Competition Law - UK
What the team is known for
Macfarlanes assists clients with both contentious and non-contentious competition law matters. The law firm has notable recent experience defending clients in high-profile follow-on damages claims, including class actions, as well as assisting them with challenges to authority decisions. On the non-contentious side, the team has experience in phase I and II merger reviews before the CMA and in behavioural investigations. Team members also act on subsidy control mandates and advise on whether companies can collaborate on sustainability grounds without breaching competition law.
Strengths
"The team has a pragmatic approach."
"The client service from Macfarlanes is very good."
"The Macfarlanes team has excelled in its creative and intellectual legal abilities."
Work highlights
Macfarlanes defended Daimler in the damages action arising from the European Commission's decision in the trucks cartel case.
Notable practitioners
Tom Usher has notable experience in merger clearance mandates, including both phase I and II investigations. He often assists clients with competition compliance matters. "He is an excellent advocate and a true gentleman." "He is very good at explaining to clients how the UK procedures work."
Cameron Firth offers notable activity in competition litigation, including defending clients in high-profile follow-on damages cases and advising on challenges to CMA decisions before the CAT. He is particularly popular with clients from the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors. He also assists clients with merger clearance and competition compliance matters. "He knows everything about competition law and there hasn't been a question I've asked him where he hasn't known the answer." "He amended and tailored his advice to the level of knowledge I had." "He is very good strategically, very bright and very good at handling extremely complex and large litigation." "He's a very empathic person so has a pragmatic approach and is very good at handling the client."
Malcolm Walton often assists clients with obtaining merger clearance before the CMA, often acting on behalf of private equity houses and other investors. He also advises clients on behavioural investigations before both UK and European authorities. Walton has experience acting on a number of competition law matters in the sports sector and further assists with subsidy control matters and sustainability issues. "He provided sound and commercial advice and was very responsive and client-focused."
