Maya Lester's CV

Qualifications

BA in History (Clare College, Cambridge, First Class in Parts I & II); Master of Studies in Law and Visiting Scholar (Yale Law School, Paul Mellon Fellowship); Diploma in Law (City University, Distinction, 1st place); Bar Vocational Course (Inns of Court School of Law); Columbia Law School (Visiting Scholar, 2011-2012).

Practice Profile

Maya Lester is recommended in the legal directories as a leading junior in the fields of Public & Administrative Law, Competition & European Law, and Civil Liberties & Human Rights.  She was selected by The Times in 2008 as one of the ten ‘Future Stars of the Bar',  and was nominated in 2010 and 2011 for Competition/EU Junior of the Year at the Chambers Bar Awards.

She appears for and advises individuals, companies, government departments, regulators, public interest groups and public bodies, in all areas of Public Law and Human Rights.  Her practice includes cases of constitutional importance, human rights cases, and those involving international and EU law.  She is a member of the Attorney General's B Panel of Junior Counsel to the Crown and the Freedom of Information panel, has been vetted to undertake national security work, and was on the founding committee of the Human Rights Lawyers Association. 

Maya Lester has extensive experience in Competition and European Union law, including mergers, cartels, judicial review of competition decisions, OFT investigations, damages actions and appeals in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, references to the Court of Justice, actions for annulment in the General Court, and public procurement.  She has a particular expertise in targeted sanctions work (United Nations, European Union and United States), and is currently appearing in a large number of cases challenging European Union sanctions measures in Luxembourg (including Kadi).

Legal Directory and Press Comments

Chambers & Partners UK

  • "a highly able junior, with a strong public law background." (2012)
  • Lester "can handle complicated pleadings with ease" (2012)
  • Maya Lester "knows the law backwards" when it comes to all aspects of public and EU/competition law. A "clever and diligent" barrister, she has "the ability to grasp the technical angle of very complex telecommunications issues, and is someone who understands the financial aspects too." (2012)
  • "she is a highly capable choice of junior for competition issues, where her precise work and diligent devotion to the cause impress mightily." (2011)
  • "Maya Lester is a "top-notch performer" (2011)
  • Maya Lester is similarly highly rated due to her "common sense, approachability and all-round public law knowledge." (2010)
  • Instructing solicitors also strongly recommend Maya Lester, who regularly appears in major cases before the House of Lords and ECHR. Her strengths include her "client-friendly manner and her assured advocacy." (2010)
  • "she is responsive to the client's commercial aims and quick to identify the key issues." (2010)
  • "stands out for her clear, strong and persuasive advocacy", (2009)
  • "Lester is "very sharp intellectually and great with clients." She is noted for her "excellent drafting skills and calm demeanour in court". (2009)
  • "Maya Lester is respected for her "marvellous knowledge on state aid matters and EU law in general". Solicitors praise her "clear thinking and eloquence". (2009)
  • Rising star Maya Lester is "clearly very bright and focused," (2008)
  • "great attention to detail". (2008)
  • "Maya Lester is considered "a delight to work with." Complemented for an exemplary grasp of EU law, peers consider her "sensible and very clever." (2008)

The Legal 500

  • "Maya Lester is ‘highly intelligent, diligent and thoughtful'." (2011)
  • "the ‘bright, able and thorough' Maya Lester has expertise in cartels, mergers and regulatory investigations." (2011)
  • "excellent junior" (2010)
  • "Maya Lester, led by Sir Sydney Kentridge QC, also appeared in the House of Lords on behalf of the Chagos Islanders." (2009)
  • "praised as ‘excelling in competition law matters.‘ " (2009)
  • "more than a rising star", (2007)

The Times: Maya Lester was chosen as one of the ten Future Stars of the Bar 2008 (The Times, 20 November 2008): "It takes something to get noticed when you are surrounded by colleagues such as Sumption, Green, Howard and Popplewell.  But Maya Lester, 34, has earned a reputation at Brick Court, one of the leading commercial chambers, for her quick mind and measured advocacy... she has been involved in three cases before the House of Lords this year... Along with her human rights work she has a busy caseload of competition and European matters".

Listed in 2010 and 2011 Legal Experts for administrative and public law (including judicial review).

Important Cases

Competition Law and Regulation

High Court trials and appeals: Appearances in leading competition law cases including British Horseracing Board v AtTheRaces (CA, abuse of dominance and excessive pricing) and R v GG  (HL, prosecution of cartels for conspiracy to defraud, heard with Norris v United States of America).

Competition Appeal Tribunal: Experienced in the full range of Tribunal work: junior counsel for EWS in the first ever trial of a follow-on damages action (Enron v EWS - CAT and Court of Appeal); appeals from regulatory decisions (Tesco v OFT) (dairy cartel); (Racecourse Association v OFT (collective selling); Hays v OFT (construction recruitment forum penalty appeals); judicial review of OFT and CC decisions (R (UniChem) v OFT; R (Celesio) v OFT); R (Cityhook) v OFT; R (Sports Direct) v Competition Commission; broadcasting appeals (BSkyB and Premier League v Ofcom); telecoms appeals (BT v Ofcom (080 termination charges)).

Office of Fair Trading investigations: Advises parties who are the subject of investigations by the OFT, including: Private schools' fees; Orders and Rules of Horseracing; cigarette pricing; construction industry cover pricing; dairy industry.

Ofcom appeals: Pay TV investigation (acting for the Premier League); Carphone Warehouse v Ofcom (Carrier Pre Selection); BT (080 Termination Charges) v Ofcom.

Judicial Review of competition decisions: in the High Court (R (Cityhook) v OFT, case closure decision) and the Competition Appeal Tribunal (R (UniChem) v OFT and R (Celesio) v OFT (merger decisions).

Public Law and Human Rights

Constitutional and public international law: Appeared for the Chagos Islanders in their judicial review of the removal of their right of abode on the islands (R (Bancoult) v Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs; the House of Lords speeches are leading judgments on judicial review of the royal prerogative) and in Strasbourg (Bancoult v United Kingdom); for the successful applicant in the Supreme Court of the Falkland Islands in R (Bingham) v Governor of the Falkland Islands (right to freedom of expression under the Constitution of the Falkland Islands) and (currently) for the applicant in Kadi v Council (No. 2) before the Court of First Instance and Court of Justice of the European Union (review of EU counter-terrorism measures implementing UN Security Council resolutions) and in a large number of other European sanctions cases.  Appeared in the European Court of Human Rights in Yukos v Russian Federation and Georgia v Russian Federation.

B Panel and local authority work: Wide range of work for the Treasury Solicitor including cases concerning terrorism and national security (including on asset freezing and control orders), freedom of information, immigration, mental health, prisons, and care standards. Vetted for national security work, on freedom of information panel.

Regulatory judicial review: R (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission (procurement of family legal aid); R (British Medical Association) v Secretary of State for Health (GPs' pensions); R (Wildman) v Ofcom (broadcast licences); R (Buxton) v Advertising Standards Authority) (an ASA adjudication); R (Ealing) v Audit Commission (CSCI reports); and R (Adusei) v Council of the Inns of Court (decision of the Visitors).  Advice to HM Treasury in relation to the Penrose and Ombudsman's Reports into the failure of Equitable Life.  Appearances in a number of cases concerning the regulation of gambling and sports, including R (British Casino Association) v Secretary of State (casino licences) and R (Poker Clubs Association) v Secretary of State.

Trade Associations, regulators and professional bodies: Cases and advisory work for a number of bodies and regulators including the Office of Fair Trading, Ofwat, National Farmers Union, British Medical Association, British Dental Association, Advertising Standards Authority.

Environmental / Agricultural / Animal law: A large number of cases involving animal health, environmental law and agriculture including: the judicial review of the decision to slaughter Shambo the temple bullock (R (Community for the Many Names of God) v Welsh Assembly Government (CA); cases concerning the European Emissions Trading Scheme (R (Cemex v Secretary of State for the Environment); foot and mouth disease (R (Kindersley) v Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food and Pride & Ors v Institute of Animal Health, Merial Ltd & Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs; advice on the CAP Single Payments Scheme, and a range of advisory work for the National Farmers Union (including on foot and mouth disease and bovine tuberculosis).

Human Rights Act: Wide range of advice on all aspects of human rights law.  Appearances for the Community for the Many Names of God in the Shambo case (R (Community for the Many Names of God) v Welsh Assembly Government (CA)), for the Prolife Alliance in the leading case on freedom of political expression R (Prolife Alliance) v BBC (CA), and in the House of Lords in Chargot v Health and Safety Executive on the statutory construction of a reverse onus provision in Health and Safety legislation.  

European Court of Human Rights: OAO Yukos v Russian Federation; Georgia v Russian Federation (ongoing); Mattilla v Finland; Bancoult v United Kingdom (ongoing: the Chagos Islands litigation).

European Law

References to the European Court of Justice: A number of references to the ECJ, including R (Milk Marque) v Monopolies and Mergers Commission (interaction between Common Agricultural Policy and competition law) and R (Swedish Match) v Secretary of State for Health (challenge to the ban on oral tobacco).

Applications for annulment: A large number of applications for annulment before the General Court (concerning counter-terrorism (Kadi (No.2) v Council) and sanctions regimes: Burma / Myanmar (PPTZ v Council), Iran (IRISL v Council, Ocean Administration v Council, Nabipour v Council), Tunisia (El Materi v Council), Egypt (Ezz v Council), Zimbabwe (Rautenbach v Council), MEPs' expenses (Den Dover v European Parliament), and sports broadcasting (UEFA and FIFA v Commission).

UN, EU, UK and UN targeted sanctions regimes: PPTZ v Council (Burma); Kadi (No. 2) v Council, IRISL v Council, Ocean Administration v Council, Nabipour v Council, Azizi & Sedghi v Council (Iran), El Materi v Council (Tunisia); Ezz v Council (Egypt); Rautenbach v Council (Zimbabwe); A & Q v Secretary of State for the Home Department (successful discharge of an interim injunction in the High Court).

Sports and broadcast rights: Successful appearance for the European Commission concerning the listing of the World Cup and FIFA Championship under the Television Without Frontiers Directive (UEFA v Commission and FIFA v Commission); appeared for the British Horseracing Board in the leading case on the collective sale of sports rights in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (Racecourse Association and British Horseracing Board v OFT) and for the Premier League in the Sky Sports challenge (BSkyB and Premier League v Ofcom (Competition Appeal Tribunal)).

Public Procurement: Cases for the Law Society (R (Law Society) v Legal Services Commission); Apcoa (Apcoa v Westminster City Council); Vale of Glamorgan, and the Royal Shakespeare Company (Stage Technologies v Royal Shakespeare Company).

Schools / education: Wide ranging advice to schools, including acting for six schools in the OFT's inquiry private schools' fee setting arrangements, and for the Secretary of State in two cases concerning the interaction between the European Schools and the EC Treaty (Duncombe v Secretary of State for Education, EAT, CA and Supreme Court).

Commercial Agents Regulations including Grant v Simpson v Bowman.  European tax law including Cadburys Schweppes v Inland Revenue (ECJ); Monro v Commissioners (CA). Advice on expenses for Members of the European Parliament and on a number of EU consumer credit issues (including appearing in OFT v Lloyds (CA, extra-territorial effect of the Consumer Credit Act).

Contract and Tort Law

High profile commercial cases include Kennecott v Minet (CA) and Interleasing v Morris (CA) (contract); Society of Lloyds v Laws, Monro v Commissioners of Customs and Excise (CA, taxation), OFT v Lloyds (CA, banking and consumer credit), and advisory work in relation to Equitable Life (pensions).

Acted for the claimants in Pride & Ors v Institute of Animal Health, Merial Ltd and Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs in proceedings in negligence, nuisance and Rylands v Fletcher concerning the outbreak of foot and mouth disease in 2007, and for HM Revenue & Customs defending a civil action against the police in Miah v Hall v HM Revenue & Customs.

International Legal Experience

U.S.A: Master of Studies in Law and Visiting Scholar at Yale Law School (New Haven, Connecticut); Researcher at the Open Society Institute (New York); Summer Associate at Williams & Connolly (Washington DC); Judicial Extern to Judge Thelton Henderson (Federal District Court, San Francisco); Visiting Scholar at Columbia Law School (New York).

European and International: Stagiaire at the European Court of Justice (Advocate General Francis Jacobs); Part-time Tutor in European Law, City University (London); International Clerk to Chief Justices Barak and Beinisch at the Supreme Court of Israel (Pegasus Scholar). 

Lectures, Seminars, Training etc

UK: Regular speaker at conferences (including both the Hart and Sweet & Maxwell Public Law Conferences in 2008, the Bar European Group Conference in 2011 and 2012), at the Junior Competition Law Conference, and regular training sessions for law firms, public bodies and regulators on a range of legal subjects.  Recent training seminars include: Judicial Review and Competition Law, Prosecuting Cartels for Conspiracy to Defraud, litigating Kadi and other sanctions cases before the European courts, private actions in competition law.

European and International: Seminars at Yale, Columbia and NYU on targeted sanctions (2011-2012). Training for judges, lawyers and prosecutors on human rights and European law for the Slynn Foundation, Interrights, the Council of Europe and the Turkish Chief of Staff (including in the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Serbia, Poland and Turkey); Speaker at the Anglo-Finnish Competition Law Trust (in Finland and Estonia).

Pro Bono Work and Positions

Pro Bono Work: Numerous pro bono cases (instructed by Freshfields, Clifford Chance, A4ID, Liberty, Bindmans, the Bar Pro Bono Unit and the Bar Council) and pro bono advice on a wide range of issues (including on issues relating to targeted sanctions, freedom of expression and assembly, data protection, prison rules).

Current positions: Secretary to the Human Rights Lawyers Association (and on its Founding Committee); European Committee of the Bar Council.  Member of the European Circuit, the Constitutional and Administrative Law Bar Association, the Alliance for Lawyers at Risk, the Competition Law Association and the Bar European Group.  2009 national reporter for the LIDC (United Kingdom competition law reporter); Liberty Conference and Appeals Committee; Peace Brigades International Legal Advisory Committee.

Publications

Books: EU Competition Law: Procedures and Remedies (Gray, Lester, Darbon, Facenna, Holmes, Oxford University Press) Co-author; Human Rights Practice (eds Simor & Emmerson, Sweet & Maxwell) Editorial Assistant and Updater on Article 10 of the ECHR); Law of the European Union (eds Vaughan and Robertson, Oxford University Press) Contributing Author; Competition Litigation (UK Practice and Procedure) (OUP), Contributing Author.

Articles: ‘Prosecuting Cartels for Conspiracy to Defraud' [2008] Competition Law Journal; ‘Judicial Review in the UK of Competition and State Aid Decisions' [2007] European Common Market Law (co-author); ‘UniChem v OFT' [2005] Competition Law Journal; ‘Puzzling over Abuse of Right' [2004] European Current Law; ‘Human Rights - The International Dimension' [2004] The Lawyer; ‘The Chapter I Prohibition' [2002] Competition Law Review; ‘The Bar European Group in Budapest' [2001] European Advocate (co-author).

Other: Various case notes and head notes for European Human Rights Law Review, UK Human Rights Law Reports; annotations for Current law Statutes; human rights roundups for the Solicitors Journal; internal market reviews for Yearbook of European Law.

Education and Awards

Education: James Allen's Girls' School (straight As at GCSE and A Level); Clare College, Cambridge University (First Class); Paul Mellon Fellow at Yale Law School; called to Bar at Lincoln's Inn (2000); Pupillage at Brick Court Chambers.

Awards: Clare College Foundation Scholarship; Clare College History Award; Paul Mellon Fellowship to Yale Law School; Lincoln's Inn Hardwicke Entrance Award; Lincoln's Inn Mansfield Scholarship; Winner of 2000 Lincolns Inn Robert Wright Mooting Competition; Worshipful Company of Arbitrators Prize; Pegasus Scholarship from the Inns of Court.

Hobbies: viola (chamber music and orchestral), classical guitar (London mandolin orchestra).