Competition Law | Europe

Clifford Chance remains a particularly popular choice for clients from the financial services, telecommunications and technology sectors for competition law matters. The law firm offers market-leading expertise in phase I and II merger clearance investigations before the CMA, in addition to acting on high-value foreign direct investment filings. The firm's wider network of offices facilitates the in-house coordination of pan-European or transatlantic merger filings. The team further stands out for its ability to assist clients with CMA investigations into alleged breaches of competition law and market studies. In addition, it represents both claimants and defendants in contentious matters before the CAT, as well as acting on a number of appeals against CMA fines, often in the pharmaceutical sector.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer enjoys an excellent reputation for activity across all aspects of competition law. The law firm is highly sought after by international companies from diverse sectors for merger filings before the CMA, with recent experience handling phase II investigations, as well as advising on notifications of foreign direct investment. The London office collaborates with colleagues across the global to handle multi-jurisdictional merger clearances. The team is also highly regarded for representing clients in CMA investigations into possible breaches of competition law, as well as sector inquiries carried out by a range of authorities. The firm boasts a strong bench of competition litigators who defend clients in a number of high-profile follow-on damages actions, including collective proceedings. It also offers experience advising on state aid matters.

Linklaters stands out for its experience in major domestic merger control filings that attract considerable objection from competitors and intense scrutiny from the CMA. The team earns further praise for activity in high-profile follow-on damages claims and for the handling of UK-based private enforcement actions, including defending clients in class action proceedings. It works together with colleagues in Brussels and other offices to advise on obtaining clearance for global mergers. The firm additionally assists clients who are subject to behavioural investigations, and advises them on appeals against fines imposed by the CMA. The team also has experience advising on matters under the UK's new subsidy control regime.

Slaughter and May stands out for its ability to handle high-profile merger clearance mandates, assisting clients with phase I and II reviews before the CMA, as well as acting on highly contentious merger filings that involve disputes around jurisdictional issues. The law firm also offers notable experience in foreign direct investment filings and coordinates wider global regulatory approvals with counsel based in relevant jurisdictions. The team handles behavioural and market investigations for major clients, and also boasts notable experience acting on abuse of dominance investigations and standalone claims brought in the UK courts. It enjoys a market-leading caseload of follow-on damages and collective proceedings, defending claims filed against various international clients. It also maintains a strong state aid practice, often assisting the providers of the subsidy.

Shearman & Sterling has a strong focus on assisting multinational clients with obtaining FDI and merger control approval for cross-border transactions. The law firm has additional experience in market investigations carried out by UK regulatory authorities and in state aid mandates. The team works closely with its colleagues in Brussels and New York on multi-jurisdictional mandates.

Herbert Smith Freehills is well regarded for its ability to handle contentious competition law matters, often acting for the defendants on high-profile damages claims, including class actions. In addition to its strength in competition litigation, the law firm also advises clients on all competition law aspects of corporate transactions, assisting with merger clearance investigations, foreign direct investment filings and notifications under the National Security and Investment Act. The team further represents clients in investigations into possible anti-competitive behaviour carried out by the CMA and other authorities. It benefits from longstanding relationships with clients in the technology and transportation sectors.

Addleshaw Goddard advises clients on a broad range of competition law matters. The law firm has notable experience in market studies, carried out by the CMA and other authorities. In addition it assists clients with obtaining regulatory approval for corporate transactions, including advising on the National Security and Investments Act and on merger clearance reviews. Furthermore, the team represents clients in CMA investigations into potential anti-competitive behaviour.

Cleary Gottlieb offers a strong competition law practice, often assisting clients with obtaining regulatory clearance for high-value corporate transactions. In addition to assisting clients with phase II merger reviews before the CMA, the law firm also represents clients in CMA sector inquiries and investigations into possible breaches of competition law before both the CMA and other regulators. Team members are also active in competition litigation, usually defending clients in collective proceedings and follow-on damages actions. The team works closely with the firm's market-leading practice in Brussels to advise on matters that involve both the UK and EU authorities.

Hogan Lovells has a broad competition law practice that includes advising clients on merger notifications to the CMA and representing them in investigations into alleged breaches of competition law. The firm is also active in competition litigation matters, representing defendants in follow-on damages claims and collective actions. Team members have further experience of handling mandates under the new UK subsidy control regime.

Latham & Watkins is particularly known for advising on the competition law aspects of corporate transactions, assisting clients with foreign direct investment notifications and with phase II investigations before the CMA. The London office often collaborates with the firm's highly regarded offices in other jurisdictions to assist with the competition law clearance of multi-jurisdictional mergers. In addition the team has experience in behavioural investigations before the CMA. The firm has expanded its bench with the hire of the highly regarded Simon Pritchard in the spring of 2023.

Norton Rose Fulbright has been particularly active recently defending banks in competition litigation. The law firm represents clients in behavioural investigations, claims of anti-competitive conduct, follow-on damages actions and collective proceedings, often before the CAT or UK High Court. The team also assists with CMA merger reviews, including at both phase I and phase II, as well as assisting with the compliance aspects of net zero initiatives. Clients also benefit from the firm's broad network of offices to act on multi-jurisdictional matters.

Baker McKenzie often assists clients with merger control filings and FDI notifications, including representing clients in phase II reviews before the CMA. Clients benefit from the firm's broad global network for transactions that require filing in multiple jurisdictions. In addition, the law firm acts for clients on sector inquiries and the competition compliance aspects of distribution agreements. The team also has experience in appeals against authority decisions and in follow-on damages claims. It has a number of clients from the technology and pharmaceutical sectors.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner has a notable contentious competition law practice, offering experience in stand-alone and follow-on damages actions, representing both the defendants and claimants in high-profile cases. The law firm also acts for clients on investigations into possible breaches of competition law conducted by UK regulators. In addition, the team assists with FDI filings and merger control notifications.

CMS assists clients with the competition aspects of corporate transactions, including obtaining merger clearance and NSIA approval. The law firm also advises on CMA behavioural investigations and assists with challenges to fines imposed by the authority. The team is also able to represent clients in competition law disputes, often collaborating with members of the firm's litigation department. The London office of CMS often works alongside the firm's other offices across the UK and globally on competition law matters.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher moves up in the rankings this year on the back of assisting clients with obtaining merger clearance following phase I and II CMA investigations for several high-value transactions. The law firm also has experience in foreign direct investment notifications. In addition the team has experience in behavioural matters, including assisting clients with CMA market investigations and defending them in allegations of breaching competition law. It is a popular choice with private equity houses, as well as with clients from the technology and sporting sectors.

Kirkland & Ellis has a strong focus on assisting clients with obtaining competition law clearance for corporate transactions, including advising clients on phase I and II merger reviews and on foreign direct investment filings. The law firm is well known for acting for private equity houses on merger control mandates. In addition, the team has experience in behavioural investigations before the CMA.

Pinsent Masons often represents clients in CMA investigations into allegations of possible abuses of dominance or bid rigging. The law firm also acts on the competition law aspects of corporate transactions, assisting clients with merger clearance reviews and the compliance aspects of collaboration agreements. The team is able to handle matters across the UK and internationally thanks to its network of offices.

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.

DLA Piper is particularly active in assisting clients with obtaining foreign direct investment approval and merger clearance notifications, including phase I reviews before the CMA. In addition the law firm acts on behavioural investigations, disputes before the CAT and appeals against behavioural fines. Team members offer further experience in subsidy control matters. Clients benefit from the team's ability to work together with colleagues based abroad.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher has a prominent team in competition litigation, with experience representing both claimants and defendants in high-profile follow-on damages actions and collective proceedings. The law firm also represents clients in CMA investigations into possible anti-competitive conduct and advises on merger clearance reviews. The team further assists clients with competition law compliance.

Covington & Burling enters the rankings this year on the back of the law firm's involvement in a number of large multi-jurisdictional merger clearance mandates, often in cooperation with its offices in the US and Brussels. The team has additional experience advising clients on claims of anti-competitive behaviour and other CMA investigations. Team members also assist clients with foreign direct investment filings. It is a popular choice with clients from the pharmaceutical, sporting and technology sectors.

Jones Day's London office handles a broad range of competition law matters, including advising clients on obtaining merger clearance approval from the CMA and representing clients in sector studies and investigations into allegations of anti-competitive behaviour before various UK regulatory authorities. Team members offer additional experience in competition litigation matters, often defending high-profile financial sector clients in damages actions. The team has experience acting alongside the firm's other offices in Europe on multinational matters.

Sidley Austin often acts for clients on foreign direct investment filings and merger clearance reviews before the CMA, representing both the transacting parties and interested third parties. The team also assists clients with behavioural investigations and market inquiries before various UK regulatory authorities. The law firm further advises on competition compliance matters such as licensing agreements. The team in London often collaborates with the firm's Brussels office.

White & Case enters the rankings this year on the back of its broad competition law practice, with experience representing clients in merger clearance and foreign direct investment filings, as well as in CMA behavioural investigations and sector inquiries. In addition, the law firm has experience in contentious competition law matters, defending clients in follow-on damages actions and collective proceedings. The team often works closely with the firm's well-regarded office in Brussels.