‘Developing a best-in-class competition practice’, One Essex Court is an increasingly prominent set in large cases of competition litigation. Conall Patton KC has represented the defendant in Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation v Cooperative Rabobank UA, a matter concerning accusations of unlawful collusion between financial institutions concerning LIBOR, in a number of CMCs. Matthew Cook KC and Sonia Tolaney KC have both been recently instructed by Mastercard on a number of high-value and prominent CAT proceedings, integrating existing practices in banking and commercial litigation. At the junior level, Derek Spitz acted for the class representative in the Le Patourel v BT case, and the ’sensible, pragmatic, fiercely intelligent’ Oscar Schonfeld is currently instructed by prominent defendants in the long-running trucks litigation, which is due to have further trials in 2026.
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Profile
Position
Derek Spitz is a leading junior who specialises in commercial litigation, competition, with particular expertise in individual and collective private actions for damages, and international arbitration, regularly representing clients from a range of industries including aerospace, banking and finance, oil and gas, mining, pharmaceutical, retail, tech and telecommunications.
With substantial experience in heavy and complex, high value claims, Derek regularly appears as sole counsel, leading counsel or as part of a larger team in proceedings before the CAT, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, as well as in arbitrations under UNCTIRAL, LCIA, ICC and AFSA Rules.
Ranked in Chambers UK and the Legal 500 continuously, for several years, in the fields of Commercial Litigation and Competition Law, before being called to the English Bar Derek was a leading junior at the Johannesburg Bar where he continues to be a member with expertise in South African law.
Recent work includes appearing in Le Patourel v BT on behalf 2.3 million BT customers in the high profile £1bn+ collective proceedings; Interchange – representing various claimants in numerous proceedings including Sainsbury’s (High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court); Ocado (CAT) and on behalf of Merchants in the multi-billion collective proceedings lawsuits “the Commercial Card Claims” (CAT); and Stellantis v Autoliv on behalf of the Defendants in a substantial stand-alone claim concerning alleged cartel conduct.
Career
Called to the English Bar in 2001, Lincoln’s Inn; practised as an advocate in commercial, competition and public law at the Johannesburg Bar.
Memberships
COMBAR
Education
University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (BA Hons, LLB); Columbia University, New York (JD); Cornell University, Ithaca (MA).
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Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'The clerks room are the best in London. Adam Wheeler and Jackie Ginty are composite professionals.'
- 'Adam Wheeler works hard for his charges. He is responsive and competent.'
- 'Very good clerking.'
- 'One Essex Court are developing a best-in-class competition practice'
- 'It's a good set - a few good competition barristers, plenty of good commercial barristers.'
- 'They are growing, and taking on very good juniors.'