Competition Law - UK
What the team is known for
Bristows is a popular choice with clients from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors for advice on the full range of competition law matters. The law firm has experience in merger clearance and NSIA filings, as well as in behavioural complaints, appeals against authority decisions and damages actions. Team members also have experience in state aid matters. The firm is known for its ability to handle matters that overlap between intellectual property and competition law.
Strengths
"The team has great awareness of the regulatory framework."
"The lawyers are very responsive and focused."
"Bristows lawyers are intellectually sharp yet incredibly client-focused."
Work highlights
Bristows represented CityFibre in an appeal before the CAT against Ofcom's decision to approve Openreach's new pricing arrangements.
Notable practitioners
Sophie Lawrance defends high-profile clients in allegations of abuse of dominance. She also has experience acting for interested third parties on appeals against authority decisions. She has a number of clients from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors. "Sophie is extremely intellectually sharp, she handles highly complex issues with ease and her applied thought is excellent. She is a responsive and agile lawyer who is extremely easy to work with."
Stephen Smith has a broad competition law practice encompassing state aid issues, appeals against authority decisions and merger control filings. He also has experience in matters involving the National Security and Investment Act and in abuse of dominance complaints. "He's fantastically commercial, and has a real grasp of the appetite for customers to get into the level of detail they need." "He inspires full confidence in the matters we bring to him." "He is an excellent and pragmatic lawyer. He has delivered strategic vision throughout the whole project."
