With a team that ‘possesses an excellent combination of knowledge and experience’, which enables it to ‘comprehend issues from the client’s perspective and offer practical advice’, Brodies LLP continues to cover the entire spectrum of EU and competition law matters, with an increasing cross-border scope in instructions from multinational corporates and regional and international authorities and agencies. In particular, the group excels at subsidy control mandates, advising on the development of internal policies, the application of legislation, and procurement issues, where it handles a range of contentious and non-contentious instructions. The ‘efficient, knowledgeable and proactive’ team head Charles Livingstone is highly reputed for his varied practice that is particularly specialised in compliance and breach investigations. As a go-to in the practice for disputes work, Christine O’Neill also handles a high-volume of procurement matters and is often supported by senior associate Jamie Dunne, while Robert Ross is recommended for his expertise in the public and transport sectors. Roger Cotton retired in 2023.

The ‘highly knowledgeable and pragmatic’ team at Dentons regularly acts on contentious and non-contentious mandates for clients spread across a wide array of sectors that includes the energy, retail, manufacturing, transport and financial services arenas, as well as advising a host of UK government and public bodies. The firm is routinely involved in merger control and foreign direct investment mandates, dawn raid compliance issues, subsidy control measures, and public procurement instructions, possessing the ability to leverages the firm's cross-border network. Michael Dean heads up the practice and is a key figure in the team for contentious work, often handling claims of anti-competitive conduct in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Promoted to partner in May 2023, Melanie Martin is a ‘stand-out’ practitioner ‘with in-depth knowledge and expertise’, especially regarding EU legislation, while Carolyn Burns, who was promoted to partner in May 2024, assists energy and infrastructure clients in both the public and private sector with compliance and regulatory concerns. Viktoria Tsvetanova has been a strong supporting presence on a number of matters, and Catriona Munro has transitioned to a consultant role within the firm.

Burness Paull LLP is active on the full range of EU and competition matters, fielding a client list of leading international names in the tech, food and drink, energy and transport sectors, as well as providing advice to a number of public bodies. The firm has particular expertise in public procurement and subsidy control matters, handling both contentious and non-contentious issues. Graeme Palmer heads up the team and is ‘an excellent lawyer who has a wealth of knowledge in public procurement and competition law’. Colin Miller is noted for the breadth of his practice and has also advised a number of clients on investigations from the Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission. Ruth McNaught and Jamie Dickson are also recommended.

As a ‘powerful’ firm with a ‘strong base of intelligent experience’, CMS is frequently called upon by a range of multinational corporations and global brands for advice regarding sensitive competition law issues that include CMA investigations, merger control work, NSI concerns, and subsidy control matters. Group lead Graeme Young‘s reputation in this space sees him instructed by a wealth of clients across the UK, which benefit from his ‘practical approach to help resolve issues’ and his ‘in-depth knowledge and experience’ of both domestic and EU law. Wendy Nicolson is notably regarded for her public procurement expertise, and often works alongside Emma Blundell.

With ‘unrivalled expertise in the energy sector’, Shepherd and Wedderburn has a diverse competition law practice that spans subsidy control work, procurements, domestic and European investigations, and transactional issues. While a key name for clients involved in the utilities, renewables and traditional energy sectors, the firm is also a trusted adviser to an array of local Scottish authorities and sports governing bodies, handling competition law concerns. Team lead Gordon Downie ‘has developed a particular emphasis on the role and functioning of markets in regulated sectors in the UK’, and is praised for his ability to handle key issues affecting energy and infrastructure clients. Jamie McRorie joined the team in November 2023 and has substantial regulatory expertise, while John Grady is noted for his ‘first-rate’ energy expertise, and Scott Rodger is a ‘go-to person’ for subsidy control issues.

Anderson Strathern has a ‘strong team’ that possess ‘excellent attention to detail’ and is able to handle a broad range of competition law issues, with experience acting for both public sector bodies and private companies. Competition litigation continues to be a core component of the firm’s work, often acting in cases in the Court of Session, Commercial Court and the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Further areas of strength include providing subsidy control and EU procurement advice. Practice lead Katrina Lumsdaine ‘is very knowledgeable in the field of competition law‘ and has a notable focus on disputes. Douglas McLachlan has a wide breadth of clients which call upon him for EU and UK advice in connection with supply and distribution agreements. Simon Brown is another key name for commercial agreement advice, while Eilidh MacEwan has supported on a number of mandates since arriving from Gilson Gray in March 2023.

Acting for an impressive list of clients that includes Scottish government agencies, public sector bodies, and multinational corporates, Harper Macleod LLP is regularly sought out for its expertise in handling subsidy control and public procurement issues, with an increasing stream of instructions relating to the Subsidy Control Act 2022. The firm also has competition litigation expertise, as well as EU and CMA merger control experience. Donnie Munro oversees the practice, and James McMorrow is the main contact for public sector clients seeking competition law advice, particularly in the context of major infrastructure projects. Jennifer Jack is well regarded for her contentious, and Fiona Killen, who joined the team from Burness Paull LLP in June 2023, adds further experience working with public bodies. Wendy Richardson has also been notably active across a range of matters.

Morton Fraser MacRoberts offers competition law advice to clients across an array of sectors, most notably in the energy, infrastructure, healthcare, and food and drink industries. The firm is well placed to assist with potential competition issues arising from substantial acquisitions, mergers and joint ventures, while also regularly handling subsidy control and public procurement mandates. Leading the practice is Robin Fallas, who excels in the transport sector and acts as a primary contact for companies requiring advice relating to commercial contracts, procurements, and UK and EU law compliance on public sector projects. Valerie Armstrong-Surgenor and David Gourlay are further key contacts for commercial contract advice, and Gwen Murphy focuses on subsidy control mandates.