Displaying ‘outstanding technical strength’, Freshfields supports a wide array of international clients in their contentious competition matters, including in the recent trend of competition disputes in the tech sector. The firm handles cartel-related follow-on proceedings as well as opt-out class action defence matters brought on behalf of consumers. Its members regularly appear before the CAT and are experienced before the Court of Appeal and in challenges to European Commission decisions. ’An intellectual giant’, Bea Tormey manages the practice and assists clients in class certification applications as well as cartel claims across Europe. Mark Sansom is an experienced defence adviser in collective proceedings across sectors. Nicholas Frey acts in stand-alone abuse of dominance claims and in tech class actions. Deba Das advises on Court of Appeal classification cases and appeals before the European Court of Justice. Ramya Arnold and Jessica Steele were made partners in May 2025.
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Key clients
- Mastercard Incorporated
- AB Volvo
- BT Group Plc
- The Go-Ahead Group Limited
- Grieg Seafood ASA
- Manchester City Football Club
- Meta Platforms, Inc.
- Noble Foods Group Limited
- Roadget Business Pte. Ltd.
- Yorkshire Water Services Limited
- International Tennis Integrity Agency
- Continental Teves UK Ltd
Work highlights
Acted for Mastercard in the UK’s largest opt-out antitrust class action and parallel interchange fee group litigation brought by thousands of merchants.
Successfully represented LSER and GTR in the boundary fares collective action, securing a unanimous ruling of no abuse of dominance.
Successfully represented UK water companies in resisting certification of an opt-out consumer class action.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Mark Sansom
Practice head
Bea Tormey
Other key lawyers
William Robinson; Nicholas Frey; Deba Das; Ricky Versteeg; Alexandra Holroyd; Mark Sansom