Competition Law

Monckton Chambers is renowned for its superb ability in complex competition law mandates across a breadth of key areas. Members regularly appear before the CAT, the UK appellate courts and the European Court of Justice, representing clients on both sides of infringement decision appeals and follow-on damages claims, as well as a number of high-profile collective action proceedings. The set also stands out for the frequency with which its members represent major parties in disputed merger proceedings. Members further advise key UK public bodies, including acting as standing counsel to regulators, and defending both UK and European competition authorities in disputed cartel investigations. The set has seen members active in many of the leading cases – a key example being acting for a number of claimants and defendants on various related claims for damages resulting from an international cartel in the price of trucks and that received large fines from the European Commission.

"We see great work from the clerks at all stages."

"The clerking team is always responsive and impressive and seems to play a key role in business development at the chambers, which it does very well."

"Monckton's clerking team has always been highly responsive and has provided excellent service levels."

"The clerks at Monckton are always available and approachable. They have a good understanding of the underlying issues, and are able to give informed recommendations. They are very nice to deal with."

David Hockney leads the team.

Daniel Beard KC
Daniel Beard KC is a highly sought-after silk who earns superb praise for his oral advocacy skills in complex competition cases. He handles diverse matters spanning competition damages claims and appeals against CMA or Ofcom decisions, challenging both fines and decisions in merger filings. "Daniel is loved by clients. He understands their concerns and priorities and can translate that into effective strategy. He is fantastic on his feet - combining a fighter's instinct with incredible mental agility." "I am very impressed with Daniel. He is a brilliant advocate, and is quick-thinking when dealing with the tribunal judge before him. He also has a strong economic mind, and is very much focused on the detail on a technical front." "He is the best competition advocate in the London Bar, the best English competition advocate bar none. He is extremely forceful, effective, brilliant with clients and has good knowledge of the subject matter." "He is an absolute superstar, who knows it all and is a persuasive and extraordinary advocate." "Daniel is incredibly quick, highly strategic, and phenomenal on his feet. He is excellent with clients."

Jon Turner KC
Jon Turner KC enjoys an outstanding reputation for his competition litigation practice. He represents claimants and defendants in market-leading follow-on or stand-alone damages claims, including key cases on behalf of major IT or retail sector clients. He has proven experience in cases heard before the CAT, the UK senior courts or the CJEU. "Jon is absolutely excellent and probably the best at Monckton. He has all the qualities of an excellent advocate, and knows how to handle all kinds of difficult situations in court in the most calm and effective manner I have ever seen." "He is very charming, approachable, and modest. He brings a nice atmosphere to a team of younger advocates, giving them substantial guidance and autonomy, and is perfect both for public authorities and private clients. He simply has it all!" "He is the top KC in this area. He is incredibly clever, very calm and steady and very experienced and user-friendly." "He's one of the best barristers I've ever had the privilege of working with." "John is a very steady pair of hands, experienced, and commercially aware."

Fiona Banks
Fiona Banks represents both claimants and defendants in high-profile cartel and abuse of dominance follow-on damages actions and collective proceedings. "Fiona is exceptionally bright and sees straight to the heart of the matter. Her no-nonsense approach is valuable." "Fiona is one of the best juniors we have worked with. She is incredibly efficient and quickly grasps and identifies the key issues." "Fiona is an excellent senior junior." "Her attention to detail is superb, she is very impressive here. She recalls it well, and does a very clear and good job of writing up arguments."

Josh Holmes KC
Josh Holmes KC has notable experience advising on appeals against EC behavioural fines and merger prohibitions, as well as defending the CMA in challenges to its decisions. He also acts for defendants on high-profile applications for collective proceedings. He is particularly active in matters involving the technology sector. "Josh is at the top of his game. He is exceptionally bright, precise, commercial and client-friendly. He also has a lovely manner with the court." "Josh is a very talented man who grasps very quickly the strong and weak points of any case and is able to react and change tactics on the spot, very effectively." "Josh is excellent, both in writing and on his feet." "He is formidable in terms of his understanding of competition economics and case strategy. He's amazingly efficient at cross-examination." "Josh is a fantastic advocate, who is cool, calm, collected, respectful and thoughtful."

Laura Elizabeth John
Laura Elizabeth John has a strong reputation among instructing solicitors and members of the Bar for her experience in major follow-on and stand-alone damages claims, as well as acting on appeals of CMA decisions. She acts for private and public sector claimants on high-value cases and has clients from a number of sectors, including the pharmaceutical, healthcare and retail sectors. "Laura has a fierce intellect and a compelling advocacy style." "Laura is fantastic; she is very smart, analytical, and a very polished advocate." "Laura John is extremely astute, knows her stuff and is pragmatic, straight to the point and a pleasure to work with."

Mark Brealey KC
Mark Brealey KC is a leading competition law silk who acts for both claimants and defendants on cartel follow-on claims. He has attracted recent attention for his success in overturning CMA decisions on cases in the pharmaceutical sector. "There is nothing that Mark doesn't know about competition law." "Mark is hugely strategic, very user-friendly, and has an encyclopedic knowledge of the law." "He has amazing judgement."

Meredith Pickford KC
Meredith Pickford KC represents important technology sector clients in challenges to competition law decisions before the CJEU, as well as the UK Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. He also defends clients in high-profile cartel follow-on damages cases in the telecommunications and transport sectors. "Meredith was just incredibly impressive in the court. He is compelling and strategic." "Meredith is intellectually very strong, writes well, is a receptive and effective advocate, and can reduce complex issues to straightforward language, so that they are easy to understand, which clients like." "Meredith is operating at the very top of his field. He is vastly experienced, technically excellent and a superb cross-examiner." "His judgement is very good, so he knows when not to pick a fight."

Paul Harris KC
Paul Harris KC is widely regarded as an excellent choice for competition litigation cases, appearing for both claimants and defendants in stand-alone and follow-on claims concerning both abuse of dominance and cartel matters. He also has experience acting on class actions and challenges to regulatory bodies. "Paul is an outstanding leading counsel; he is highly collaborative and collegiate, as well as tactically astute, energetic and great to work with. He is always utterly committed to the cause and is prepared to be tough when called for." "Paul is one of the leading competition barristers. He has great strategic insight and oversight, and is proactive, thoughtful and easy to work with." "He is hugely energetic, really available, gets really stuck in and is really committed to cases." "I really enjoy working with him because of his very clear, easy to understand advocacy."

Rob Williams KC
Rob Williams KC moves into the top tier of the rankings this year. He remains a favourite of the CMA for difficult appeals against decisions in merger control and abuse of dominance matters. He has also represented defendant companies in large-scale damages claims resulting from cartels and abuse of dominance. "Rob is very fast through the material, and is efficient and incisive. He is very impressive; he has a great way with clients, and tells them what they need to hear in a way that they respond well to." "Rob is a pleasure to deal with, and he is a consummate problem solver who is able to combine first-rate legal analysis with a pragmatism that enables him to cut through issues with a rare efficacy." "Rob is incredibly diligent, has a really sharp legal mind, is very good on his feet and prepares very thoroughly." "Rob has demonstrated an enormous attention to detail in the work he does."

Ronit Kreisberger KC
Ronit Kreisberger KC is a sought-after competition silk who frequently represents class representatives in high-profile collective damages actions. She has a particular recent focus on abuse of dominance matters, including before the CAT and often involving the TMT sector. "Her opening submissions at trial were superb and she played a vital role in securing a positive outcome for the client." "Ronit Kreisberger KC's hearing preparation and advocacy is second to none; she can get to grips with the substantive, procedural and commercial aspects of cases very quickly, and can also confidently guide the court or tribunal through issues." "She is a masterful silk to work with." "She is excellent, so bright, sharp and strategic."

Tim Ward KC
Tim Ward KC is sought after for a number of different competition law matters, assisting both claimants and defendants with follow-on damages claims and class action proceedings. He often represents clients in appeals against regulator decisions and judicial reviews. "Tim is an excellent advocate and one of the few specialist leading counsel to combine expertise with a natural aptitude for cross-examination." "Tim prepares in a detailed way, and is very careful and thorough about how he positions arguments. He's prepared and passionate about running arguments." "He is a highly effective, tenacious cross-examiner who focuses on the key issues."

Alan Bates
Alan Bates has a strong track record in representing claimants in allegations of abuse of dominance. He also acts for class representatives and defendants on cartel follow-on damages claims.

Alison Berridge
Alison Berridge attracts instructions from defendants in class actions and from claimants in follow-on damages cases. She also represents appellants and interested third parties in high-profile challenges to CMA decisions. She additionally represents clients in CMA investigations and is well regarded by interviewees for her work on merger clearance matters. "She is an excellent advocate and very good with clients." "She is a master of detail in terms of the law and economics, and she is easy to get along with." "She provided consistently insightful advice in a concise manner."

Anneli Howard KC
Anneli Howard KC is often chosen to work for either the claimants or interveners in important follow-on class actions or stand-alone damages claims. She has recent experience in a number of high-profile cases in the technology sector. "Anneli is great to work with; she sets direction but is also a real team player in getting things done. She adds real value through her strategic thinking and approach." "Anneli has a fantastic knowledge of competition law, and is incredibly hard-working and client-friendly."

Anneliese Blackwood
Anneliese Blackwood moves up in the rankings on the back of her activity for both claimants and defendants in high-profile collective proceedings, including acting on Merricks v Mastercard. She has recently been advising on a number of matters in the transport sector. "Anneliese is thoughtful, with a 360-degree view of the issues on a case. She is astute, drafts beautifully and is also a very good advocate. She works seamlessly with instructing solicitor teams in an impressive manner." "She is very methodical, steady, logical, and well ordered."

Ben Rayment
Ben Rayment acts for defendants on high-profile follow-on damages claims and class actions. He also has experience advising clients on challenges to CMA decisions in abuse of dominance investigations. "Ben Rayment is a charming and pleasant barrister to deal with. He adapted well to representing us and understood our internal workings well." "He is measured and unflappable, and his written work is strong."

Daisy Mackersie
Daisy Mackersie moves up in the rankings on the back of her experience defending the CMA against high-profile appeals of its decisions. She also acts for defendants on large-scale follow-on damages claims and represents complainants in possible abuse of dominance cases. "Daisy is calm, confident, and has ferocious analytical skills. Her ability to understand and stress-test the most complex economic and econometric analysis is remarkable." "Daisy is a pleasure to instruct. She has a really good client manner and an insightful legal mind, and is really good at delivering difficult messages to clients." "She has great judgement and drafts really well." "Daisy is seriously smart and strategic, super responsive and absolutely excellent with clients."

George Peretz KC
George Peretz KC has a broad EU and competition law practice that focuses on challenges to authority decisions, acting both for the appellants and the authorities on disputes around state aid, abuse of dominance, market sharing and information exchange. "George is an excellent conceptualiser, who is able to translate abstract notions into more concrete concepts and explain them in an easily understandable way, which he delivers with a lot of eloquence. He is an excellent advocate and very well fitted to working with public sector clients." "George is excellent, both in writing and on his feet."

James Bourke
James Bourke is an in-demand barrister who often acts for defendants on cartel follow-on damages claims in the transport sector. He has further experience acting for class representatives on proposed collective actions and assisting clients with appeals against European Commission decisions. "He is able to transform arguments from bad and mediocre to outstanding, and he's very good at anticipating and preparing the response." "James is incredibly hard-working and a pleasure to work with. He is able to work seamlessly as part of a larger team with clients, solicitors and other stakeholders to produce fantastic results." "James is very smart and a pleasure to work with."

Julian Gregory
Julian Gregory offers a broad competition law practice, advising class representatives in collective damages proceedings, judicial reviews under subsidy control regulations and appeals against decisions in merger control cases. "Julian has a great eye for detail, and really uncovers and works through problems and issues." "His legal knowledge, understanding and way of looking at potential areas of work are excellent too." "Julian is very easy to work with and extremely smart."

Julianne Morrison
Julianne Morrison offers notable experience defending CMA decisions against appeals, as well as acting for other regulators on challenges to their decisions. She also acts on disputes concerning allegations of abuse of dominance in the technology sector. "I think Julianne is a fabulous barrister, and she has lots of strengths - she is strategic, practical and analytically very strong. Her advocacy is very clear and easy to follow, she is really good in court and pleasant to work with. She is a great asset to the team." "Julianne is willing to get stuck into understanding the detail and what we are doing, and she presents information in a way that is understandable for people who aren't steeped in it. She is very skilled at explaining this in a way that the judge can understand."

Kassie Smith KC
Kassie Smith KC is particularly active in abuse of dominance disputes arising from FRAND licences. She also represents claimants in disputes concerning possible cartels in the financial services sector. "I have seen Kassie on her feet a lot, and she is very calm and reasoned. She is pleasant to deal with, and is willing to get her hands dirty and do the work." "Kassie is a delight to work with. She is bright, pragmatic, not too theoretical, and practical in application. She works well in a team and is a good advocate." "She was brilliant on her feet when I saw her, really impressive as an advocate."

Ligia Osepciu
Ligia Osepciu is a highly regarded competition law barrister who has copious experience acting for claimants on damages claims. She has also developed strong expertise in contentious state aid matters and the overlap between intellectual property matters and competition law. "Ligia has a detailed knowledge of economic evidence in competition cases. She is able to understand the issues very quickly and is highly effective at economic arguments." "Ligia Osepciu is easy to work with and a real team player."

Michael Armitage
Michael Armitage attracts attention for his contributions to follow-on and stand-alone damages claims, as well as collective proceedings. He predominantly acts for defendants, but does also have experience advising class representatives. He also has experience defending the CMA in appeals against its decisions. He rises in the rankings this year on the back of impressive activity in matters in the transport and technology sectors. "Michael is excellent to work with, collaborative, and collegiate." "We have been very impressed by his advocacy, written work, and advice and work on strategy."

Nikolaus Grubeck
Nikolaus Grubeck is well regarded for advising class representatives on collective proceedings and for advising defendants on potential claims of abuse of dominance, often in the technology sector. He has notable experience defending the CMA and other regulatory bodies in competition law challenges to their decisions. "Nikolaus is extremely strong on technical legal issues, and is very thoughtful." "He's very strong on the legal aspects but also on the substantive aspects of the case, understanding the position of the competition authorities. He is also very good to deal with, very client-friendly, and engaging. He's also been extremely productive, always churning out fantastic advice." "Nikolaus genuinely cares about making a difference and will always make the time to talk. He has some brilliant ideas."

Philip Moser KC
Philip Moser KC acts for both claimants and defendants in cartel damages claims, including class actions, follow-on claims and stand-alone proceedings. His recent activity has included a number of cases in the transport sector. "Philip Moser is very clever and engaged, and he is impressive when looking at things from a commercial perspective. He really sorts things through from his perspective for the client, and he is a masterful diplomat." "He is also very strong at being the mediator of group."

Alexandra Littlewood
Alexandra Littlewood rises in the rankings on the back of her experience acting for both class representatives and defendants in high-profile collective actions. She also has experience in damages claims following cartel investigations. "Alexandra is enthusiastic, helpful, always keen to get involved and a pleasure to work with." "Alexandra is precise, hard-working, and helpful."

David Gregory
David Gregory is an emerging competition-focused barrister who has attracted acclaim for his work in various high-profile claims and appeals. He tends to represent defendant companies in matters concerning claims for damages arising from cartel and abuse of dominance investigations. He also has experience acting for clients on appeals against European Commission decisions. "David is a supremely gifted junior who is both a master strategist and a fearsomely brilliant technical lawyer. He also happens to be an absolute pleasure to work with." "David is a superstar and a class act. He is extremely detail-orientated and very user-friendly." "He is a good team player with excellent drafting skills, which is exactly what you want in someone of his level."

Jack Williams
Jack Williams has been selected to represent an enviable line-up of clients from the global technology sector in competition cases. He has notable experience of appeals against CMA decisions, and damages claims, including follow-on proceedings and collective actions. "Jack is an attentive, thoughtful, and user-friendly junior counsel. He is a pleasure to work with." "Jack is an impressive operator in the field of competition litigation, including collective proceedings. He is tenacious and has tremendous energy. He navigates what are often highly complex and technical issues with great ease."

Ciar McAndrew
Ciar McAndrew has a very strong profile in follow-on and stand alone competition claims, and her experience in the field includes work in a number of collective actions. She also advises clients on challenges to regulator decisions. "Ciar is excellent and delivers a top-rate service. Her technical ability is consistently impressive, as is her written advocacy. Ciar is an integral member of the defence team and is amassing considerable technical knowledge of all aspects of competition litigation, including collective proceedings." "Ciar was an excellent junior on the case and provided brilliant support throughout. She is hands on, proactive, and responsive, and I couldn't recommend her highly enough."

Ben Lask
New silk Ben Lask defends competition regulators in CAT or CJEU appeals against their decisions and assists them as interveners with other competition cases. He has recent experience in cases relating to blocked mergers and abuse of dominance cases. "Ben is an excellent team player who listens to and challenges views in a productive way. He is well prepared and gets into the detail, and will take on an argument in court with real determination."

Philip Woolfe KC
Philip Woolfe KC acts in follow-on damages claims on behalf of both claimants and defendants, including major claims in the pharmaceutical and automotive sectors. "Philip is an outstanding senior junior capable of leading even the most difficult cases and winning against the odds." "He is a real team player, extremely intelligent and knows the law backwards, which is great with competition law."