Competition Law

Thomas Cassels is well regarded for defending clients in competition damages claims, including acting in high-profile collective action proceedings. He also represents clients in challenges to CMA decisions and applications to strike out damages claims. He acts as the head of the firm's competition litigation practice.

"Thomas Cassels is highly sophisticated, thoughtful, considered, commercially astute and vastly experienced. He is at the top of the premier league in his field and his quality shines through."

"Thomas Cassels is an outstanding partner who is probably one of the top antitrust lawyers in the UK. He is always available when we need him and his opinions and advice are superb."

"He is up there with the greats. He has probably more experience of competition litigation than anyone else in the field, has absolutely impeccable judgement and is always there with the wisest advice."

"Thomas Cassels is a hugely experienced litigator and very effective at boiling down issues to the key logical points of an argument."

"His calm and thoughtful approach to even the most challenging cases ensures the best possible outcome for the client."

Bruce Kilpatrick represents clients in CMA investigations into potential breaches of competition law and in phase II merger clearance reviews. He also has experience advising on market studies, approval under the NSIA and appeals before the CAT. He joined Linklaters towards the end of 2023.

"His client management was impeccable."

"He is a nice person to have on a case. He thinks things through methodically and carefully without getting drawn into the emotions of the case. He is just very experienced."

"He is a genuinely lovely person who is also very bright, gets things and is easy to work with. I cannot say enough good things."

"I think he is excellent."

"Bruce Kilpatrick is an excellent competition lawyer."

Sarina Williams defends clients in high-profile class actions before the CAT. She often acts on damages claims arising from investigations into possible abuses of dominance and appeals of CMA decisions.

"Sarina Williams provides the highest levels of responsiveness, thoughtfulness, sophistication and quality work, and is an absolute pleasure to work with."

"Sarina Williams is very good. She is thorough, thoughtful and strategic."

"Sarina Williams is highly strategic in the management and vision of the case. No one works harder than Sarina to secure the best possible outcome."

"She has encyclopedic knowledge of the competition world. She will come to you with a view that is completely spot-on."

"She has powerful leadership skills, is cool in every crisis and is highly astute strategically. She is a litigator to her bones."

Natura Gracia demonstrates impressive work in advising on CMA merger reviews. In addition, she has notable experience in investigations into possible anti-competitive conduct and assists clients with the UK's new subsidy control regime. She often acts on matters involving the providers of natural resources.

"Natura Gracia is quick to grasp complex issues. She delivers advice in a timely and pragmatic manner that is suitably tailored to the business requirements and audience."

"She is very strong and commercial with deep expertise in the sector, giving her the ability to anticipate issues in difficult strategic decisions. She is very easy to deal with and responsive."

"Natura Gracia is a very impressive lawyer who has provided us with invaluable advice on a range of highly complex and entirely novel legal issues."

"She is incredibly into the details and very good."

"She is such a lovely person who is just incredibly easy to work with and good fun."

Anna Mitchell stands out for her work assisting clients, often from the telecommunications sector, with merger clearance and foreign direct investment filings. She is adept at handling matters with cross-border elements.

"She is attentive to our needs."

"I really like her. She is very relatable, gets things done and is pragmatic."

"She is very easy to work with, down to earth and assertive when she needs to be."

"Anna Mitchell is very knowledgeable."