Gowling WLG

Partner, Head of EU, Trade and Competition

Bernardine is utterly client-focused and brings technical cutting edge advice to every matter on which she works, with a proven ability to keep sight of the 'bigger picture'.

Qualified as a solicitor (England and Wales) and a Belgian avocat (Brussels – Francophone bar) and a graduate of the College of Europe, Bruges, Bernardine has a wealth of over 25 years' EU, trade and competition law experience, providing clients with strategic advice before the European Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority (formerly, the Office of Fair Trading and the Competition Commission). In addition, Bernardine advises upon issues arising in the context of the National Security and Investment Act 2021 ("NSIA"), and in relation to the UK's post-Brexit subsidy control regime.

Bernardine has a strong reputation as an innovative competition litigator advising on some of the most high-profile and complex cases in the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the High Court and the Court of Appeal. She has particular expertise in relation to damages claims (defendant and claimant), and also the IP/competition interface.

Having spent many years living and working in Brussels, she has a sound understanding of the European Union institutions and an enviable network of contacts within the Brussels Community.

Consistently recognised as a 'leading individual' by legal directories, she is described in Chambers as a "heavyweight antitrust specialist".

Bernardine is a member of the advisory board of the Competition Law Forum at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, and is Vice-Chair of the Competition Policy Committee at the American Chamber of Commerce to the European Union.

Bernardine is also widely published, and recently contributed to "Merger Control – Global Practice Guide", published by Chambers & Partners, and contributed to and co-edited "Foreign Direct Investment Regimes", published by ICLG.