With a strong reputation for acting on both sides of high-profile procurement disputes, Keating Chambers’ members are also regularly instructed by government bodies on an advisory basis. Leading James Frampton, Sarah Hannaford KC acted for Unipart Group Limited in a £4.4bn procurement contract challenge for a logistics partner which carries out procurement of medical suppliers for the NHS. Rhodri Williams KC led Tom Walker in representing Robert Heath Heating Ltd in a claim for breach of duty regarding the award of a contract for domestic heating services. Whilst Simon Taylor acted in Excelerate Technology Limited v West Midlands Ambulance Service HSFT and NHS England on a complex application for disclosure guidance.
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Profile
Position
Simon Taylor is a competition and procurement specialist, recommended in Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners as a leading junior in public procurement. He returned to the Bar in 2012 after 20 years of practising as an EU and competition lawyer, including 7 years as a partner in a leading firm of solicitors and 5 years in Brussels.
He has a busy contentious practise, acting both for bidders and buyers in public procurement disputes and also provides strategic advice on the conduct of tenders.
He advises companies, utilities and public bodies on competition, state aid and regulatory issues arising from disputes, transactions such as mergers or joint ventures and commercial agreements or conduct. He has specific expertise in regulated sectors such as healthcare, communications, rail and water.
Career
Called 1987; pupillage 2 Temple Gardens 1987-88; associate Squire Sanders & Dempsey (Brussels) 1990-92; Norton Rose (Brussels) 1992-96; regulatory counsel Cable & Wireless Communications 1996-2000; solicitor 1999; associate Allen & Overy 2000-04; antitrust partner Wragge & Co 2004-11; Keating Chambers 2012.
Languages
French (fluent)
Spanish (conversational)
Spanish (conversational)
Memberships
Procurement Lawyers Association
Royal Society of Arts
Society of Labour Lawyers
Association of London Welsh Lawyers
Education
Magdalen College, University of Oxford (1986 BA Hons jurisprudence); Université Libre de Bruxelles (1990 Licence Spéciale en droit communautaire in French grande distinction).
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