Brodies LLP has established one of the most comprehensive EU and competition services in Scotland, regularly advising major clients across the gamut of areas including antitrust compliance and investigations, merger control, state aid and subsidy control, public procurement, and pre- and post-Brexit EU law. The team is highly active across a number of key sectors including transport and infrastructure, food and drink, technology, and energy, with practice head Charles Livingstone being renowned for his expertise advising private and public sector clients in both contentious and non-contentious situations. Christine O’Neill KC brings significant competition litigation experience, having acted on a number of transport infrastructure cases, while Roger Cotton leads the firm’s State aid and subsidy control practice and has considerable commercial law expertise. Senior associate Jamie Dunne has a strong procurement law practice, regularly representing bidders and public authorities.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The responsiveness, level of expertise (on public procurement matters, including public tender disputes) and understanding of clients' needs and priorities are incredible.’
‘The team is very responsive. Meetings are arranged at short notice and advice given very speedily.’
‘The solicitors understand the issues quickly, are very knowledgeable and provide clear advice.’
‘The individuals in the team are very approachable.'
'Jamie Dunn consistently provides very high-quality advice while demonstrating a very thorough knowledge of subsidy rules.’
Charles Livingstone is calm and authoritative on all aspects of competition law.
'There is a large team (for the Scottish market) so there is considerable breadth of experience depending on the issue at hand.'
Key clients
- The Scotch Whisky Association
- The Scottish Government
- North Lanarkshire Council
- AGS Airports Limited
- Scottish Enterprise
- Stornoway Port Authority
- Clyde Gateway Developments Limited
- City of Edinburgh Council
- Borderlink Broadband Limited
- Highlands & Islands Enterprise
Work highlights
- Advised AGS Airports Limited on the refresh and roll-out of its competition compliance policy, including delivering training sessions to all relevant staff across Aberdeen, Glasgow and Southampton Airports.
- Supported North Lanarkshire Council with a complete refresh of its procurement and contracting template documentation.
- Supported Clyde Gateway Developments Limited with the procurement of an innovative 5G ambient heat network in a regeneration area, the Scottish element of a research project known as D2 Grids co-funded by Interreg North West Europe.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Hall of fameBrodies LLP
Christine is Chair of Brodies LLP and a recognised expert on public and constitutional law issues in Scotland. She is an accredited mediator and a solicitor advocate. Her hallmark is developing strong client relationships and providing clear, practical advice. Christine was appointed as Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel) in 2020.
Christine advises clients on legislation and statutory interpretation, the powers and duties of public bodies including the Scottish Parliament, and freedom of information laws and data protection. She acts for a range of commercial and public sector clients including the Scottish Government, BBC Scotland, the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Gambling Commission and the Scottish Qualifications Authority. She is a member of Brodies' Charities & Third Sector Team, advising the Scottish Charity Regulator and a number of charities. She is also one of Brodies' team of litigators involved in group proceedings.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Brodies LLP
Jamie Dunne is an experienced competition, procurement and subsidy control lawyer, and also advises a range of public, private and third sector clients on public law and regulatory matters including statutory interpretation, vires issues and information law. He joined Brodies from a leading international law firm and has also spent time on secondment to the public sector. His focus is on advising on technically complex matters in a clear, understandable and useful way.
Jamie regularly advises on contentious and non-contentious public procurement matters, subsidy control and State aid, merger control issues (including CMA and European Commission clearance processes), competition damages actions and competition compliance. He has a particular interest in sectors subject to economic regulation, including energy, water, rail, ports and airports, financial services, housing and health services, and further and higher education.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Brodies LLP
Charles leads Brodies' competition law practice, supporting clients on sensitive and strategically important matters including obtaining merger clearance for major M&A projects, investigating potential competition breaches, responding to dawn raids and acting in competition litigation. He also advises private and public sector clients on State aid and public procurement, in both contentious and non-contentious scenarios.
Charles also supports commercial, public sector, charitable and individual clients on public law issues including judicial review, human rights, information law, charity law and public authority powers and duties. He advises clients on constitutional matters, such as the limits on the Scottish Parliament’s powers, and is the co-head of Brodies' Brexit Advisory Group. He also has significant experience of drafting legislation, including Acts of the Scottish Parliament. Charles is an experienced litigator, having handled major cases in courts up to the UK Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Charles also heads up Brodies' cross-practice food & drink sector group.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Charles Livingstone