Robert O'Donoghue KC is an advocate with extensive experience of competition law, EU law, utility regulation, and related aspects of commercial and public law. He has appeared in major cases in the High Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, EU Courts, Irish courts, Hong Kong courts, international arbitral bodies, and in oral hearings before competition authorities and sectoral regulators in these matters. He is a also leading advocate in collective proceedings in the UK, having secured the largest number of certified cases. He also frequently gives expert evidence on his areas of expertise before foreign courts and arbitral bodies, including in recent actions in Canada, Israel, and Sweden. Whilst his practice focuses mainly on private clients, Robert also frequently acts for public authorities within and outside the EU, including in Hong Kong, Australia, and Ireland.
Robert is also a full member of the Brussels Bar, and so retains full rights of audience in the EU Courts and the courts of the EU Member States
Leading cases include: Telefonica O2 & ors v British Telecommunications [2012] EWCA Civ 1002; Asda & ors v Office of Fair Trading [2011] CAT 41; Foundem v Google Inc (abuse of dominance (pending); CEF & EWRG v General Electric UK Ltd & ors (recycling) (settled); PLUS Markets plc v London Stock Exchange plc (Commercial Court); Emerald & ors v British Airways plc [2009] EWHC 741 (Ch), [2011] 2 WLR 203 (CA); Tesco plc v Competition Commission (Competition Appeal Tribunal); iDealing Ltd v London Stock Exchange (High Court); St George’s Healthcare NHS Trust v S [1999] Fam 26 (Court of Appeal); European Climate Exchange v LCH Clearnet Ltd (High Court), Sel-Imperial v British Standards Institution (High Court); Case No 1093/3/3/07 T-Mobile (UK) Ltd v Ofcom Competition Appeal Tribunal); and British Association of Airline Pilots v British Airways plc (High Court); EU cases (Luxembourg): British Airways v Commission (air cargo cartel) (pending); Case T-184/01 R, IMS Health Inc v Commission [2001] ECR 11-3193; Case C-481/01 P(R), NDC Health Corp & NDC Health GmbH & Co KG v IMS Health Inc [2002] 5 CMLR 1; Case C-381/98 Ingmar GB Ltd and Eaton Leonard Technologies Inc [2000] ECR 1-9305; Case C-95/04 P British Airways plc v Commission, judgment of March 17 2007; Case T-15/02 BASF AG v Commission, judgment of March 15 2006.
Qualified 1996, Lincoln’s Inn; internship at telecoms unit of DG Competition (Unit C) of the EU Commission; Brussels and London offices of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP 1998; Brick Court Chambers 2007.
French.
LLB; LLM; Bar Vocation Course.