Competition Law
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7638 1111About
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
Ashurst often assists clients with obtaining clearance from the CMA for mergers, 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 new subsidy control regime.
Work Highlights
- Ashurst advised Morrisons on the CMA's merger inquiry into its GBP190 million completed acquisition of McColl's, in addition to market studies into the groceries sector and the supply of road fuel.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Ashurst has a wide spectrum of specialism with sufficient depth and experience."
"The lawyers are always working very hard and are dedicated to the project."
"Ashurst is a great firm for complex, novel problems, so it is a go-to adviser."
"Ashurst is really invested in the relationship with the client. We have a trusted relationship."
"The advice is practical and trustworthy."
"Ashurst has a wide spectrum of specialism with sufficient depth and experience."
"The lawyers are always working very hard and are dedicated to the project."
"Ashurst is a great firm for complex, novel problems, so it is a go-to adviser."
"Ashurst is really invested in the relationship with the client. We have a trusted relationship."
"The advice is practical and trustworthy."
Notable Practitioners
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 I 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 competition practice.
"Nigel Parr is a well-rounded and practical lawyer."
"Nigel Parr is very good to deal with."
"Nigel Parr is a renowned source of information on the merger control side."
"Nigel Parr has been at the top for a long time and there is no sign of that abating. He has outstanding experience which is very helpful."
Anna Morfey of Ashurst has experience acting on claims in the transport, energy and technology sectors, assisting with opt-out collective claims and class actions for both defendants and claimants. Her practice also encompasses anti-competitive investigations and market studies.
"Anna Morfey is fantastic; she has a great practice and is very experienced."
"She is very calm, unflappable and hard-working. She makes herself available and has done a good job for us."
"Anna Morfey is a good strategic partner and knows the ins and outs like the back of her hand."
"I thought she was absolutely fantastic."
Euan Burrows has a wide-ranging competition law practice that includes advising clients on subsidy control matters and market inquiries. In addition, he acts for claimants in cartel follow-on damages litigation and defends clients in investigations into possible cartel involvement. He is the global head of the competition team.
"Euan Burrows is very knowledgeable and delivers practical and balanced advice."
"He can bring strategic problems to life and show how we are going to solve them."
"He is just very considerate and good at looking out for me in my role."
"Euan Burrows works hard to make sure he understands the client's perspective and business."
"He makes sure the work he does is in the right context and he has an understanding of business."
Duncan Liddell has a broad competition law practice. He often acts for clients on merger clearance mandates, including phase II reviews, in addition to advising them on sector inquiries and investigations into possible anti-competitive behaviour. He has further experience assisting clients with appeals against authority decisions, including before the GCEU.
"Duncan Liddell has excellent experience across mergers and cartels so he is very much an all-rounder."
"Duncan Liddell is a pretty solid, good practitioner."
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 is always responsive."
"Neil Cuninghame provides very thorough and detailed assessments of all the advice he delivers. He is technically solid."
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Provided by Ashurst