Competition Law
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 3
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+44 20 7831 9222About
Provided by Macfarlanes LLP
Please visit the Macfarlanes website for more information about our work in this category: https://www.macfarlanes.com/what-we-do/services/competitionantitrust/
Chambers Review
Macfarlanes assists clients with both contentious and non-contentious competition law matters. The law firm has notable recent experience defending clients in high-profile follow-on damages claims, including class actions, as well as assisting them with challenges to authority decisions. On the non-contentious side, the team has experience in phase I and II merger reviews before the CMA and in behavioural investigations. Team members also act on subsidy control mandates and advise on whether companies can collaborate on sustainability grounds without breaching competition law.
Work Highlights
- Macfarlanes represented the PGA European Tour in dismissing 12 appeals in relation to anti-competitive behaviour from pro-golfers against sanctions imposed on them.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Macfarlanes has provided invaluable support."
"It is undoubtedly a law firm that punches well above its weight, always functioning as a team with sensitivity and a focus on the client."
"I cannot speak highly enough of their legal, strategic, drafting and communication skills."
"The team is always thinking, adapting and responding to events in real time and, in my assessment, has demonstrated unfailing judgement."
"Macfarlanes goes above and beyond for its clients."
"Macfarlanes has provided invaluable support."
"It is undoubtedly a law firm that punches well above its weight, always functioning as a team with sensitivity and a focus on the client."
"I cannot speak highly enough of their legal, strategic, drafting and communication skills."
"The team is always thinking, adapting and responding to events in real time and, in my assessment, has demonstrated unfailing judgement."
"Macfarlanes goes above and beyond for its clients."
Notable Practitioners
Tom Usher has notable experience in merger clearance mandates, including both phase I and II investigations. He often assists clients with competition compliance matters.
"We will be forever grateful to him."
"Tom Usher is an extremely capable, well-respected practitioner."
Cameron Firth offers notable activity in competition litigation, including defending clients in high-profile follow-on damages cases and advising on challenges to CMA decisions before the CAT. He is particularly popular with clients from the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors. He also assists clients with merger clearance and competition compliance matters.
"Cameron Firth is a real brain. He has great knowledge and is able to apply that knowledge to our circumstances and speak the client's language."
"I found him to be a huge pleasure to work with. He knows when to get involved and when to step back. He is supportive of his team and, it goes without saying, he is knowledgeable of the sector."
"Cameron Firth is very good at strategy and has detailed knowledge of the law."
"He is always several steps ahead and is very good at predicting and dealing with issues before they arise."
"He is just extremely experienced and user-friendly."
Malcolm Walton often assists clients with obtaining merger clearance before the CMA, frequently acting on behalf of private equity houses and other investors. He also advises clients on behavioural investigations before both UK and European authorities. Walton has experience acting on a number of competition law matters in the sports sector and further assists with subsidy control matters and sustainability issues.
"I have a lot of time for him; he is very helpful and knowledgeable."
"Malcolm Walton is very strong both strategically and tactically."
"Malcolm Walton gives very sound and commercial advice to provide the business with practical solutions."
"Malcolm Walton is a very good lawyer who is pragmatic, knows the law and comes up with pragmatic solutions."
"He makes sure we achieve everyone's objectives and he is creative and solution-oriented."
Ranked Lawyers at
Macfarlanes LLP
London (Firms)