"He's extremely hard-working, offers a high level of attention to detail and is three steps ahead of everyone else."
Colin practises in commercial law and competition law. His commercial law practice covers contractual disputes of all kinds, including shipping/shipbuilding, offshore construction/exploration, insurance and reinsurance, shareholder disputes, civil fraud and conflict of laws. His competition practice consists primarily of damages claims, whether in relation to anti-competitive agreements or abuse of dominance, although he has also had substantial involvement in FRAND litigation recently. His practice encompasses industry sectors including financial services, telecoms, media, sport and entertainment, transport, food and drink, consumer goods and professional services. He appears both in litigation and arbitration.
Colin practises in commercial law and competition law. His commercial law practice covers contractual disputes of all kinds, including shipping/shipbuilding, offshore construction/exploration, insurance and reinsurance, shareholder disputes, civil fraud and conflict of laws. His competition practice consists primarily of damages claims, whether in relation to anti-competitive agreements or abuse of dominance, although he has also had substantial involvement in FRAND litigation recently. His practice encompasses industry sectors including financial services, telecoms, media, sport and entertainment, transport, food and drink, consumer goods and professional services. He appears both in litigation and arbitration.
Important recent cases in which Colin was instructed include the following:
Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. [2020] UKSC 37 (Supreme Court) (heard together with the Unwired Planet appeal). The leading judgment concerning jurisdictional aspects of FRAND litigation in England and Wales.
OnePlus Technology v Mitsubishi Electric Corp [2020] EWCA Civ 1562 (Court of Appeal). Judgment concerning confidentiality protection for comparable licences in FRAND litigation.
IPCom v HTC [2020] EWHC 2941 (Pat) (Birss J). Judgment concerning jurisdictional scope of damages inquiry in claim for infringement of standards-essential patent.
Allianz Global Investors v Barclays Bank [2021] EWHC 399 (Comm). Judgment concerning pass-on in massive follow-on litigation arising out anti-competitive manipulation of the forex market.
iiyama UK Limited v Samsung Electronics Ltd. [2018] EWCA Civ 229 (Court of Appeal). The leading case on the territorial scope of competition laws in private damages proceedings.
Renate Blauel v Sir Elton John. Litigation concerning whether superstar musician’s memoir and involvement in biopic contravened the contractual terms upon which he had separated from his former wife.
Michael Standing and Axis Football Investments Ltd. v Lee Power. Litigation concerning ownership and future management/control of Swindon Town Football Club.
Apple Retail UK Ltd. v Qualcomm (UK) Ltd. [2018] EWHC 1188 (Pat). Concerned the jurisdicton of the English Court over the UK part of the worldwide litigation between Apple and Qualcomm.
Transocean Drilling UK v Providence Resources [2016] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 51. Construction of consequential loss exclusion in offshore drilling contract.
Bilta v Nazir [2016] AC 1. "The leading authority on attribution in the context of an illegality defence" (as described in Singularis v Daiwa per Sir Geoffrey Vos C).
Masri v Consolidated Contractors - numerous reported decisions before all levels of English judiciary. These judgments concern the continuing jurisdiction of the English Court after judgment has been given in English proceedings.
NCRQ v Institution for Occupational Safety and Health 1243/5/7/15. The first ever standalone claim to be issued before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (also the first ever claim for an injunction before that Tribunal and the first ever application for allocation to the fast-track procedure.)
Colin is a contributor to "Competition Litigation: UK Practice and Procedure", and co-author of the UK chapter of Kluwer, "Competition Law in Western Europe and the USA".
Important recent commercial law cases in cases in which Colin was instructed include the following:
Michael Standing and Axis Football Investments Ltd. v Lee Power. Litigation concerning ownership and future management/control of Swindon Town Football Club. The litigation has resulted in the grant of several injunctions against the Defendant and a number of High Court judgments on points such as fortification of undertakings, joinder and variation.
Renate Blauel v Sir Elton John. Litigation concerning whether superstar musician’s memoir and involvement in biopic contravened the contractual terms upon which he had separated from his former wife.
116 Cardamon v MacAlister. High Court trial of breach of warranty claims following sale of insurance brokerage.
Transocean Drilling UK v Providence Resources [2016] 2 Lloyd's Rep. 51. Construction of consequential loss exclusion in offshore drilling contract.
Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. Ltd. v Songa Offshore Equinox Ltd. [2018] 1 Lloyd's Rep 443. Substantial shipbuilding arbitration and application to appeal from Award.
Bilta v Nazir [2016] AC 1. "The leading authority on attribution in the context of an illegality defence" (as described in Singularis v Daiwa per Sir Geoffrey Vos C).
Masri v Consolidated Contractors - numerous reported decisions before all levels of English judiciary. These judgments concern the continuing jurisdiction of the English Court over proceedings after judgment has been given.
In addition to the above Colin is involved in a number of substantial arbitration proceedings of a confidential nature.
Important recent competition law cases in cases in which Colin was instructed include the following:
Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. [2020] UKSC 37 (Supreme Court) (heard together with the Unwired Planet appeal). The leading judgment concerning jurisdictional aspects of FRAND claims in England and Wales.
OnePlus Technology v Mitsubishi Electric Corp [2020] EWCA Civ 1562 (Court of Appeal). Judgment concerning confidentiality protection for comparable licences in FRAND litigation.
IPCom v HTC [2020] EWHC 2941 (Pat) (Birss J). Judgment concerning jurisdictional scope of damages inquiry in claim for infringement of standards-essential patent.
Allianz Global Investors v Barclays Bank [2021] EWHC 399 (Comm). Judgment concerning pass-on in massive follow-on litigation arising out anti-competitive manipulation of the forex market.
iiyama UK Limited v Samsung Electronics Ltd. [2018] EWCA Civ 229. Now the leading case on the territorial scope of EU competition laws in private damages proceedings.
Apple Retail UK Ltd. v Qualcomm (UK) Ltd. [2018] EWHC 1188 (Pat). Concerned the jurisdiciton of the English Court over the UK part of the worldwide litigation between Apple and Qualcomm.
Conversant Wireless Licensing SARL v Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat); [2018]
EWHC 1216 (Ch). Judgments concerning jurisdictional aspects of claims of the kind pursued in the Unwired Planet case and stays pending appeals on jurisdiction.
Zantra Ltd v BASF plc [2016] EWHC 3578 (Ch). The first successful application for a Norwich Pharmacal order in a competition case in this jurisdiction.
Arriva The Shires v Luton Airport Operations [2014] EWHC 64 (Ch); [2014] UKCLR 313. Standalone abuse of dominance claim for injunction and damages.
Cardiff Bus [2012] CAT 19. The first ever claim to proceed to a final award of damages for breach of competition law in this jurisdiction.
NCRQ v Institution for Occupational Safety and Health 1243/5/7/15. The first ever standalone claim to be issued before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (also the first ever claim for an injunction before that Tribunal and the first ever application for allocation to the fast-track procedure.)
Colin is a contributor to "Competition Litigation: UK Practice and Procedure" (Brick Court Chambers, OUP, 2010), and co-author of the UK chapter of Kluwer, "Competition Law in Western Europe and the USA".
BA, St. Anne's College, Oxford, First Class
BCL, St. Anne's College, Oxford, First Class
Bar Vocational Course, Inns of Court School of Law
Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, November 1999
Pupillage at Brick Court Chambers 1999-2000
Tenant at Brick Court Chambers, 2000 to date
Appointed Queen’s Counsel, 2020.
Colin is recommended in Commercial Litigation and in Competition by Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners since 2008
