Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant

Mishcon de Reya has an established presence in contentious competition work with experience handling significant cartel and abuse of dominance damages claims. The firm attracts particular attention for work on behalf of major retailers seeking to benefit from EC decisions. It assists clients from the technology and gambling industries, in addition to acting for class representatives on opt-out collective proceedings.

"It is a very efficient outfit that has had some very good results."

"The quality of the work has been excellent."

"The lawyers were really good at communicating and not overloading us; they were really friendly and approachable."

"The team is strong on technical issues and knows the clients' markets."

Mishcon de Reya acted for Justin Le Patourel as the class representative on a collective proceedings damages action against BT for alleged abuse of dominance.

Sarah Houghton represents claimants in high-profile damages actions concerning alleged abuses of dominance or cartel involvement. She has notable experience advising class representatives in mass damages actions and has a number of clients from the retail sector. She is the head of Mishcon de Reya's competition department. "She has very good client-handling skills, good tactical awareness, and is able to handle multiple workstreams." "I think it's her energy and tenacity that stand out. She has a really astute tactical sense of the case and how it will develop." "She is a meticulous planner and strategist who is highly knowledgeable on the law."

Ben Lasserson enters the rankings this year following impressive activity in damages claims before the High Court concerning possible abuses of dominance in the technology sector. He has additional experience advising class representatives in proposed collective action proceedings. "He has very good judgement and can work out what will or won't work. He has enough of the intellectual in him that he can spot what should be argued." "Ben Lasserson is very commercial and very easy to get along with." "I feel very secure in his hands and I would trust him to resolve any issues we have going forward."