Simon Taylor

Simon Taylor is an experienced competition and procurement specialist, with a background in EU law. He was called to the Bar in 1987 but left to study in Brussels and re-qualified as a solicitor. After 20 years or so practising in Brussels and London, he returned to the Bar in 2012 and joined Keating Chambers.

His practice focuses on the regulation of public bodies and network industries, subsidies/state aid and the competition rules, rules historically rooted in EU Treaty provisions and directives, but remain in modified form in UK law post-Brexit. He has been involved in landmark cases, including Severn Trent v Dwr Cymru, and more recently, HS2 in Bechtel Ltd v HS2 Ltd (construction of Old Oak Common) and Siemens Mobility Ltd v HS2 Ltd (rolling stock).

He advises companies, utilities and public bodies on competition, subsidy control and regulatory issues arising from disputes, transactions such as mergers or joint ventures and commercial agreements or conduct. He has specific expertise in regulated sectors such as healthcare, communications, rail and water and also acts on commercial disputes and public law cases, particularly in these areas.