Burges Salmon LLP‘s competition practice is highly sought after across sectors including retail, tech, and healthcare. The firm excels in merger control, compliance, and antitrust litigation, while also being noted for its expertise in state aid and subsidy control matters. Chris Worrall heads the practice and covers the full-range of EU and UK competition law, while John Houlden focuses on subsidy control and state aid. Clients from the energy, healthcare, and tech sectors regularly turn to Shachi Nathdwarawala for merger control and foreign investment-related matters. Noel Beale left the firm in May 2023.

Osborne Clarke LLP‘s competition, antitrust and trade practice is noted for its diverse capabilities, ranging from EUMR merger clearance and CMA investigations to subsidy control and regulatory advice. Thanks to its global network, the firm counts a number of blue-chip clients among its portfolio and the Bristol office regularly collaborates closely with offices such as London to advise said clients. Simon Neill heads up the team out of London, while Marc Shrimpling is the key contact in the South West; he focuses on subsidy control and state aid. Rebecca Malone is frequently sought out by retail sector clients.

Praised for its ‘strong service’ and ‘in-depth knowledge of EU and competition law’, TLT covers the full-range of matters in this area, from antitrust investigations to merger control and dawn raid training. Miles Trower heads the Bristol-based team and represents clients before UK authorities as well as in Brussels, with noted expertise advising clients from sectors including manufacturing, retail, automotives, and tech. The clean energy sector constitutes an area of focus for Bill Hull, who is also a go-to advisor for public sector bodies, while Richard Collie fields extensive expertise pertaining to the digital markets, competition and consumers bill.

Focusing primarily on procurement and subsidy control, Ashfords LLP fields a varied client portfolio consisting of those across the public and private sector. The firm supports on matters such as regeneration and housing projects as well as in the development of telecoms infrastructure. The Exeter-based team is led by Lucy Woods, who fields a longstanding government public sector practice that includes advising local authority broadband clients on national projects. At associate level, Ruth Yates is particularly active in regard to procurement pertaining to regeneration and marine projects.

With the arrival of Noel Beale from Burges Salmon LLP in May 2023, Michelmores LLP expanded its expertise in EU and competition matters; the practice advises clients on issues such as merger control, CMA investigations, and antitrust litigation. Beale is particularly well-versed supporting clients from regulated markets in competition issues, especially those stemming from the water sector. Ian Holyoak is another key name to note in this area, handling investigations, procurement, and merger control, amongst others.

Based in Minehead and Taunton, the EU and competition law practice at Maitland Walker LLP offers clients a full-service approach covering matters relating to state aid, merger control, and public procurement, amongst others. Founding partner Julian Maitland-Walker heads the practice and is praised for his ‘unrivalled experience as a competition litigator’. Among Adrian Render's areas of expertise are opt-out collective action cases.