Hall Of Fame

Leading Partners

Next Generation Partners

EU and competition in Yorkshire And The Humber

DWF

DWF‘s commercial and competition group has a particularly strong market reputation for its expertise in subsidy control, and is consequently sought out by a wide range of high-profile clients from both the public and private sector, including Nissan, the Arts Council and an array of successful applicants in the Levelling Up Fund Round 2. Practice head Jonathan Branton is equipped to assist with issues such as merger control, cartels, and state aid.

Practice head(s):

Jonathan Branton


Key clients

Greater Manchester Combined Authority


Durham County Council


Nissan Manufacturing UK Limited


Oak National Academy (NDPB for Department of Education)


North Yorkshire County Council


City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council


Port of Dover


Arts Council England


Manchester City Council


Sheffield City Council


Wakefield Metropolitan Borough Council


Muse Places Limited


CEG (Commercial Estates Group)


Wykeland


Work highlights


  • Advised the Arts Council England on the first referral of a standalone subsidy under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 to the Competition and Markets Authority.
  • Advised Durham County Council upon the first case brought under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (Durham Company Limited v Durham County Council).
  • Acted for over 20% of all successful applicants in the Levelling Up Fund Round 2 as announced in 2023. This accounted for over £500m of public funding allocated.

Walker Morris LLP

Walker Morris LLP's competition team is led by Sarah Ward , who clients describe as a fantastic lawyer, with a calm and efficient approach to handling complex cases’. Ward leads a team that wins plaudits for its ability to handle mandates including competition law investigations, competition litigation and cross-border corporate transactions. Gwendoline Davies‘ broad portfolio of work includes advising on cartels and anti-competitive behaviour. Commercial disputes lawyer Nick Lees frequently leverages his contentious expertise to assist with issues such as competition damages cases. Managing data-driven disclosure exercises is a proven practice strength of Jack Gale. Lynsey Oakdene further extends the competition dispute resolution expertise at the firm.

Practice head(s):

Sarah Ward


Other key lawyers:

Gwendoline Davies; Nick Lees; Sue Harris; Jack Gale; Lynsey Oakdene


Testimonials

‘Sarah Ward is a fantastic lawyer, with a calm and efficient approach to handling complex cases.’

‘The Walker Morris team are particularly friendly and approachable.’

Key clients

Audax Private Equity


Arla Foods


Drax


Work highlights


  • Advised a FTSE 100 company in relation to the CMA’s market study into housebuilding in England, Scotland and Wales.
  • Continued to represent the Arla Foods group in its multi-million-pound follow-on damages claim against members of the EU trucks cartel.
  • Advised US private equity firm Audax on the competition law, merger control and FDI aspects of three corporate transactions.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP

Praised for its ‘excellent and consistent coverage and quality of service across all disciplines’,  Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s competition, EU and trade team is well-placed to advise on matters such as large-scale investigations, merger controls, competition law audits and compliance initiatives. Practice head Charlie Markillie has a proven track record in assisting clients with foreign direct investment (FDI) approvals worldwide. Della Heptinstall handles the coordination and drafting of merger control analysis.

Practice head(s):

Charlie Markillie


Other key lawyers:

Della Heptinstall


Testimonials

‘They are incredibly responsive and always provide pragmatic advice, carefully tailored to our needs.’

‘I have worked predominantly with Charlie Markillie on an ad hoc basis. Charlie is top notch – clearly knows his stuff, understands our business and delivers legal advice in a timely and digestible way.’

‘They provide tailor and concise advice, which is really helpful.’

‘They have good interpersonal skills and make you feel comfortable.’

‘They are willing to engage on a pro bono basis where appropriate, in order to give in-house legal teams background information on competition law concerns.’

‘Charlie Markillie and Della Heptinstall are proactive in keeping us abreast of competition law developments relevant to our sector.’

‘The team at Eversheds Sutherland are always very professional and give us the right balance of advice and support.’

‘Excellent and consistent coverage and quality of service across all disciplines. As would be expected for a firm of this size, not the cheapest but I have a high level of confidence in the service and advice that they provide. In general, I have found it very easy to get on with the staff that have carried out work for us.’

Key clients

Wolseley Group


Tyman plc


Bettys & Taylors Group Limited


Medequip UK


Secure Trust Bank plc


McCormicks

The sports sector expertise at McCormicks is evidenced by the team's frequent work for the Premier League, while the firm’s wider experience was recently showcased in its role acting on behalf of GMI Construction and GMI Construction Holdings in the context of a high-profile investigation launched by the Office of Fair Trading. Football sector expert Peter McCormick and David Birks share leadership duties from the firm’s Harrogate office.

Practice head(s):

Peter McCormick; David Birks


Key clients

Premier League


GMI Construction Holdings PLC


GMI Construction Group PLC


Andrew Hindle, Serving Sport Ltd and Venue Hospitality Ltd


Leeds United Football Club


Analytix Ltd


Work highlights


  • Represented GMI Construction Holdings PLC and GMI Construction Group PLC in a successful appeal against penalties imposed by the OFT, totalling £2.7 million, in an investigation related to bid rigging.
  • Represented the Premier League in an abitration brought by Leyton Orient.
  • Represented the Premier League as interveners in a case brought by HMRC to challenge the so-called Football Creditor Rules regime.

Mills & Reeve LLP

Mills & Reeve LLP, praised for its ‘strong understanding of the competition sphere in the UK, Europe and beyond’, offers a broad range of advisory services encompassing M&A work, including phase 1 and in-depth phase 2 merger inquiries, joint ventures, and abuse of dominance mandates. In Leeds, practice chair Kate Newman is lauded for her strong and effective strategic advice’.

Practice head(s):

Kate Newman


Other key lawyers:

Simon Elsegood; Nicola Holmes


Testimonials

‘Clear and commercial advice. They get straight to the point and answer the question upfront whilst also setting out the technical legal analysis. ’

‘Kate Newman has exceptional experience. She is a dedicated EU/Competition lawyer who provides strong specialist expertise. Clear advice, intelligible to business clients.’

‘We moved to Mills & Reeve with Nicola Holmes who has been our antitrust adviser for some good few years now. She’s approachable, helpful, clear and concise and understands the sector in which we work very well.’

‘Strong understanding of competition sphere in the UK, Europe and beyond. Ability to determine appropriate filings and make recommendations on how to increase probability of success.’

‘Kate Newman was comprehensive, thorough, but also able to respond to our needs and desired approach. Engaged with regulators in an effective manner, and developed and implemented successful strategies. Very strong and effective strategic advice from both Kate Newman and Simon Elsegood, both in the UK and multiple other jurisdictions. Also very cost effective for competition law matters.’

‘The small but superb band of competition lawyers at Mills & Reeve provide top notch advice.’

‘Kate Newman boasts impressive credentials and expertise.’

Key clients

Helly Hansen


Mitsubishi Electric Europe


Tyman plc


Richardson International Limited


Illumina


ODEON Cinema Group


F-star Therapeutics


HELM AG


Sodexo SA


Greene King


Boohoo Group plc


Work highlights


  • Advising Richardson International Limited on all the competition aspects of its acquisition of Anglian Malt Holdings; a transaction which saw Richardson entering the malting sector.
  • Advising Helly Hansen on all aspects of the brand’s commercial strategy and distribution arrangements, nationally and internationally.
  • Advising HELM AG on the acquisition of its remaining stake in LevertonHELM.