About

Provided by Ashurst

Our team is highly experienced across the full suite of competition law issues including advising on merger control (including multi-jurisdictional filings), cartels/anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance, market/sector investigations, competition litigation, consumer law, state aid, public procurement, foreign direct investment and trade law, together with sector-specific regulation across a range of regulated industries. We advise clients globally and we deal with the European Commission and European courts on a daily basis, as well as the regulatory authorities in numerous jurisdictions around the world.


Regulation is of increasing importance as authorities seek to regulate competition and enforce antitrust rules. Companies increasingly face the risk that their industry will be closely scrutinised. We have advised in relation to a number of market studies and market investigations carried out by the European Commission and national competition authorities. Our team has expertise in dealing with sector regulators and has wide experience of advising on cases involving parallel antitrust and regulatory review processes.


We have broad experience in the rapidly evolving area of foreign investment. We regularly manage FDI analysis and processes on deals across multiple jurisdictions, assessing the sensitivities of the activities at stake, ensuring filings are executed in a coordinated and consistent manner. 

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Competition Law: Litigation - London (Firms)

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

Ashurst often assists clients with obtaining clearance from the CMA for mergers at both phase I and II, as well as advising on issues under the National Security and Investment Act. The law firm also advises on behavioural investigations and market inquiries carried out by UK authorities. The team offers further experience in follow-on damages litigation as well as handling high-profile CAT and CJEU appeals against fines. Team members also act for clients on state aid matters under the UK's subsidy control regime.

Work Highlights

  • Ashurst advised 2Agriculture in both Phase I and Phase II of a CMA investigation into an acquisition by ForFarmers of two animal feed mills owned by the client.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Nigel Parr
1
Nigel Parr
1
Band 1

Nigel Parr is well regarded for his ability to handle the competition law aspects of corporate transactions, assisting clients with obtaining consent under the NSIA and advising them on phase II merger clearance reviews before the CMA. He also has a strong focus on representing clients in CMA and FCA market studies, as well as offering notable experience in appeals against authority decisions. He chairs the firm's Global competition practice.

Nigel Parr is extremely intelligent, extremely calm and is very good at explaining very complex matters in a way that I can understand them.

He is outstanding and is probably the most experienced competition lawyer in the UK. He has a great manner and sophistication with the regulators while being an easy person to deal with as a client.

I liked working with Nigel Parr; he is the best. He is an excellent and first-class individual.

He's an excellent UK lawyer; he knows everything about everything in UK.

Nigel Parr is knowledgeable, practical, and has a global perspective.

Anna Morfey
3
Anna Morfey
3
Band 3

Anna Morfey of Ashurst has experience assisting with class actions for both defendants and claimants. She is particularly active in the TMT and financial services sectors.

She combines great litigation nous with huge experience of competition law. She is completely up-to-date with all of the developments in the area and a great team leader.

Anna Morfey inspires great confidence from clients as she is good tactician.

Anna Morfey has huge experience on both sides of the fence. She knows the tactics on both sides and is brilliant at foreseeing those.

Duncan Liddell
4
Duncan Liddell
Head of Competition Law
4
Band 4

Duncan Liddell has a strong focus on assisting clients from the financial services sector on behavioural matters, including market studies, CMA investigations and subsequent appeals.

Neil Cuninghame
5
Neil Cuninghame
5
Band 5

Neil Cuninghame often assists clients with obtaining clearance for transactions from the CMA and under the NSIA. He has further experience in subsidy control matters.

Neil Cuninghame has an amazing eye for detail and is immensely thorough. He delivers a great overall service.

Ranked Lawyers at
Ashurst

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

London (Firms)

Competition Law

Nigel Parr
1
Nigel Parr
1
Band 1
Duncan Liddell
4
Duncan Liddell
Head of Competition Law
4
Band 4
Neil Cuninghame
5
Neil Cuninghame
5
Band 5
Competition Law: Litigation

Anna Morfey
3
Anna Morfey
3
Band 3
Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant

Anna Morfey
3
Anna Morfey
3
Band 3

Members

Provided by Ashurst