Competition Law

Brian Kennelly KC has a superb reputation for his skill in handling competition damages actions. He has experience on both the defendant and claimant side of several of the most important cartel damages cases ongoing in the UK courts, and further earns praise for his advice on a wider range of regulatory or public law cases. Kennelly advises a diverse array of clients including those from the financial services and automotive sectors.

"He is an incredibly smooth advocate and he is able to articulate complex points in a way that is clear and has gravitas."

"He is just brilliant and he is the loveliest person to deal with, so when you have that combination, it's fantastic."

"He is extremely pragmatic, strategic and has great client skills."

"He is phenomenally hard-working and accessible. He is a tremendous advocate, charming and has a very smooth style."

"He is completely unflappable in court, unfazed by the opposition and able to demonstrate a calm demeanour. He is very polished."

Emily Neill is a go-to junior for regulatory authorities in defending challenges to decisions. She also has notable experience acting on both the claimant and defendant side of competition damages claims.

"Clients adore her straightforward and logical approach. Emily has the rare gift of being able to unravel complex issues and explain the options in a very user-friendly way."

"She is seriously impressive. Emily is very user-friendly, quick to grasp issues and is brilliant at handling fast-paced issues."

"Emily is absolutely a leader in the field. She understands that which is hugely important for clients, is highly intelligent and really understands regulation and subsidy control."

"Emily is a pleasure to work with and a smart lawyer with a good sense of where her clients' interests lie in a fast-moving tribunal environment."

Kieron Beal KC is well known for his work on state aid and subsidy control matters, acting for challengers, recipients and interested parties. He also has notable experience in behavioural litigation, advising claimants and defendants on damages claims.

"He is very effective, very good and also entrepreneurial. He gets involved in building cases."

"He is brilliant, very user-friendly and sensitive to client pressure. He is all over detail and reads in. The client absolutely loves him and I think we are in a safe pair of hands."

"He is just a superb combination across the board. He is totally on it but also strategic, he's got really good rapport with the Bench, he is a good oral advocate and excellent at client-handling."

Paul Luckhurst has demonstrated impressive strength in competition litigation in the financial services sector. He has notable experience acting on both sides of collective action cases and follow-on damages claims.

"He is exceptionally bright, attentive to detail and a real pleasure to work with."

"He is all over the detail and provides extremely good advice. He is pragmatic and proactive."

"Paul is incredibly talented. He is extremely responsive, clear and practical. I have found him a pleasure to work with."

Hanif Mussa KC is instructed in a range of commercial damages and regulatory cases. He acts for the EC and for Ofcom in the defence of regulatory appeals brought to the CJEU, the CAT or the Court of Appeal, and further acts for private sector appellants.

"He is an excellent advocate, very clear and very easy to work with."

"I thought he was excellent, very approachable, intelligent and willing to listen."

"He is superb. He is totally forensic in going through the evidence and does withering cross-examination. He is just one of the most straightforward and brilliant people but wears it very lightly."

James Segan KC assists clients from the telecommunications and sporting industries with competition law issues, often involving allegations of abuse of dominance. He is also active in the interface between competition law and IP law, handling cases concerning the FRAND licensing of standard-essential patents.

"He gives pragmatic advice and writes it in a way that it can be given to clients directly and is easily consumed by non-lawyers."

Jason Pobjoy has a broad competition law practice and is praised for his expert handling of private cartel damages claims, frequently advising the defendants. He also assists clients with CMA investigations. Pobjoy has played a key role in the defence of cartel damages claims on behalf of truck manufacturers and financial services sector companies.

"Jason Pobjoy shows great strategic and lateral thinking. He has excellent client-handling skills."

"Jason is an absolute star performer in the context of competition litigation."

Jessica Boyd KC has experience on both the regulator and appellant side of competition law-based reviews of Ofcom decisions. She also stands out for her work on CJEU appeals of cartel decisions made by the EC.

"I think she is just an ultimate professional, very clever, pragmatic and nice to work with. She is ferociously clever."

"Jess is a pleasure to work with. Her formidable knowledge and experience are delivered in an unassuming manner and we are left in no doubt that we have an expert pair of hands at the wheel."

Thomas de la Mare KC is viewed as a strong choice for collective proceedings orders. He also represents clients in competition infringement investigations, including possible breaches of undertakings in merger control filings.

"Thomas de la Mare is very clever and creative."

"He is at the top of his game; he has a capacity to think in other ways that other barristers don't when it comes to litigation strategy. He serves our clients very well."

Isabel Buchanan has amassed a notable body of experience in competition law, particularly through her involvement in the Interchange Fees litigation.

"Isabel's attention to detail is second to none. She stays laser-focused on the issues which are important. She is user-friendly and understands client management well."

"She is bright, commercial and easy to work with."

Tom Coates has an impressive competition law practice covering abuse of dominance and a variety of other matters. He is experienced in standalone claims, CMA appeals and follow-on claims, including collective actions.

"Tom Coates is someone who makes himself available and is very personable, so it's enjoyable to work with him. He is thoughtful and his written work is also very good, clear and easy to understand."

"Tom is fantastic. He's a silent assassin. He's very clever and is masterful on competition cases. He's our go-to barrister."

Tristan Jones KC has advised on the claimant side of key cases that test UK law on the certification of collective proceedings and has amassed additional experience representing plaintiffs in follow-on claims, as well as acting for the CMA on appeals against its decisions.

"Tristan Jones is fantastic."

"He is one of the best competition barristers that I've worked with."