"An excellent trial advocate, who's completely unflappable."
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 under Article 101 or 102 (or their UK equivalents). 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 under Article 101 or 102 (or their UK equivalents). He appears both in litigation and arbitration.
Important recent cases in which Colin was instructed include the following:
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) (Henry Carr J); [2019] EWCA Civ 38 (Court of Appeal). Judgments concerning jurisdictional aspects of claims of the kind pursued in the Unwired Planet case and stays pending appeals on jurisdiction.
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).
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.
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.
Renaissance Capital v African Minerals [2015] EWCA Civ 448 (CA). Construction of investment bank engagement letter.
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.
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.)
Other important but less recent cases in which Colin was involved include the TAG and Composite group litigation claims ([2009] EWCA Civ 1166), the Apostolides case [2009] ECR I-3571; the Buncefieldlitigation [2010] EWCA Civ 180, the Viking Lines case [2007] ECR I-10779 and British Airways v Commission [2007] ECR I-2331.
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".
Important recent commercial law cases in cases in which Colin was instructed include the following:
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).
Renaissance Capital v African Minerals [2015] EWCA Civ 448 (CA). Construction of investment bank engagement letter.
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:
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".
Qualifications
BA, St. Anne's College, Oxford, 1994-1997, First Class
BCL, St. Anne's College, Oxford, 1997-1998, First Class
Bar Vocational Course, 1998-1999, Inns of Court School of Law
Career to date
Called to the Bar, Inner Temple, November 1999
Pupillage at Brick Court Chambers 1999-2000
Tenant at Brick Court Chambers, 2000 to date
Professional Memberships
Life outside the Bar
Colin is recommended as a leading junior in Commercial Litigation by the Legal 500 and Chambers & Partners, 2008 - 2020.
