Partner
Trudy is a barrister and seasoned competition law expert, guiding clients through complex litigation and strategic commercial challenges.
Language - English
Jurisdiction - England & Wales
Trudy’s career has spanned work for national and international clients across a very broad range of sectors. For several years she was listed as a Leading Individual in Chambers and in the Hall of Fame in Legal 500 for Competition Law in the Regions (UK). Trudy joined the firm’s London office in October 2023. She brings a wealth of experience and technical legal knowledge across the full range of competition law matters.
Highlights include an action in the Competition Appeal Tribunal for competition law damages arising from the EC Truck cartel and Interchange fees, representing a major supplier in the payday lending market investigation, merger clearance of a politically sensitive joint venture between global competitors, successful leniency applications and closing down of cartel investigations into clients’ activities, and advising on commercial strategy for dominant businesses (including in regulated sectors).
Clients value the rounded perspective Trudy offers on the application of competition law, having also worked on secondment for Competition Authorities in Brussels and London and in-house for household name clients. Trudy also has experience of acting at board level as a Non-Executive Director in the National Health Service.
Leniency application during corporate acquisition
Successfully securing leniency and advising on a major compliance programme for a UK business involved in a cartel, in the midst of its sale to a US buyer.Joint venture arrangements
Several examples of advising household name clients on joint ventures, with the advice including re-structuring, merger clearance and compliance advice and training / auditing for the JV entity to prevent unlawful information sharing and co-ordination between competitors.Abuse of dominance
Advising a range of clients holding dominant positions (including in regulated sectors) on commercial strategy and competition law compliance, particularly with a view to avoiding pricing and foreclosure abuses.Commercial agreements
Advising across an array of horizontal and vertical matters under rules for block and individual exemption, including Technology Transfer, R&D, Specialisation, Motor Vehicle and Vertical Agreements.Online retail
Advising an array of retailers on compliance with vertical agreements block exemption and guidelines, including in respect of territorial and customer restrictions for distributors and in respect of online sales restrictionsMerger clearance and corporate support
Acting for private equity investors in respect of merger clearance and competition law risk assessment of target entities, including analysis of the risk of potential fines sand competition law damages claims arising under successor liabilityFirst EU law damages awarded against State
Factortame litigation –assisted on the first case for the award of damages against the UK Government for breach of EU law in preventing Spanish fishermen from fishing in British watersFirst competition damages awarded in the CAT
Assisted on the first competition damages claim to be decided in the Competition Appeal Tribunal resulting in an award of damages and exemplary damages for abuse of dominant position.Damages claim in CAT arising from European cartel
Acted for a global business in its claim for competition law damages arising from the EC Truck Cartel, in a case before the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal.First Umbrella Proceedings in the CAT
Represented 1,800 individual retailer claimants in Trial 2 (dealing with pass-on) in their claim for damages regarding Interchange fees imposed by Visa and MasterCard, under the first Umbrella Proceedings involving collective actions on behalf of consumers and retailers. Case successfully settled.