Firms To Watch: Competition litigation

Baker McKenzie's team handles a range of issues for a varied client base of banks and energy companies. The group often acts in class actions and predatory pricing matters. Practice head Francesca Richmond is adept at handling regulatory investigations and group litigations.

Firms in the Spotlight Competition litigation

Ronald Fletcher Baker LLP

Ronald Fletcher Baker has an established track record of success in even the most complex cases. Litigation and Dispute Resolution has been a focus of the firm since its inception in 1948, and our highly experienced team is widely recognised for its skill in this area. The firm deals with a broad range of commercial …

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Competition litigation in London

Hausfeld & Co LLP

Exhibiting ‘unrivalled strength in depth‘, the ‘incredible team‘ at specialist claimant firm Hausfeld & Co LLP handles the full gamut of European damages claims, with particular emphasis on collective actions before the CAT. Practice head Scott Campbell has longstanding expertise in acting in cartel damage cases, often representing corporates before the CAT; while Anthony Maton has deep knowledge surrounding the private enforcement of damages actions. Nicola Boyle has ‘brilliant intellect', and primarily focuses on cases concerning collective redress. The ‘extremely competent and imaginative' Lesley Hannah maintains a tech-focused practice, regularly filing abuse of dominance claims against tech giants before the CAT; and Lucy Rigby frequently represents both consumers and businesses in opt-out claims and large group actions. Tom Bolster has ‘great technical strength', and is particularly adept at acting for clients in the automotive sector in cartel-related disputes. Anna Morfey departed the practice in November 2022 to join Ashurst.

Practice head(s):

Scott Campbell


Other key lawyers:

Anthony Maton; Nicola Boyle; Lesley Hannah; Lucy Rigby; Tom Bolster; Luke Streatfield; Lianne Craig; Tim Brown; Aqeel Kadri; Wessen Jazrawi


Testimonials

‘Hausfeld are, and are rightly viewed as, the standout practitioners in this field. They have unrivalled strength-in-depth and are more than a match for any other firm. They have a very competent practice, with great knowledge and understanding of matters. They are very proactive, focused and always available.’

‘Nicola Boyle is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with, she combines a brilliant intellect with excellent client service; and Tom Bolster has great technical strength.’

‘Lucy Rigby is quickly developing into one of the go-to partners for the most heavyweight competition claims. She is the complete lawyer.’

‘Incredible team – they bring a different approach to matters built on a solid knowledge of competition law. Highly recommended in matters related to damage claims. Close relationship with clients, the team carefully analyse the problem and are clearly focused.’

‘Lesley Hannah and Lianne Craig are extremely competent with great knowledge. Lesley is extremely competent and imaginative, and Lianne has vast knowledge of competition law, providing value-added solutions.’

‘The team have got an excellent reputation in the market and rightly so. They are acting on many of the leading CAT collective actions. They have quality in strength and depth across their team; and have built an enviable practice.’

‘Luke Streatfield is all over the detail. His focus on CAT collective claims and, specifically, big tech claims, makes him a leader in this area, he has carved himself out as an expert in this field. He has real skill in translating and communicating complex issues and to managing with aplomb the significant number of competing threads that arise in these claims. Luke has excellent judgment and delivers fantastic results.’

‘The firm differs from others in its innovation and technical capacity to deal with complex issues that require teamwork with other jurisdictions. The team is highly experienced, engaged and easy to work with. You always feel like you are in the best capable hands and are guided along all the way. They redefine client care in an impressive way.’

Key clients

Dutch Trucks


SSE Plc


Former Inquiry Chair at the Competition and Markets Authority


Consumers’ Association Which?


Spanish dairy farmers


Mercedes Emissions Claim


Infederation Ltd (Foundem)


Work highlights


  • Representing a consumer rights advocate, as the proposed class representative in a £900m collective claim against tech giant Amazon at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London, for allegedly steering consumers towards offers that favour Amazon’s own business, whilst obscuring deals from third party sellers that could be cheaper or better value (UK Buy Box Claim).
  • Representing several European car manufacturers in relation to possible claims arising out of the Occupant Safety Systems, RoRo and Thermal Systems cartels.
  • Representing, in conjunction with Spanish firm Eskariam, 7000+ Spanish dairy farmers seeking damages from milk cartelists for the billions of euros-worth of milk they sold during the cartel period.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Stephen Wisking leads the ‘truly stellar‘ team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP alongside Kim Dietzel. The group is regularly instructed to represent clients in cases concerning unfair terms and pricing allegations leading to collective actions, often appearing before both UK and EU courts. Wisking has an ‘excellent strategic mind‘, and is known for defending collective actions before the CAT, in addition to handling both standalone and follow-on claims; while Dietzel, praised for her ‘great judgement‘, focuses on all aspects of private enforcement, often appearing in the CAT as an advocate. Natalia Rodriguez was promoted to partner in May 2023, and has vast expertise in abuse of dominance matters and antitrust investigations. ‘Standout‘ senior associate Joe Williams acts in a number of regulatory appeals and CPO applications.

Practice head(s):

Stephen Wisking; Kim Dietzel


Other key lawyers:

Natalia Rodriguez; Suzy Campbell; Joe Williams; Andrew North


Testimonials

‘A truly stellar team with unmatched dual expertise across competition law and litigation.’

‘Kim Dietzel is responsive, thoughtful and direct, with great judgement.’

‘Joe Williams is a standout associate who is always on top of the facts but with an eye for the big picture.’

Key clients

Meta


Iveco Group


Google


Amazon


MUFG Bank


Roland


The Computer & Communications Industry Association


Aquind


Work highlights


  • Representing Meta in an application for a CPO brought in the UK CAT by a proposed class representative on behalf of an alleged class of 45m Facebook users, seeking approximately £3bn in aggregate damages.
  • Advising Amazon on its defence of a CPO application issued in November 2022 in the CAT brought on behalf of an alleged class of 50m Amazon customers in the UK, seeking approximately £1bn in aggregate damages.
  • Advising Iveco as UK competition litigation counsel in relation to follow-on damages claims stemming from the European Commission’s settlement decision in Trucks.

Slaughter and May

Slaughter and May houses a practice which displays ‘enormous strength and depth‘ across the full spectrum of contentious competition law work. Regularly acting in appeals against decisions made by regulatory authorities, the team acts for a number of notable clients, including Google, Vodafone, and JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. in both standalone, and follow-on cases. Dubbed the ‘doyen’ of the team by clients, practice head Richard Swallow has broad knowledge of cross-border class actions; senior counsel Elizabeth Jordan is noteworthy for her action on large group claims and opt-out collective proceedings. Camilla Sanger is particularly adept at handling follow-on damages cases before the CAT and the High Court. Praised for her ‘impeccable judgment and sangfroid‘, Holly Ware regularly represents clients before the European Court of Justice in cases concerning the clarification of regulations. Having a great deal of expertise in bribery and corruption, Tim Blanchard frequently assists financial institutions with investigations.

Practice head(s):

Richard Swallow


Other key lawyers:

Elizabeth Jordan; Camilla Sanger; Holly Ware; Tim Blanchard; Damien Taylor; Jonathan Clark; Peter Wickham


Testimonials

‘A team with enormous strength and depth across all areas, a true Rolls Royce service.’

‘Richard Swallow is the doyen of Slaughter and May’s competition litigation practice, a great person to take high command of any major action.’

‘Damian Taylor is a great negotiator and tactician who fights hard for his clients.’

‘Holly Ware stands out for her impeccable judgment and sangfroid, a deadly opponent.’

‘Jonathan Clarke is also a superb lawyer.’

Key clients

Koninklijke Philips N.V.


JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A.


First MTR South Western Trains Limited


MAN


Louis Dreyfus Company Brasil SA


Volkswagen AG


Illumina


Google


Vodafone


Northern Powergrid


Banco Santander Totta


Meta


Barratt Developments


Work highlights


  • Advising Koninklijke Philips N.V. on a number of follow-on damages claims arising out of the CRT cartel, and the smart card chip cartel.
  • Advising JPMorgan on a competition claim in the UK CAT brought by more than 150 major investment funds, hedge funds and pension funds against several international banks.
  • Advising First MTR South Western Trains Limited on proposed collective proceedings brought before the CAT, which are being case managed with a related set of proceedings.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

The team at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner represents a diverse range of well-known clients, including BT, Tesco, and EasyJet, in standalone and follow-on damages claims in both the High Court and the CAT, in addition to collective actions. Edward Coulson heads the practice, often representing both claimants and defendants in actions concerning alleged abuse of dominance; while senior associate Andrew Leitch handles price fixing cartel disputes and abuse of dominance cases. Ben Blacklock has a great deal of expertise in commercial disputes, often appearing before the High Court, the CAT, and the Court of Appeal in matters concerning leniency applications and cartel investigations. Associate Ben Bolderson joined the group from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton in October 2022, and contributes his broad knowledge of cartel damages claims.

Practice head(s):

Edward Coulson


Other key lawyers:

Andrew Leitch; Ben Blacklock; Alexandra Hildyard; India Fahy; Andrew Hockley; Ben Bolderson


Testimonials

‘Edward Coulson leads the competition litigation practice; he has great judgment and is a tough litigator.’

‘The BCLP Competition Litigation team are an exceptional team of lawyers. They combine technical expertise and knowledge with an incredibly personable service.’

‘They forged a collaborative relationship with us and showed an incredibly keen interest in our business.’

‘The competition litigation team at BCLP are excellent. Their deep subject matter expertise and willingness to get involved in tackling knotty legal matters make them standout.’

‘They are extremely knowledgeable on their subject area but more importantly are able to provide strategic and commercially focused legal advice in a clear and concise manner.’

Key clients

EasyJet


Royal Mail Group Ltd


Morgan Stanley


National Grid


Scottish Power


Thames Water


BT


Tesco


Heathrow Airport Limited


Dawsongroup


Work highlights


  • Represented Mail and BT in their follow-on cartel damages actions against truck manufacturer group DAF.
  • Representing Royal Mail in an abuse of dominance damages claim issued by Whistl UK Ltd in the High Court.
  • Acted Morgan Stanley in a stand-alone damages action brought in the English High Court by 175 institutional investors, led by Allianz, in relation to its alleged participation in a foreign exchange cartel.

Clifford Chance LLP

The practice at Clifford Chance LLP handles the full gamut of cartel investigations concerning abuse of dominance issues. Rated by clients as ‘one of the leading competition solicitors in the UK‘, Elizabeth Morony heads the practice, often defending claims concerning a variety of CMA investigations. ‘Astonishing‘ senior associate Ben Jasper frequently acts in appeals against CMA decisions; while Luke Tolaini exhibits ‘impeccable judgment‘ when handling cases relating to excessive pricing within the pharmaceutical industry. Known for her broad expertise in commercial litigation, Samantha Ward represents clients in allegations of unlawful collusion.

Practice head(s):

Elizabeth Morony


Other key lawyers:

Samantha Ward; Luke Tolaini; Matthew Scully; Ben Jasper


Testimonials

‘Elizabeth Morony is the founder of the practice in this area and knows more about it than almost anyone else in the sector.’

‘Luke Tolaini is a standout performer. A lawyer with impeccable judgment, and strategic, and tactical senses. He has a nose for the key strengths and weaknesses in every case.’

‘Ben Jasper has an astonishing range of output.’

‘Exceptionally user-friendly and great fun to work with expertise in all manner of competition law proceedings and juniors that punch well above their weight.’

‘Elizabeth is one of the leading competition solicitors in the UK. She is both incredibly authoritative and approachable. You would trust her with the most complex and important matters. She will give her all to clients.’

Key clients

Cinven


EE


Pfizer Inc. and Pfizer Limited


Xellia and Alpharma LLC


Work highlights


  • Representing EE in a claim brought on behalf of the administrators of Phones 4 U, the now-defunct mobile phone retailer, for breaches of competition law and for breach of contract.
  • Acting for Pfizer in relation to the CMA’s re-investigation in phenytoin, in its representation before the Court of Appeal relating to the CMA’s original decision, and in an appeal before the Supreme Court in relation to the recovery of Pfizer’s costs of its successful appeal before tribunal.

Hogan Lovells International LLP

The ‘fantastic‘ team at Hogan Lovells International LLP offers clients ‘real strength and depth‘ when advising on the defense from collective and abuse of dominance claims, in addition to standalone damages claims arising from investigations. The ‘stellarNicholas Heaton and Christopher Hutton jointly co-head the team, while Angus Coulter heads up the firm’s global telecoms sector practice, working on major claims and competition disputes concerning various blue-chip clients. Having been promoted to partner in January 2023, Alice Wallace-Wright maintains a TMT and life sciences-focused practice.

Practice head(s):

Nicholas Heaton; Christopher Hutton


Other key lawyers:

Angus Coulter; Alice Wallace-Wright


Testimonials

‘Fantastic team, with real strength and depth. They are able to offer a complete service to clients, seamlessly working across different disciplines.’

‘Extremely good team players and a delight to work with.’

‘Nicholas Heaton is stellar.’

‘A well-established, rightly respected competition practice. They are experienced, serious and on-the-ball.’

‘Christopher Hutton is always several steps ahead: a deep and strategic thinker.’

Key clients

On the Beach


Vodafone


Bulb


Work highlights


  • Advised BEIS on subsidy control and public law issues arising from the administration of Bulb and, in partnership with the Government Legal Department, marshalled BEIS’s successful defence to judicial review claims that the Secretary of State’s decision to approve the transfer of Bulb’s business to Octopus was unlawful.

Linklaters LLP

Linklaters LLP houses a ‘first-class‘ team with a ‘tradition of excellence‘, which often advises on merger appeals and funded group litigation issues. ‘Excellent‘ practice head Tom Cassels regularly handles large disputes and investigations, including collective actions. ‘Absolute superstarSarina Williams has extensive expertise in conducting group litigation and class actions, and the defence of standalone damages claims. The ‘strategically-minded’ Harriet Ellis has deep knowledge spanning allegations of collusion and CMA decision challenges.

Practice head(s):

Tom Cassels


Other key lawyers:

Sarina Williams; Harriet Ellis; Jonathan Ford; James Hennah


Testimonials

‘A team with a tradition of excellence in this field that continues to impress. They appear in many of the leading cases, and always produce a very high-quality product.’

‘Tom Cassels has a huge following and is a veritable repository of strategic litigation wisdom.’

‘Sarina Williams is an absolute superstar, always bang on the money and already in great demand. She is bound for greatness in this field.’

‘James Hennah is tipped for the top.’

‘Harriet Ellis is a complete class act, really clever, brilliant judgment, great to work with, a real team player. I would recommend her in any case.’

‘The Linklaters team is first-class. Huge experience, great attention-to-detail, and fantastic team players.’

‘Harriet Ellis is a commensurate disputes partner – very pragmatic and strategically-minded in her approach to the litigation, seeking to achieve the client’s cool as quickly and effectively as possible, and always calm and collected.’

‘An incredibly deep and strong team with experienced partners; a Rolls Royce service. Tom Cassells is excellent, Sarina Williams is fantastic.’

Key clients

UK Department for Transport


Visa


Sony Interactive Entertainment Limited


Visa


Telefónica S.A. and Telefonica O2 Holdings Limited


Visa


Sucocitrico Cutrale LTDA


DENSO


Société Générale


Kelkoo


BGL Group Limited/Comparethemarket.com


HG Capital


Intas/Accord


Anglian Water


Porsche


Work highlights


  • Advising the UK Department for Transport in its role as intervener in four opt-out collective actions in the CAT.
  • Advising Visa in relation on a stand-alone claim brought by Euronet against both Visa and Mastercard, alleging that some of Visa’s and Mastercard’s scheme rules relating to ATM transactions breach Article 101 TFEU and equivalent domestic legislation in Greece, Poland and Czechia.
  • Advising Sony Interactive Entertainment on a proposed opt-out collective action before the CAT spearheaded by Milberg London LLP and the proposed class representative in relation to the operation of the PlayStation Store which alleges that Sony occupies a position of dominance with respect to PlayStation and has, contrary to EU and UK competition law, abused that position.

Macfarlanes LLP

The ‘hard-working, cohesive, and friendly‘ team of ‘seasoned competition lawyers' at Macfarlanes LLP advises on a myriad of disputes originating from regulatory investigations, and private enforcement claims. Malcolm Walton leads the team with his expertise in investigations; and Cameron Firth is ‘immensely knowledgeable' in handling appeals against CMA decisions, often acting for pharmaceutical companies. The ‘exceptional' Simon Day maintains a group litigation-focused practice, often acting in both individual damages claims and collective proceedings. Emma Radcliffe is regarded as using ‘excellent judgement‘ when assisting clients with investigations before both domestic and European competition authorities, in addition to carriage disputes. Senior counsel Caja Griesenbach is noted for her vast knowledge in jurisdiction challenges and applications.

Practice head(s):

Malcolm Walton


Other key lawyers:

Cameron Firth; Simon Day; Emma Radcliffe; Caja Griesenbach


Testimonials

‘This is a competition litigation team which combines seasoned competition lawyers with hard-headed commercial litigators, which is a winning combination. The senior partners are particularly strong.’

‘Simon Day is exceptional and has the rare talent of keeping a calm head while fiercely advocating for his client’s interests.’

‘A hard-working, cohesive, and friendly team of talented individuals who are able to deal adeptly with complex competition litigation.’

‘Simon Day and Emma Radcliffe have excellent judgement. They are efficient, helpful, and always sensible and realistic in their appraisal of merits and strategy.’

‘An excellent team which is well-versed in competition litigation and regulation. Very knowledgeable, user-friendly and pragmatic.’

‘Cameron is immensely knowledgeable and has great client skills.’

Key clients

ZF Friedrichshafen


Daimler Truck AG


MAHLE Behr


Flynn Pharma


Teva


NatWest Markets


Genius Sports


Prysmian


Work highlights


  • Advised Flynn Pharma on an appeal before the Supreme Court, with the Court finding that successful appellants against CMA decisions are entitled to recover their costs.
  • Acting for Prysmian in seven different sets of proceedings, the latest of which is an application to bring collective proceedings.

Allen & Overy LLP

Exhibiting a ‘real depth of litigation experience’, the team at Allen & Overy LLP assists clients with a broad range of disputes, including standalone and follow-on claims. Upon the retirement of Mark Friend, Philip Mansfield has assumed the position of practice head, having longstanding expertise in appearing before domestic and international competition authorities in settlement cases, and in matters involving regulatory approval for mergers. Praised for his ‘outstanding tactical and strategic nous’, litigator Jonathan Hitchin has deep knowledge of private damages claims as a result of cartel investigations; and Arnondo Chakrabarti handles group litigation issues before the CAT and the High Court.

Practice head(s):

Philip Mansfield


Other key lawyers:

Jonathan Hitchin; Dominic Long; Arnondo Chakrabarti; Kristina Nordlander; Rachel Donelan


Testimonials

‘A strong team with a real depth of litigation experience, as well as competition, and judicial review back-up.’

‘Jonathan Hitchin really stands out for his outstanding tactical and strategic nous as a litigator. He has seen it all in general commercial litigation and has also worked on a number of competition disputes. A really great person to have on your team.

‘Associate Rachel Donelan is surely a star of the future.’

Key clients

Government of Gibraltar


Hitachi


Micron


Rangers FC


Scania


Scottish Power


Visa Europe Member Representative


Work highlights


  • Acting for Scania in multiple private damages actions before the CAT; these include the claims brought by the French companies Suez and Veolia, which have been set down for a 26-week trial commencing in April 2024.
  • Acting for Visa Europe Member Representative, a trust company representing 441 European banks, on various claims that have been brought against Visa by many well-known UK and European retailers with regard to Visa’s default multilateral interchange fee.
  • Advised Rangers FC on the CMA’s investigation into suspected infringements of Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 regarding the price at which Rangers-branded replica football kit was sold in the United Kingdom.

Ashurst

The practice at Ashurst handles the full gamut of private damages actions and appeals against European Commission decisions. Euan Burrows leads the team, regularly acting in large follow-on damages actions, dawn raids, and international investigations; while antitrust expert Nigel Parr advises on global mergers, in addition to CMA investigations and inquiries. Duncan Liddell has a great deal of expertise in both non-contentious and contentious issues, including appeals before the EU General Court. Joining the group from Hausfeld & Co LLP in January 2023, ‘real star' Anna Morfey combines ‘powerful strategic oversight with meticulous attention-to-detail‘ when acting for both claimants and defendants, utilising her broad expertise in collective actions and damages claims.

Practice head(s):

Euan Burrows


Other key lawyers:

Duncan Liddell; Steven Vaz; Anna Morfey; Nigel Parr


Testimonials

‘Anna Morfey is a real leader in the field, always blending powerful strategic oversight with meticulous attention-to-detail. A real star of the competition damages world.’

Key clients

Ryder Limited


Intel


Lloyds Banking Group


Transport for London


UK Department for Transport


Bank of America


Work highlights


  • Represented Ryder Limited in a follow-on damages claim before the English courts arising from the European Commission’s decisions in the Trucks Cartel.
  • Representing Imperial Brands PLC and other companies of the group in its challenge before the EU General Court against the Commission State aid decision on the Group Financing Exemption (GFE) laid down in the UK Controlled Foreign Companies rules.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

Jonathan Kelly and counsel Paul Stuart jointly co-head the practice at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, which is noted for its expertise in handling appeals against European Commission decisions, regularly acting for clients before the European Court of Justice and the Court of Appeal. Kelly maintains a disputes and enforcement-focused practice, while Stuart handles a broad-range of investigations and cases, often appearing before the CAT and the High Court. Associate Lanto Sheridan has deep knowledge surrounding both contentious and non-contentious matters, including anticompetitive agreements, merger control issues, and private damages actions. Associate Alexandra Hackney has broad experience spanning follow-on damages claims and behavioural matters.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Kelly; Paul Stuart


Other key lawyers:

Lanto Sheridan; Alexandra Hackney


Testimonials

‘Top-flight team for EU competition litigation.’

 

Key clients

“K” Line


Goldman Sachs


LG Display


Lundbeck


Google


Vifor Pharma


NVIDIA


Telefonica


Giphy


Work highlights


  • Representing “K” Line in the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the Court of Appeal in defence of collective proceedings arising out of the European Commission’s maritime car carriers infringement decision.
  • Representing LG Display in the High Court and Court of Appeal in defence of damages claims and claims for contribution arising out of the European Commission’s LCD infringement decision.
  • Representing Goldman Sachs in defence of claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal by 175 financial institutions in connection with alleged FX manipulation.

Latham & Watkins

The team at Latham & Watkins regularly appears before the CMA and the CAT, and represents clients in antitrust investigations and group actions. ‘Enthusiastic and experienced litigatorMartin Davies leads the team, having longstanding expertise in acting for private equity firms, high-net worth individuals, and portfolio companies in both collective and class actions, supported by Oliver Browne who has broad experience in handling follow-on damages claims. Promoted to partner in January 2023, Greg Bonné is noted for his knowledge of obtaining antitrust clearance in transactions, in addition to merger investigations. ‘Standout competition lawyer' Simon Pritchard joined the team from Linklaters LLP in March 2023, contributing his vast expertise in merger control matters within the life sciences, financial services, and entertainment sectors.

Practice head(s):

Martin Davies


Other key lawyers:

Oliver Browne; Greg Bonné; Simon Pritchard; Hayley Pizzey; Nell Perks


Testimonials

‘Martin Davies and Nell Perks are super hardworking, very strong lawyers. Nell’s work ethic is something to behold! They are really easy to deal with and really sensible with fantastic judgment; they are realistic about the outcome of cases but combine this with a strong drive to get the client to where they want to be.’

‘Greg Bonné is knowledgeable, and has the benefit of past experience at the CMA.’

‘Martin is an enthusiastic and experienced litigator.’

‘Simon Pritchard is a standout competition lawyer, with a real feel for the priorities and concerns of regulators, and a deep understanding of legal and economic issues. He also has a gift for conveying difficult concepts in an easy and attractive manner. Simon is bound to be a huge asset for Latham.’

Key clients

Meta


GRAIL, Inc


Renesas


Work highlights


  • Representing Meta in its acquisition of GIPHY and related UK litigation before the CAT and Court of Appeal.
  • Representing GRAIL in the EC’s review of its acquisition by Illumina, a landmark case concerning application of the referral powers under Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation.
  • Representing Renesas Group in its defense against a follow-on damages claim for approximately €480m, in connection with the European Commission’s Smart Card Chips cartel decision.

Mishcon de Reya LLP

Predominantly acting on the claimant side, the ‘smart, agile, and user friendly’ team at Mishcon de Reya LLP acts in a variety of claims before the Competition Appeal Tribunal, including collective opt-out claims, and also represents a number of notable companies, including Creditfix Limited, Asda, and Ocado. Practice head Sarah Houghton is ‘extremely hardworking’, and handles a wide-range of collective and follow-on claims; and Ben Lasserson regularly appears before the High Court, among others, in abuse of dominance disputes concerning big tech companies. ‘Excellent‘ and ‘knowledgeable‘ managing associate Zachery O’Brien has a great deal of expertise in public procurement, often advising online and high street retailers; whilst managing associate Gwen Ballin-Reeler frequently represents class representatives and property development companies.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Houghton


Other key lawyers:

Ben Lasserson; Zachery O’Brien; Gwen Ballin-Reeler


Testimonials

‘Mishcon know how to manage complex disputes to a successful outcome. And they are approachable and a pleasure to work with as well.’

‘Sarah Houghton has an excellent pedigree and, again, is not phased at all by the complexity of the cases she is running.’

‘Zachery O’Brien is an excellent senior associate, knowledgeable, calm under pressure, and approachable.’

‘Ben Lasserson is a very able collective actions lawyer and a pleasure to work with. He is supported by an excellent team.’

‘Commercially astute, with excellent attention-to-detail and great sector expertise. Ben is a standout partner.’

‘The competition team is smart, agile, and user friendly. It offers a bespoke service to individual clients and is diligent and well-led.’

‘Sarah is very able, extremely hardworking, thoughtful, and brimming with ideas. She leads a team of solicitors with a steady hand and with emotional intelligence. She delivers an excellent service to individual clients and in collective proceedings. She has helped establish the competition team as a very highly regarded participant in the largest and most cutting-edge competition cases.’

‘Zachery contributes very helpful ideas and offers diligent work. He is on top of the detail and is a very effective resource.’

Key clients

Creditfix Limited


Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd


Asda


Wilko


Curry’s


Iceland


John Lewis


Foxglove Legal Interest Community Company


IWG Plc & Regus Group Services Ltd


Camelot


Lakeland


Ocado


Ryman


Tombola


Whitbread


McMullen


Work highlights


  • Advising the class representative, Justin Le Patourel, in certified collective proceedings in the UK against BT for abuse of its dominant position in the market for landline services, which has trial listed for January 2024.
  • Acting for Sainsbury’s Supermarkets Ltd, Iceland Foods Ltd, Wilko, Curry’s, Asda, and The John Lewis Partnership (including Waitrose Limited) in private damage claims against the Trucks cartelists before the CAT.
  • Advising the class representative on behalf of a class of 1.6m individuals in an opt-out representative action against Google UK and DeepMind Technologies Ltd.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius UK LLP houses a ‘formidable team of experts‘ who leverage their international strength to advise notable clients, including Mercedez Benz Trucks, AstraZeneca UK, and Teva Pharmaceuticals. Practice head Frances Murphy is ‘simply outstanding' and equipped to handle a broad spectrum of issues, including allegations of abuse of dominance, cartel investigations, and civil proceedings concerning damages. The ‘highly accomplished and effective' Joanna Christoforou represents a broad-range of clients across the life sciences and technology industries in matters concerning abuse of dominance investigations, and appeals before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court; and Leonidas Theodosiou often acts for global corporates in merger control matters, in addition to handling state aid investigations.

Practice head(s):

Frances Murphy


Other key lawyers:

Joanna Christoforou; Leonidas Theodosiou


Testimonials

‘A formidable team of experts who are, in my view, the strongest in England at handling complex competition law disputes. I would not use anyone else.’

‘Frances Murphy is simply outstanding. Her level of expertise, experience and client care makes her a titan in her field.’

‘Joanna Christoforou is highly accomplished and effective.’

‘Leonidas Theodosiou has great understanding of our business and is able to provide meaningful advice.’

Key clients

Teva Pharmaceuticals


AMCo Pharma


Advanz Pharma


Daimler Trucks


Amentum


Pacific Architects and Engineers


Mercedes Benz Trucks


AstraZeneca UK


Focus Pharmaceuticals


McDonald’s Restaurants Limited


Richemont


Trillium Flow Technologies


Intercontinental Exchange


Yandex NV


Abellio East Anglia Limited


Rail Delivery Group


Perrigo


Work highlights


  • Advising Mercury Pharma (now owned by Advanz) on Advanz’s defence in relation to the alleged excessive and unfair pricing of the thyroid drug Liothyronine under Chapter II / Article 102.
  • Representing Abellio East Anglia Limited and a group of 24 railway companies in claims against Visa and Mastercard before the High Court.
  • Representing Pacific Architects and Engineers in a CMA investigation into suspected anticompetitive conduct comprising bid rigging in connection with the procurements for contracts to operate the Heathrow and Derwentside Immigration Removal Centres.

Norton Rose Fulbright

The team at Norton Rose Fulbright regularly represents clients in CMA investigations, follow-on damages claims concerning EU Commission infringement decisions, and interventions. Ian Giles and the ‘very sharp' Mark Simpson jointly lead the practice, with Simpson having a great deal of expertise in acting in EU cartel investigations and price control appeals before the CMA. Susanna Rogers primarily advises clients within the regulated utilities sector; whilst Helen Fairhead exhibits a ‘formidable skillset‘, acting for both claimants and defendants in collective proceedings and cartel damages claims. Caroline Thomas is ‘massively impressive', and maintains a tech-focused practice, often acting in class actions. Acting as managing partner of the firm, Peter Scott has broad expertise in arbitrations and often appears before the High Court in disputes.

Practice head(s):

Ian Giles; Mark Simpson


Other key lawyers:

Susanna Rogers; Helen Fairhead; Caroline Thomas; Peter Scott


Testimonials

‘The stand-out members of this team are, first, the massively impressive Caroline Thomas, and Helen Fairhead, who is incredibly astute and wears her formidable skillset lightly.’

‘I would recommend Mark Simpson and Helen Fairhead very highly.’

‘Helen is super hard-working and extremely strategic. She thinks consistently about how to press forward her clients’ interests.’

‘Mark is very sharp and quick to grapple with new concepts, seeing their implications. I’d be delighted to work with him on any case that required the team to be quick on their feet and react to a changing situation.’

‘They do not take a scattergun approach to litigation, choosing instead to select their shots and ensure that those shots land. I would have no hesitation in recommending their services to any large client facing heavy litigation.’

‘Highly experience and insightful team who quickly are able to understand the clients issues and effectively advise.’

‘Susanna Rogers stands out from my perspective as a leader in her field was substantial experience and deep insight shared with clients.’

‘A formidable team of hardworking, collaborative, client-focused solicitors who are tireless in their efforts, sensible in their approach and commercially astute.’

Key clients

Qualcomm


HSBC


Vodafone


BP


Shell


Delta Air Lines


Carlsberg


Stena


BMW


Orange


PayPal


Easyjet


Centrica


EirGrid


Thales


Coca Cola Europacific Partners


Liverpool Victoria


Standard Chartered Bank


Electricity North West Limited


IFPI


Paypoint Plc


SONI Limited


National Grid


Stark Limited


Bristol Water


Energy Networks Association


Work highlights


  • Advising HSBC on defending claims by 171 fund claimants before the CAT claiming damages arising out of conduct investigated by various authorities (including the European Commission) concerning the alleged fixing of Forex rates and related spreads.
  • Representing Orange SA in its defence against claims brought in the High Court against the mobile network operators by the Administrators of Phones4U.
  • Acting for Qualcomm, defending an estimated £480m opt-out collective claim brought against it in the Competition Appeal Tribunal on behalf of a class of consumers by the Consumer Association, Which?, asserting that purchasers of certain Apple and Samsung phones overpaid for those devices as a result of Qualcomm’s anti-competitive behaviour (abuse of dominance).

Pinsent Masons LLP

Led by Alan Davis, the practice at Pinsent Masons LLP is described by clients as a ‘force to be reckoned with‘. The group is noted for its expertise in the life sciences sector, handling a wide variety of matters concerning CMA investigations and judicial review claims. Davis has broad experience in acting for both defendants and claimants in standalone abuse of dominance, and follow on damages claims; and Angelique Bret has a great deal of expertise in assisting clients with state aid and obtaining clearance for domestic and EU mergers. Rated by clients as a ‘very safe pair of hands‘, Robert Vidal primarily advises clients in the life sciences sector on appeals before the Court of Justice of the European Union, in addition to claims brought by the NHS; whilst Totis Kotsonis represents a number of private sector clients on subsidy control issues, having ‘outstanding knowledge‘ of the application of the Northern Ireland Protocol

Practice head(s):

Alan Davis


Other key lawyers:

Angelique Bret; Robert Vidal; Totis Kotsonis


Testimonials

‘The industry knowledge within the pharmaceutical sector, twinned with the subject matter knowledge makes Pinsent Masons a force to be reckoned with.’

‘Robert Vidal has a strong track record of working with clients in the pharmaceutical industry. He has been involved in leading cases. He is highly responsive and invests time in understanding the client and what drives the business. A very safe pair of hands.’

‘Pinsent Masons have an excellent reputation, and they have been involved in some of the most high-profile cases in the area. Their combination of excellent legal knowledge combined with detailed sector knowledge sets them apart from a number of law firms in the UK.’

Key clients

Google


Post Office Limited


E.ON


Tesco PLC


Allianz Plc


TEVA


John F Hunt


Balfour Beatty plc


Sun Pharma


Therabody Inc.


Motor Fuel Group


Bupa Plc


Pay.UK


UK Finance


Flynn Pharma


Work highlights


  • Advising DAF Trucks on the defence of a number of follow-on damages claims in Scotland relating to the EU Commission decision of July 2016 arising from a competition infringement in the trucks sector (the Trucks Cartel).
  • Advising Sun Pharma on its appeal to the EU’s highest court (CJEU) following a European Commission decision to impose total fines of €146m in relation to reverse payment settlement agreements.
  • Acting for Allianz Holdings Plc and a number of companies within the Allianz group (including Fairmead and LV ) in connection with claims issued in the High Court of England & Wales against Mastercard and Visa for damages as a result of being charged anti-competitive multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) for customer card transactions.

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP houses a broad practice known for its ‘deep experience and knowledge‘ of disputes arising in the financial services, retail, and technology sectors. The ‘amazingKate Vernon leads the team alongside Lambros Kilaniotis, who joined the practice from RPC in January 2023. Vernon regularly appears before the CAT and the Court of Appeal in judicial reviews concerning the decisions of regulators; while Kilaniotis has broad expertise in acting for both claimants and defendants in class actions and settlements. Leo Kitchen often appears before the Commercial Court, and has deep expertise in the certification of collective proceedings. Associate Megan Betts often acts for class representatives in CPO filings, and associate Rebecca Coyle regularly represents investment management firms and global corporations in civil fraud disputes.

Practice head(s):

Kate Vernon; Lambros Kilaniotis


Other key lawyers:

Leo Kitchen; Megan Betts; Rebecca Coyle; Cordelia Rayner


Testimonials

‘Kate Vernon is amazing in her ability to address competition litigation within the case framework of different practice areas.’

‘Quinns have become a phenomenon in competition litigation. The biggest compliment one can pay them is that they are the firm one would least like to see on the other side! They fight relentlessly for their clients’ interests with a no-holds-barred approach.’

‘Kate has carved out a reputation as the go-to person for the most challenging cases. A lawyer of great instinct who quickly gets to the commercial heart of the case.’

Key clients

Allianz Global Investors


Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation


eBay Inc


Frasers Group Plc


Liza Lovdahl Gormsen


Phones 4U Limited (in administration)


Work highlights


  • Acting for Allianz Global Investors, Brevan Howard, PIMCO & Others in claims for damages in England and the United States against sixteen world banks, arising out of the alleged manipulation of the foreign exchange market.
  • Acting for the proposed class representative, in a standalone opt-out class-action for abuse of dominance, against Meta Platforms Inc, Meta Platforms Ireland Limited and Facebook UK Limited; the claim is seeking redress for 45m UK users who used the platform between 11 February 2016 to 31 December 2019.

Simmons & Simmons

Simmons & Simmons houses an ‘absolutely stellar' team which handles a myriad of issues, including allegations of abuse of a dominant position, and cartel investigations. The ‘absolutely exceptional' Patrick Boylan heads the practice, often advising clients within the energy, TMT, and life sciences industries on opt-out collective actions; and the ‘excellentSatyen Dhana primarily handles regulatory investigations concerning the Office of Rail and Road. ‘Astute tactician' Elizabeth Williams regularly represents clients in a number of follow-on and collective actions, alongside managing associate Eleanore Di Claudio who is rated as a ‘star' by clients.

Practice head(s):

Patrick Boylan


Other key lawyers:

Elizabeth Williams; Eleanore Di Claudio; Satyen Dhana


Testimonials

‘The Simmons team is absolutely stellar, and without a doubt my favourite firm in the city to work with. Patrick Boylan and Satyen Dhana are absolutely exceptional. They are on top of all of the detail.’

‘The team are a real talent and absolute joy to work with. The firm is absolutely committed to diversity; I am a disabled person, and all the team have been extremely accommodating. They have been a total class-act in that regard.’

‘Eleanore di Claudio is hands-down one of the best lawyers I’ve ever worked with. She knows the case inside out, is the go-to lawyer, and is absolutely indispensable. She wears her intelligence and skill lightly; and is very hardworking. Eleanore is a star of the future, and will be one of the most sought after partners in the City before too long. I am sure of it.’

Key clients

BT Group PLC and British Telecommunications PLC


LG Electronics Inc.


Work highlights


  • Acting for BT in opt-out collective proceedings, claimed to be worth £589m under the class action regime.
  • Representing LG Electronics Inc. in a follow-on action brought by Granville Technology Group Limited (in Liquidation) and others arising out of the European Commission’s 2011 decision concerning cathode ray tubes.

Stewarts Law LLP

Stewarts Law LLP houses a ‘highly skilled, highly motivated’ practice, which regularly appears in damages claims before the Supreme Court and the CAT. The group acts for notable clients, including Marks & Spencer Plc and QVC UK. Practice head Kate Pollock is a ‘wonderful, brilliant litigator’ who advises a number of domestic and European corporates on claims arising from abuse of a dominant position and cartel activity. ‘Superb technician’ Inge Forster primarily focuses on European disputes, particularly in relation to multi-party claims involving several and joint liability within the energy sector. The ‘super smartStuart Carson handles a broad range of cases, including jurisdiction challenges before the Court of Appeal, and large-scale pan-European claims. The team is bolstered by in-house economist Mark Lewis.

Practice head(s):

Kate Pollock


Other key lawyers:

Inge Forster; Stuart Carson; Mark Lewis; Zach Sananes; Leah Keen


Testimonials

Kate Pollock, Inge Forster and Leah Keen are all really excellent competition lawyers. Leah is really clever and works diligently with clients to build claims and liaises with numerous individuals to pull together the necessary evidence. Inge is a really excellent organiser, who is fantastic at pushing cases forward. Kate is a real class act, super clever, really commercial, and very good at seeing the strategic implications of cases and points.’

‘Kate Pollock is a fantastic role model. She is collaborative and has exceptionally well-made and persuasive arguments.’

‘Stuart Carson is super smart and great to work with. Very entrepreneurial.’

‘An excellent competition team, handling very heavy competition disputes, mainly from a claimant perspective. They are supremely well-organised with deep expertise.’

‘Inge is a superb technician who knows her way round commercial and competition litigation like the back of her hand. Very hard-working and a good tactician.’

‘The team is across all the detail, highly skilled, highly motivated, and superbly led by Kate.’

‘Kate has excellent strategic judgment, a tremendous ability to motivate and lead a highly-skilled litigation team, and an a fine eye for the detail which really matters. Kate is a wonderful, brilliant litigator, who is full of good ideas, with a strong grasp on how to handle heavy, often multi-party litigation and always with an eye on the ultimate prize. Very adroit client-handling ability, and extremely personable.’

‘They are highly experienced, claimant-centred competition damages litigators.’

Key clients

Marks & Spencer Plc


ASDA Stores Limited


Argos/Home Retail Group Plc


Wm Morrisons Supermarkets Limited


Vattenfall AB


Thales SA


Centrica Plc, British Gas


LafargeHolcim Ltd


iiyama UK Limited


Ingram Micro Inc


QVC UK


Victoria Plum Limited


The Works Stores Limited


J D Williams & Company Limited trading as N Brown


American Golf (Trading) Limited


Sportswift Limited trading as Card Factory


Work highlights


  • Advising ASDA Stores Limited, Argos Limited/Home Retail Group PLC, and Wm Morrison Supermarkets Limited in the Supreme Court on liability which recently settled on confidential terms prior to an eight-week quantum trial in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
  • Acting for Thales Group SA (formerly Gemalto SA) and 14 others in the pan-European smart card chip cartel claim at first instance, Court of Appeal and on appeal to the Supreme Court which resulted in a novel decision on limitation in a competition damages context.
  • Acting for Marks and Spencer Plc against DAF and Mercedes-Benz Group in a claim following on from the Trucks Decision of the European Commission.

Travers Smith LLP

The ‘excellentCaroline Edwards and the ‘fantasticNigel Seay jointly lead the team of ‘good and pragmatic strategists‘ at Travers Smith LLP. The team represents a diverse client base spanning the financial services, automotive, and tech sectors. Edwards regularly acts for defendants in certification applications for class actions, supported by Huw Jenkin; while Seay handles a variety of non-contentious issues, including antitrust investigations. Senior associate Ingrid Hodgskiss handles a broad-range of behavioural matters and damages claims within the insurance and maritime sectors. Stephen Whitfield has extensive expertise assisting clients with EU General Court appeals of European Commission decisions.

Practice head(s):

Nigel Seay; Caroline Edwards


Other key lawyers:

Ingrid Hodgskiss; Huw Jenkin; Stephen Whitfield; Joseph Moore


Testimonials

‘Nigel Seay is a fantastic lawyer, straight to the point, sharp and quick.’

‘They combine very strong legal expertise with a great team atmosphere. It is a great pleasure to work with them.’

‘Caroline Edwards is stand-out. She is an excellent lawyer. Very charismatic and hardworking. A very impressive leader.’

‘Very experienced in UK competition litigation; they work very efficiently and are highly responsive; they are good and pragmatic strategists.’

‘Nigel is impressive.’

‘Caroline Edwards is one of the best UK lawyers I have worked with. She thinks strategically, is well-organised and manages her team well.’

‘Huw Jenkin is an excellent litigator with great commercial skills.’

‘Joseph Moore is very smart and understands the detail.’

Key clients

Nomura International plc


Toyoda Gosei Corporation


Wallenius Wilhelmsen


JTEKT Corporation


Schott Glass


Work highlights


  • Advising Nomura on its application to the EU General Court for annulment of the European Commission’s decision finding anti-competitive behaviour in the primary and secondary European Government Bond markets.
  • Advising Wallenius Wilhelmsen Ocean AS on a cartel follow-on damages claim brought against it (and related group companies and other defendants) by Volkswagen in the High Court.
  • Acting for Toyoda Gosei, an autoparts manufacturer, on a matter involving the defence of Toyoda in respect of a cartel follow-on damages action brought by PSA before the High Court.

White & Case LLP

White & Case LLP houses an ‘extremely dedicated' team which handles the full spectrum of mandates, from standalone behavioural issues to civil actions. Praised by clients for his ‘enormous versatility paired with impeccable judgement', Charles Balmain leads the group, and has notable expertise in follow-on claims and regulatory investigations-related work, often appearing before the CMA and the CAT. Counsel Raif Hassan is experienced in handling damages actions before the High Court, and appeals to the Court of Appeal concerning the mitigation of damages.

Practice head(s):

Charles Balmain


Other key lawyers:

Genevra Forwood; Raif Hassan


Testimonials

‘Charles Balmain is lawyer of enormous versatility paired with impeccable judgment and strategic and tactical sense.’

‘Raif Hassan is a phenomenon in terms of his output and ability to conduct multiple matters with equal brilliance.’

‘The White & Case team has true specialists and have in-depth knowledge of the legal issues. The team is extremely dedicated and a pleasure to work with!’

‘Their key strength is their multi-jurisdictional reach.’

Key clients

NTN


Nexans


Autoliv


Toshiba


Google


Computer and Communications Industry Association


Pfizer


Synthos


Eco-Bat


Work highlights


  • Advised NTN in the High Court, CAT, and the Court of Appeal on an approximately €100m damages claim by Stellantis N.V.
  • Advising Nexans on an application for a Collective Proceedings Order to bring an opt-out class action on behalf of domestic energy consumers in the UK for allegedly increased energy prices resulting from pass-on of an alleged overcharge on High Voltage Power Cables following the European Commissions’ Power Cables decision.
  • Advising Autoliv on a standalone competition claim brought by Stellantis in High Court, which was subsequently transferred to the CAT.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP

The ‘dynamic‘ practice at Willkie Farr & Gallagher (UK) LLP exhibits broad expertise across a number of sectors, including automotive, financial services, and technology. Practice head Boris Bronfentrinker utilises his ‘razor-sharp instinct' when defending clients in European Commission investigations, in addition to internal investigations. ‘Truly bright spark' Elaine Whiteford primarily focuses on assisting with follow-on damages issues, and challenging regulatory decisions. Nicola Chesaites handles a number of collective actions for both claimants and defendants, having a great deal of experience in litigating before the EU General Court; whilst Michelle Clark has deep knowledge surrounding abuse of dominance claims.

Practice head(s):

Boris Bronfentrinker


Other key lawyers:

Elaine Whiteford; Nicola Chesaites; Michelle Clark; Adele Behles


Testimonials

‘Boris Bronfentrinker is a phenomenon, he is incredibly clever, super sharp, a really knowledgeable competition litigator and fantastic at strategy. He sees and takes points that no one else would be willing to risk.’

‘Michelle Clark is hardworking and on top of the detail; she is great at pushing cases forward.’

‘Adele Behles is really interested in developing the law and understanding the limits of legal concepts that could be challenged. She’s very practical and extremely commercial.’

‘A really dynamic practice, with lots of drive, producing really high-quality substantive work.’

‘Elaine Whiteford is a truly bright spark, with boundless energy and determination to secure the best possible outcomes for her clients.’

‘Adele is an undoubted future star, with a keen intelligence, great sense of perspective and excellent client care.’

‘Boris has a razor-sharp instinct for how to put together a winning case, and remarkable energy to pursue it.’

Key clients

Walter Merricks CBE


Mercedes Benz Group AG and Mercedes-Benz AG


Payward Inc (Kraken)


Cérélia


Work highlights


  • Advising the class representative for over 46m consumers in collective proceedings against Mastercard.
  • Advising Cérélia on its appeal to the CAT against the CMA decision that the merger between Cérélia and Jus-Rol would bring about a substantial lessening of competition, and that Cérélia must sell the Jus-Rol business in the UK and Ireland.
  • Advising Mercedes in relation to its claim for damages arising from the brakes cartel which raises a legal argument as forum non conveniens post-Brexit.

Addleshaw Goddard

The ‘outstandingMark Molenyeux heads the team at Addleshaw Goddard, which is known for its ‘tremendous knowledge and experience’. The group handles a broad array of issues, including opt-in claims and class actions. Molyneux frequently acts for defendants in follow-on damages claims and allegations of anticompetitive agreements. Having acted in judicial reviews of CMA decisions, Rona Bar-Isaac has a great deal of knowledge surrounding abuse of dominance claims. Paul Chaplin is particularly adept at acting in predatory pricing claims within the energy, financial services, and transport sectors.

Practice head(s):

Mark Molyneux


Other key lawyers:

Rona Bar-Isaac; Paul Chaplin; Samantha Haig


Testimonials

‘Fantastic to deal with, very commercial, very approachable, and they have the bandwidth to deal with multinational, complex legal issues. They are always at the cutting edge and pioneering developments. A brilliant firm to work with.’

‘Mark Molyneux is both bright and bold. The team has gone from strength to strength under Mark’s leadership. He is an outstanding lawyer who you want to have on your side in competition litigation. Mark is a brilliant strategist who thinks outside the box and offers ingenious solutions to cases.’

‘Samantha Haigh is a top-rate litigator who is brilliant to work with.’

‘Tremendous knowledge and experience applied in a practical and perceptive way, leading to good outcomes based on realistic predictions and considerable flair in delivery.’

‘Paul Chaplin is bound to be a future star.’

‘The Addleshaw Goddard competition team has a large number of excellent lawyers across litigation and advisory areas of competition law.’

Key clients

NKT group of companies


The Road Haulage Association Limited


Co-operative Group Limited


Stats Perform


Network Rail Infrastructure Limited


Allergan plc


SSE


BMW dealers


Lidl GB


Work highlights


  • Advising the Road Haulage Association Limited as co-counsel with Backhouse Jones solicitors in relation to the RHA’s collective action proceedings on behalf of more than 15,000 claimants for damages of over £1bn; the first certified opt-in collective action in the UK.
  • Defending the NKT group of companies in the class action proceedings, claiming damages in excess of £600m on behalf of millions of electricity bill payers in Great Britain, brought by the class representative following-on from the Power Cables cartel.
  • Advising more than 55 BMW/MINI dealerships in the defence of a series of group actions for over £100m being brought in the Competition List of the High Court on behalf of approximately 50,000 potential claimants.

Arnold & Porter

Arnold & Porter houses a ‘very good, very knowledgeable‘ practice which handles a number of arbitration and follow-on claims and often appears before domestic, EU, and US courts. ‘Excellent strategic thinker' Jane Wessel leads the team, regularly acting for corporate claimants and defendants; and John Schmidt has vast expertise in the securing of injunctive relief in cases concerning abuse of dominance allegations. Rated by clients as being ‘knowledgeable beyond his years', Alastair Brown primarily focuses on collective claims, often appearing in disputes before the Court of Appeal. Associate Zeno Frediani handles a number of European investigations and claims for global companies.

Practice head(s):

Jane Wessel


Other key lawyers:

John Schmidt; Alastair Brown; Zeno Frediani


Testimonials

‘A very good, very knowledgeable and likeable team. They are very diligent and reliable.’

‘Zeno Frediani is very good.’

‘The team is practical, knowledgeable, proactive and friendly.’

‘Jane Wessel is an excellent strategic thinker.’

‘Alastair Brown is knowledgeable beyond his years.’

Key clients

Heineken


Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd


AB InBev


Morrisons


Diageo


Bristows LLP

The ‘excellent‘ team at Bristows LLP specialises in the intersection between competition and IP matters, particularly in relation to the use of data, investigations, and FRAND licensing issues. Practice head Sophie Lawrance is an ‘expert' who maintains a pharmaceutical and tech-focused practice, often handling appeals in the Supreme Court; whilst the ‘very knowledgeable and practical' Stephen Smith has broad knowledge spanning the full-range of both contentious and non contentious matters, including jurisdictional challenges and interventions in judicial reviews.

Practice head(s):

Sophie Lawrance


Other key lawyers:

Edwin Bond; Stephen Smith; Matthew Hunt


Testimonials

‘We have worked extensively with this team, particularly Sophie Lawrance, and have found them excellent at grappling with complex issues, including novel legal issues, extensive historical facts, and complex quantum calculations. They are also very practical and commercial in their advice.’

‘Sophie is an expert in this field. There is no one that knows the facts of our case or the legal issues surrounding it as well as she does.’

‘The team is always totally on top of the detail and the logistics; well-organised, efficient and a complete pleasure to work with.’

‘Steve Smith is very commercial, knowledgeable and practical. He brings a note of calm to all situations.’

‘Matthew Hunt really knows his stuff but is also an excellent organiser who will make things run seamlessly.’

‘The team has good industry knowledge and gives practical advice.’

Key clients

Google


CityFibre


Morningside


Samsung Electronics Co Limited


Abingdon Health Plc


Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry


ZTE Corporation


Work highlights


  • Acting for Google in a mixed standalone and follow-on damages claim related to the EU Shopping Decision which is moving into the Competition Appeal Tribunal following a significant case management hearing in early 2023.
  • Advising CityFibre on numerous strategic issues in respect of its rollout of a national challenger full fibre to the home network to BT Openreach which has included a CAT Appeal and a Competition Act complaint before Ofcom.
  • Acting for interveners in a UK Supreme Court appeal against the CMA brought by Pfizer and Flynn related to an important point on the recoverability of costs by appellants against CMA decisions.

CMS

The team at CMS handles a wide variety of regulatory investigations and disputes, often acting for pharmaceutical and technology companies. The ‘outstandingBrian Sher co-heads the practice alongside ‘very shrewd tactician' Kenny Henderson. Henderson has extensive expertise acting in follow-on claims and group actions arising from cartel and abuse of dominance matters. Sher regularly handles disputes in the energy, technology, and life sciences sectors, most notably including mediation of damages claims and judicial reviews.

Practice head(s):

Brian Sher; Kenny Henderson


Other key lawyers:

Russell Hoare; Jacqueline Vallat; Lucy Charatan


Testimonials

‘The team has strong skills in technology and life sciences.’

‘Brian Sher is outstanding. He has a real intellectual hunger to understand competition law and a work ethic which is second-to-none, clients appreciate his unhesitating devotion to their cause.’

‘CMS has a first-rate practice.’

Key clients

Alliance Pharma Plc


Arora Group


BAE Systems


Cadent Gas


Coca-Cola Europacific Partners


Dye & Durham Corporation


Equinor


GlaxoSmithKline


International Tin Association


Microsoft


ParentPay


RWS


SSE


Work highlights


  • Acting for Microsoft as defendant in an action brought by a second-hand software reseller claiming damages and injunctive relief for infringement of the Chapter II Prohibition Competition Act 1998 concerning Microsoft’s alleged abuse of a dominant position.
  • Acting for the International Tin Association in defending an abuse of dominance claim from a metal trading company seeking in excess of £20m in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
  • Acting for Education Software solutions (ESS) and ParentPay to a successful and novel settlement to a CMA abuse of dominance investigation regarding the notice period for contractual changes which involved an independent adjudication system.

DLA Piper

The broad team at DLA Piper handles an array of regulatory investigations, subsidy control matters, and claims before the CAT and the High Court. Sarah Smith leads the team and has vast expertise in pay for delay cases in addition to handling appeals before the European Court of Justice. Sam Szlezinger primarily focuses on behavioural and merger control-related issues and state aid investigations; while Alexandra Kamerling has longstanding experience in handling cross-border mergers and FDI filings.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Smith


Other key lawyers:

Sam Szlezinger; Alexandra Kamerling


Key clients

Lupin


Heineken UK


Premier League


Flybe


Football DataCo


Bacardi


Warner Bros. Discovery


Consolis Group


Formula 1


Work highlights


  • Represented Heineken in its challenge of a £2m fine imposed by the Pubs Code Adjudicator in respect of an alleged competition law infringement.
  • Acting for Football DataCo in its long-running dispute with Sportradar in relation to the conditions under which live league match data can be collected from Premier League, EFL and Scottish Football League matches.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher houses a broad team, which acts in a number of collective proceedings and allegations of collusion and anticompetitive practices. Practice head Philip Rocher regularly conducts regulatory investigations; whilst Patrick Doris has extensive expertise in acting for public bodies. Having had previous experience working in the CMA, Ali Nikpay frequently handles bet-the-company matters for corporations. Deirdre Taylor is adept at advising on cartel investigations and merger control issues arising in the aviation, pharmaceutical, and engineering industries.

Practice head(s):

Philip Rocher


Other key lawyers:

Patrick Doris; Ali Nikpay; Deirdre Taylor


Testimonials

‘Stellar quality throughout the ranks.’

‘Philip Rocher is calm and measured in the most challenging of situations. He leads his team well and provides fantastic strategic advice on complex issues.’

Key clients

UBS


LIV Golf


Fender


Milbank

Milbank houses an ‘absolutely wonderful' team, which often appears in matters before the Commercial Court and the Court of Appeal. Practice head Julian Stait is ‘extremely knowledgeable‘ of cross-border investigations and CPO applications. Special counsel Emma Hogwood frequently acts for clients in claims concerning fraud and abuse of dominance; and special counsel Cormac Alexander is particularly adept at handling regulatory investigations and arbitrations.

Practice head(s):

Julian Stait


Other key lawyers:

Emma Hogwood; Cormac Alexander; Mark Padley


Testimonials

‘A Rolls Royce of a team – one of the better teams in the market for big ticket litigation that you are not afraid to take to trial.’

‘Julian Stait is one of the strongest practitioners in the market and his senior team of Cormac Alexander, Mark Padley and Emily Hogwood are all very talented.’

‘These are brilliant and experienced people. They totally get stuck-in for their clients, but they also offer wonderful advice, always putting the client’s position first. Could not be better.’

‘The team is absolutely wonderful. I would always want them in my corner in a scrap. They are also incredibly nice to work with, could not be nicer or more engaged.’

‘In-depth understanding of payments and the complexity of regulation in a litigation context.’

‘Julian is an extremely knowledgeable, very articulate and persuasive advocate – approachable and hardworking. Pragmatic and constructive in his engagements with clients and other parties.’

‘An extremely strong team working on many of the leading competition cases.’

‘Julian Stait is one of the best solicitors in London.’

Key clients

Visa


Rabobank


Brugg Kabel AG and Kabelwerke Brugg AG Holding


RPC

The ‘incredibly hardworking‘ group at RPC exhibits varied knowledge of class actions within the retail and technology sectors. Chris Ross leads the team, having broad experience in handling follow-on damages claims, in addition to collective proceedings. Counsel Melanie Musgrave has vast expertise in merger control and investigation issues, in addition to damages claims; and senior associate Leonia Chesterfield has ‘bags of experience‘ in High Court warrant applications and CMA infringement decisions.

Practice head(s):

Chris Ross


Other key lawyers:

Melanie Musgrave; David Cran; Leonia Chesterfield


Testimonials

‘The RPC team thinks creatively about issues to find the best solution for clients. They listen carefully and are transparent in their reasoning.’

‘Incredibly hardworking, they know their client’s cases backwards.’

‘David Cran is a good leader who can see the bigger picture.’

‘Leonia Chesterfield is a very good solicitor with bags of experience.’

‘Chris Ross is very on the ball.’

‘Well-resourced and seriously engaged with an ability to speak the language of international technology clients and manage matters in the English courts.’

‘David Cran is an exceptional communicator who is very engaged with the detail and able to keep a large team motivated.’

Key clients

Frasers Group plc


Google


LINK Scheme


LINPAC


NHS Scotland & DHSSPS and RHSCB in Northern Ireland


Soft Construct


Work highlights


  • Advising Google on its defence of collective proceedings pursued by the class representative on behalf of millions of UK consumers in relation to Play Store fees.
  • Advising Google on its ongoing global dispute with Epic Games (Fortnite) regarding Play Store billing.
  • Representing NHS bodies in Scotland and Northern Ireland in an action for competition law damages brought against Servier, the manufacturer of the cardiovascular drug Perindopril.