Cooley Expands Antitrust and Competition Investigations and Disputes Practice in London

London – April 15, 2024– Mark Simpson has joined Cooley as a partner in the firm’s London antitrust and competition practice. Simpson has more than 20 years’ experience advising on UK and European Union competition law, with a focus on high-profile contentious matters – including competition litigation, investigations and regulatory challenges, and alternative dispute resolution. He has dealt with multiple matters before the English High Court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the European Court of Justice. Simpson arrives from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was the London head of antitrust and competition.

“Mark is an outstanding antitrust lawyer and litigator,” said James Maton, head of Cooley’s London litigation practice. “He has advised on some of the most complex cross-border competition issues and related litigation in the UK and has strong experience in the technology and innovation sectors that complement Cooley’s platform. We are excited that Mark has joined our rapidly expanding litigation group in London.”

“Mark is a fantastic addition to Cooley’s fast-growing, global team advising the world’s leading tech companies and innovators on complex antitrust disputes, and we are particularly proud of what he brings to our leading investigations and disputes group,” said Ethan Glass, chair of Cooley’s antitrust and competition practice. “London is a critical hub for these complex matters, and Mark is one of the city’s most respected lawyers in the space.”

Simpson advises a broad mix of clients across the full range of antitrust litigation – from dawn raids by government investigators through to agency investigations, regulatory appeals and defence of civil damages cases including class actions. He has particular experience in the technology, telecommunications, financial services, energy and broadcasting sectors. Simpson’s legal acumen is informed by his in-house tenure at mobile telecommunications company Telefónica and at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, and he started his career in the New Zealand Government.

“Cooley is a go-to platform for companies driving the modern economy, and I am excited at the opportunity to further grow the firm’s antitrust disputes practice in London,” Simpson said. “Antitrust litigation has boomed in recent years, and is set to continue in the UK and Europe, especially for major tech companies, with many disputes being consumer collective action based.”

Simpson’s arrival to Cooley’s London office follows Charlie Lightfoot in October 2023 as global chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice and Caroline Hobson in March 2022 as a partner in the antitrust and competition practice.

Part of the firm’s CooleyREG offering, Cooley’s antitrust and competition practice is recognised by The Legal 500, Global Competition Review and Chambers. The team handles all aspects of antitrust and competition law matters – including counselling, M&A, government investigations and litigation – for the most disruptive enterprises in the modern economy, from emerging companies to Fortune 500 corporations. The firm regularly steers clients through regulatory review of bet-the-company transactions, government investigations and high-stakes litigation.

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