Kate Vernon

Practice Areas

Antitrust & Competition

Appellate Practice

Class Action and Mass Arbitration Group

Data Privacy & Security

Entertainment & Media Litigation

International Arbitration

Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice

Life Sciences Litigation

Life Science: Pharmaceutical Patent Litigation

Litigation Representing Plaintiffs

Sports Litigation

Experience

Kate Vernon is a partner and Head of the Competition Litigation Practice in Quinn Emanuel’s London Office. She has vast experience in EU and UK competition law and was previously head of the UK Competition Team at DLA Piper. She also advises clients on commercial litigation and regulatory investigations together with GDPR compliance and GDPR / UK Data Protection Act litigation. She is also Quinn Emanuel UK’s COLP.

In her competition law practice Ms. Vernon has advised clients on all aspects of EU/UK competition law and has significant experience in advising and representing both claimants and defendants in competition litigation and in particular with class actions. Ms. Vernon regularly litigates in the English High Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. She has conducted appeals from and judicial reviews of decisions of competition and regulatory authorities in London and Luxembourg. Ms Vernon also advises clients in relation to competition investigations, both infringement and market and sector inquiries, and merger control matters. Ms Vernon also provides strategic and general competition counselling advice. She has significant expertise in representing clients in IP and commercial litigation where there are competition and FRAND issues. Ms. Vernon has particular expertise in the financial services, retail, sports, media, pharmaceutical and technology sectors.

Ms. Vernon has been described by Chambers and Partners as “extremely good - very sharp, efficient, straightforward and good in getting together the different client interests."; "She's very strategic and can absolutely espy the key issues to fight."; "She is sharp, technical, strategic, warm and amenable”; she is “very impressive” and “she has a strong reputation among market commentators for her ability to handle complex claims”. She is ranked as a Leading Individual in Competition Litigation by Legal 500 which describes the Competition Litigation practice as housing a broad practice known for its ‘deep experience and knowledge‘ of disputes arising in the financial services, retail, and technology sectors. Kate is described as “amazing in her ability to address competition litigation within the case framework of different practice areas.’; ‘Kate has carved out a reputation as the go-to person for the most challenging cases. A lawyer of great instinct who quickly gets to the commercial heart of the case. ‘Quinns have become a phenomenon in competition litigation. The biggest compliment one can pay them is that they are the firm one would least like to see on the other side! They fight relentlessly for their clients’ interests with a no-holds-barred approach.’

She has also been ranked by Chambers Europe from 2017 to date for Competition/European Law, by Chambers Global for Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant she is ranked in Who’s Who Legal andhas also been recognised by Euromoney Business Law Expert Guides for Women in Business Law as an expert in Competition and Antitrust.

Quinn Emanuel’s competition practice is also ranked in the GCR Top 100.

Clients

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

Qualcomm Incorporated

Connells Plc

Premier League

British Horseracing Authority

Merck KGaA

Debenhams Plc

Aga Rangemaster

easyJet

Cathay Pacific

Automotive and Insurance Solutions Plc