Asda and Morrisons against Mastercard, with the case being sent back to the CAT for a 6-week witness trial on damages in January 2023. The trucks litigation continues through collective proceedings and individual claims, with Paul Harris KC leading the defence for Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz; permission has now been granted to take further elements of the cases to the Court of Appeal. Josh Holmes KC and Daisy Mackersie represented the CMA in major Competition Act appeals, defending imposed fines totalling more than £260m on pharmaceutical companies.
Testimonials
‘John Keegan is a pleasure to work with – incredibly responsible and always keen to help.’
‘Very professional and very responsive. David Hockney and John Keegan are great guys and very personable and reasonable.’
‘Steve Duffett is the go to clerk at Monckton Chambers. He is efficient, friendly and an all round excellent clerk.’
‘All the clerks in my experience offer a stellar service. They are very responsive and I can rely on them for a swift response and they are all very helpful.’
‘Fantastic strength-in-depth across the antitrust spectrum, as well as other areas.’
‘Leading set for competition work.’
‘Monckton are incredibly strong in competition law generally.’
‘Monckton Chambers has very strong strength and depth in competition law, which makes it the go to chambers for many.’
Work highlights
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers offers ‘great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level’ for competition work, operating at the forefront of regulatory and private damages actions in the UK; as well as a recognised reputation for international expertise, representing governments, regulators, defendants and claimants across multiple jurisdictions. Acting under temporary admission to the Hong Kong Bar, Competition Commission of Hong Kong v W Hing Construction, James Segan KC represented the Commission in the first case heard in the that forum about pecuniary penalties for contravention of that jurisdiction’s competition law. In two significant judgments handed down by the CAT, Brian Kennelly KC and Paul Luckhurst represented UBS in a case regarding applications for opt-out collective proceedings under 47B of the Competition Act; while Monica Carss-Frisk KC, Jessica Boyd KC, Isabel Buchanan and Tom Coates appeared in CityFibre Limited v Ofcom, with the tribunal dismissing CityFibre’s appeal under section 192 of the Communications Act 2003.
Testimonials
‘My experience of the clerks has been first rate – they have been responsive and commercial.’
‘Blackstone have a very in depth competition practice that is well renowned.’
‘For competition matters, Blackstone Chambers is one of the strongest sets offering enormously talented advocates at every level.’
‘Blackstone has great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level, for competition and other related areas of public law.’
‘Blackstone Chambers is arguably the best-regarded set at the Bar. They are at or top of each league they play in.’
‘The clerks are good to work with – some of the best around. Adam Sloane is very good.’
‘Among the best sets of chambers. Strength in depth.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
Drawing upon strong expertise in related areas of law such as EU, public, criminal and commercial litigation, Matrix Chambers is well placed to handle complex and high profile competition matters concerning state aid, public procurement, utilities regulation and commercial judicial review. Rhodri Thompson KC and Nicholas Gibson have continued to act for UK Trucks Claim Ltd in UK Trucks Claim v Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V and others, representing the proposed class representative in a collective damages action before the CAT under section 47B of the Competition Act. In R (SSE Generation Ltd) v CMA, the first time a decision of the CMA in its appellate capacity was subjected to judicial review, Christopher Brown achieved a favourable result for the regulator in a three-day hearing before the Court of Appeal.
Testimonials
‘Matrix Chambers are very accommodating and responsive. Training programmes are a gap in their offering compared to those offered by other sets.’
‘Excellent service form this set.’
‘The clerks are approachable and available.’
Work highlights
One Essex Court
One Essex Court has continued to develop the strength of its competition offering in-hand with the explosive growth the area has experienced in recent times, handling a steady stream of significant mandates proceeding through the CAT, as well as the High Court. Conall Patton KC successfully defeated a claim brought against Ede & Ravenscroft alleging abuse of dominant position, the case raised a novel defence which concerned “greenwashing” claims of the claimant which was held to be a fraudulent misrepresentation. Sonia Tolaney KC defended Mastercard against various UK retailers in a two-month trial before the CAT in January 2023, while Derek Spitz is representing the class representative in collective proceedings against BT; the first ‘opt-out’ action trial due to take place in early 2024.
Testimonials
‘The clerks at One Essex are very good.’
‘For competition matters, Adam Wheeler is an extremely knowledgeable clerk and good at problem solving. He is always the first clerk we call at One Essex Court.’
‘The clerks room is responsive, professional and friendly. Adam Wheeler is great to work with.’
‘Adam Wheeler is responsive and willing to be flexible.’
‘I have found the Clerks easy to deal with, attentive, and quick to respond to emails. When the particular clerk I have been contacting is away, someone else will respond quickly.’
‘One Essex are getting more and more involved in a range of competition cases. Their presence in the market is always growing.’
‘Making waves in the competition world.’
Work highlights
Brick Court Chambers
Testimonials
‘Jo Francis and Tony Burgess are always very helpful and a pleasure to deal with.’
‘Hannah Rayner is helpful and responsive.’
‘The service provided by Brick court chambers is excellent. The clerks are very responsible and take care of all the administrative tasks very swiftly.’
‘The Clerks Room is efficient and businesslike.’
‘Brick Court are the go-to Chambers for competition law with strength in depth.’
‘Brick Court is of course one of the strongest sets, and the competition counsel are in great demand, a situation shared with the few other sets specialising in this area.’
‘A top set of chambers. They have real strength in depth and are the ‘go to’ set for competition matters.’
‘For competition matters, Brick Court Chambers is one of the strongest sets offering enormously talented advocates at every level.’
Work highlights
Monckton Chambers
‘Well established as a first-rate competition law set’, Monckton Chambers is renowned for its expertise concerning the gamut of competition issues, advising and representing clients in proceedings across a wide range of contexts including administrative proceedings, appeals and judicial review, and private competition law actions. Daniel Beard KC led Alison Berridge when acting for Compare the Market, successfully appealing a fine from the CMA for allegedly distorting the market for home insurance comparison services. Jon Turner KC and Meredith Pickford KC continue to act for Asda and Morrisons against Mastercard, with the case being sent back to the CAT for a 6-week witness trial on damages in January 2023. The trucks litigation continues through collective proceedings and individual claims, with Paul Harris KC leading the defence for Daimler AG and Mercedes-Benz; permission has now been granted to take further elements of the cases to the Court of Appeal. Josh Holmes KC and Daisy Mackersie represented the CMA in major Competition Act appeals, defending imposed fines totalling more than £260m on pharmaceutical companies.
Testimonials
‘John Keegan is a pleasure to work with – incredibly responsible and always keen to help.’
‘Very professional and very responsive. David Hockney and John Keegan are great guys and very personable and reasonable.’
‘Steve Duffett is the go to clerk at Monckton Chambers. He is efficient, friendly and an all round excellent clerk.’
‘All the clerks in my experience offer a stellar service. They are very responsive and I can rely on them for a swift response and they are all very helpful.’
‘Fantastic strength-in-depth across the antitrust spectrum, as well as other areas.’
‘Leading set for competition work.’
‘Monckton are incredibly strong in competition law generally.’
‘Monckton Chambers has very strong strength and depth in competition law, which makes it the go to chambers for many.’
Work highlights
Blackstone Chambers
Blackstone Chambers offers ‘great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level’ for competition work, operating at the forefront of regulatory and private damages actions in the UK; as well as a recognised reputation for international expertise, representing governments, regulators, defendants and claimants across multiple jurisdictions. Acting under temporary admission to the Hong Kong Bar, Competition Commission of Hong Kong v W Hing Construction, James Segan KC represented the Commission in the first case heard in the that forum about pecuniary penalties for contravention of that jurisdiction’s competition law. In two significant judgments handed down by the CAT, Brian Kennelly KC and Paul Luckhurst represented UBS in a case regarding applications for opt-out collective proceedings under 47B of the Competition Act; while Monica Carss-Frisk KC, Jessica Boyd KC, Isabel Buchanan and Tom Coates appeared in CityFibre Limited v Ofcom, with the tribunal dismissing CityFibre’s appeal under section 192 of the Communications Act 2003.
Testimonials
‘My experience of the clerks has been first rate – they have been responsive and commercial.’
‘Blackstone have a very in depth competition practice that is well renowned.’
‘For competition matters, Blackstone Chambers is one of the strongest sets offering enormously talented advocates at every level.’
‘Blackstone has great strength in depth, at both silk and junior level, for competition and other related areas of public law.’
‘Blackstone Chambers is arguably the best-regarded set at the Bar. They are at or top of each league they play in.’
‘The clerks are good to work with – some of the best around. Adam Sloane is very good.’
‘Among the best sets of chambers. Strength in depth.’
Work highlights
Matrix Chambers
Drawing upon strong expertise in related areas of law such as EU, public, criminal and commercial litigation, Matrix Chambers is well placed to handle complex and high profile competition matters concerning state aid, public procurement, utilities regulation and commercial judicial review. Rhodri Thompson KC and Nicholas Gibson have continued to act for UK Trucks Claim Ltd in UK Trucks Claim v Fiat Chrysler Automobiles N.V and others, representing the proposed class representative in a collective damages action before the CAT under section 47B of the Competition Act. In R (SSE Generation Ltd) v CMA, the first time a decision of the CMA in its appellate capacity was subjected to judicial review, Christopher Brown achieved a favourable result for the regulator in a three-day hearing before the Court of Appeal.
Testimonials
‘Matrix Chambers are very accommodating and responsive. Training programmes are a gap in their offering compared to those offered by other sets.’
‘Excellent service form this set.’
‘The clerks are approachable and available.’
Work highlights
One Essex Court
One Essex Court has continued to develop the strength of its competition offering in-hand with the explosive growth the area has experienced in recent times, handling a steady stream of significant mandates proceeding through the CAT, as well as the High Court. Conall Patton KC successfully defeated a claim brought against Ede & Ravenscroft alleging abuse of dominant position, the case raised a novel defence which concerned “greenwashing” claims of the claimant which was held to be a fraudulent misrepresentation. Sonia Tolaney KC defended Mastercard against various UK retailers in a two-month trial before the CAT in January 2023, while Derek Spitz is representing the class representative in collective proceedings against BT; the first ‘opt-out’ action trial due to take place in early 2024.
Testimonials
‘The clerks at One Essex are very good.’
‘For competition matters, Adam Wheeler is an extremely knowledgeable clerk and good at problem solving. He is always the first clerk we call at One Essex Court.’
‘The clerks room is responsive, professional and friendly. Adam Wheeler is great to work with.’
‘Adam Wheeler is responsive and willing to be flexible.’
‘I have found the Clerks easy to deal with, attentive, and quick to respond to emails. When the particular clerk I have been contacting is away, someone else will respond quickly.’
‘One Essex are getting more and more involved in a range of competition cases. Their presence in the market is always growing.’
‘Making waves in the competition world.’