Highlighted for its ‘deep knowledge��� and ’commercially focused lens’, Addleshaw Goddard frequently advises on merger control, investigations, and state aid issues. The ‘expert and effective’ Rona-Bar Isaac co-leads the team, offering extensive expertise in complex market investigations. Fellow co-head Mark Molyneux leads the firm’s competition disputes practice and frequently handles cases before the UK courts. The London office has been bolstered by the recent additions of Laila Wood from Clifford Chance LLP and managing associate Simon Albert from Alston & Bird LLP. Former national practice head Bruce Kilpatrick  left for Linklaters LLP in autumn 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Rona Bar-Isaac is expert and effective, and performs well when asked to brief non-legal board-level clients.’

  • ‘Al Mangan delivers great concise advice that is pragmatic and commercially sensible.’

  • ‘The competition team has deep knowledge of their practice area, taking new developments and complex issues in their stride - adding a commercially focused lens and explaining complex points in an understandable and compelling way.'

  • ‘As well as providing deep specialist knowledge, Al Mangan and Tom Withers have really taken the time to understand us as a client and we really value their availability to discuss issues and taking the time to highlight key developments in competition law.'

  • 'A highly collaborative team, and you properly get their time, attention and ideas. A real partner led practice.'

  • 'Their partners are consistent in their quality, and all seriously bright. Mark Molyneux is excellent, astute, with a laser like focus on what makes the difference to a case and thus what should be explored in detail.'

Key clients

  • Allergan plc (member of the AbbVie Inc Group) (Hydrocortisone)
  • SE Trains Limited (Gutmann) (Boundary fares)
  • Sellers of Lexon UK
  • The Road Haulage Association Limited (Trucks)
  • DX (Group) plc
  • NKT A/S and NKT Verwaltungs GmbH (NKT)
  • Co-op (Arthur Foodstores)
  • BT
  • Lidl Great Britain Limited
  • Vue Entertainment Limited

Work highlights

  • Represented Allergan in administrative proceedings before the CAT related to the CMA's investigation into the supply of hydrocortisone tablets.
  • Advised Co-op on the competition law aspects of the c. £600m sale of its petrol forecourt station business (Arthur Foodstores Limited) to Asda.
  • Advising the Road Haulage Association Limited as co-counsel with Backhouse Jones solicitors in relation to the RHA's collective/class action proceedings on behalf of more than 15,000 claimants for damages of over £1 billion.

Lawyers

Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Rona Bar-Isaac, Mark Molyneux

Other key lawyers

Al Mangan, Samantha Haigh, Paul Chaplin, Karoline Phillips, Sarah Randall, Simon Albert, Laila Wood