Email: PracticeStaff_TeamX@matrixlaw.co.uk
The Matrix Competition Law and Regulation team, led by Rhodri Thompson QC, is a leading set in competition law and economic regulation. It offers not only dedicated specialist knowledge but also unique cross-disciplinary expertise.
Members of the team have very wide experience in all aspects of competition law and in related areas, including EU law, economics, judicial review and criminal law. Several have worked for the main regulatory bodies, including the European Commission, the OFT, the Competition Commission and, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) and all regularly act both for and against the public agencies.
Matrix offers a unique combination of civil and criminal advice and advocacy. In the recent first criminal cartel prosecution to go to trial in the United Kingdom, Clare Montgomery QC and Ben Emmerson QC represented two directors of BA.
Specialist areas include:
• Antitrust (Article 101/Chapter I prohibition and Article 102/Chapter II prohibition, Article 106)
• Conduct of investigations before the European Commission, OFT and sectoral regulators
• Challenges to "dawn raid" and other investigatory powers
• Applications for leniency and negotiating early resolution
• Appeals and judicial review in the CAT and Court of Appeal
• Actions for damages and injunctions in the High Court or CAT
• Criminal prosecutions arising out of cartel behaviour
• Sectoral regulatory regimes, including telecommunications, water, energy and rail, ferry and air transport
• Merger inquiries and sectoral investigations by the OFT, CC and European Commission
• Public procurement
• State aid
• Anti-dumping and other EU trade measures.
The team has recently been strengthened by the addition of Christopher Brown, who has extensive competition law experience from a period as a referendaire at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, and Nicholas Gibson, formerly of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP, where he acted on a series of major investigations and competition related litigation.
Notable pending or recent cases include:
Stagecoach v Competition Commission (CAT) (judgment of 21 May 2010)
GKL v. BAA and CAA (pending judicial review concerning detention of aircraft to recover outstanding charges)
The Number (UK) and Conduit Enterprises v OFCOM (CAT and CA, Article 267 TFEU reference to ECJ pending)
Sol Construction Limited v OFT and North Midland Construction v. OFT (CAT) (Construction appeals pending in the CAT)
R (Stagecoach and Go Aheaad) v Secretary of State for Transport (State aid in the transport sector)
Albion Water v Water Services Regulation Authority (CAT) and Dwr Cymru v Albion Water (CA) (abuse of dominance in the water industry, CAT/CA 2004-2009)
MasterCard v. EC Commission (pending in the General Court (ex CFI) of the ECJ)
R (GNER) v Office of the Rail Regulator (allegations of State aid in the UK rail industry, Admin Court 2006)
Members of Matrix are also involved in a number of ongoing or recent OFT and EC Commission investigations, including Tobacco, Dairy, Grocery, Construction, Scottish Milk and MasterCard, and the current CC investigation into telecoms charges.
Notable publications include:
Bellamy and Child’s European Community Law of Competition (6th ed, 2008) (chapter on abuse of a dominant position co-authored by Rhodri Thompson QC and John O’Flaherty; energy and post sections of the sectoral regulation chapter authored by Christopher Brown)
Montgomery and Ormerod's Fraud (OUP looseleaf) (Clare Montgomery QC is the joint editor and Rhodri Thompson QC contributes the chapter on the cartel offence)
O’Kane's The Law of Criminal Cartels (Jessica Simor and John O’Flaherty contribute the chapter on Civil Cartel Investigations in the UK)
EU Competition Law: Procedures and Remedies (Richmond Press, 2006) (co-authored by Christopher Brown)
The Competition Law Journal (Jordan Press) (co-edited by Christopher Brown)
Recommendations
Chambers & Partners 2010 recommend Rhodri Thompson QC and Rabinder Singh QC as leading silks in Competition/European Law. Jessica Simor is recommended as a leading junior, “sharp, efficient and quick to grasp the legal dimensions of a case.”
Chambers & Partners 2009 again recommended Rabinder Singh QC (“a calm and bright individual who takes everything in his stride and makes one feel very safe”) and Rhodri Thompson QC, in addition to Philippe Sands QC, as leading silks in Competition/European Law. Jessica Simor and Maurice Sheridan were recommended as leading juniors in this area.
Legal 500 2008 and 2009 recommend Rhodri Thompson QC as a leading silk in this area, recognising his “clarity of thinking and ability to structure and present complex arguments.” Jessica Simor is recommended as a leading junior in EU and Competition Law.
The competition and regulatory team includes:
Christopher Brown
Professor Piet Eeckhout
Nicholas Gibson
Dr Gerard Hogan SC
Eleni Mitrophanous
John O'Flaherty
Aidan O’Neill QC
Maurice Sheridan
Jessica Simor
Rabinder Singh QC
Rhodri Thompson
Professor Takis Tridimas
In addition, members of the Crime and Regulatory Group, including in particular Alex Bailin QC, Ben Emmerson QC, Julian Knowles, Sir Ken MacDonald QC and Clare Montgomery QC have specific related expertise.
For further information and a full list of notable cases, download the brochure by clicking the 'downloads' tab below.