Pinsent Masons expands its EU and competition practice

Ben's role will be to help develop further the firm's existing contentious competition practice, focusing especially on competition actions for damages, working alongside the existing team of six partners and 25 qualified lawyers. The move is the firm's first lateral partner hire of the 2014-15 financial year.

The recruitment follows the hire of competition law specialist, Michael Reich, who joined the firm's Munich office as partner on 1 July from German firm Arqis. Michael advises on a range of contentious and non-contentious competition matters and supports the firm's multi-jurisdictional team on pan-European mergers and antitrust cases.

Head of competition at Pinsent Masons, Guy Lougher, said: "We already have significant experience of competition litigation in the UK, including advising on appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal and competition actions for damages.

"However, we anticipate that EU and UK legislative reforms and the growing body of case-law will result in a material increase in the volume and value of competition litigation, and specifically competition actions for damages, in the UK.

"The recruitment of Ben and Michael greatly strengthens our existing contentious competition practice in the UK and Germany, which are the two principal jurisdictions within Europe where claimants are bringing competition damages actions. Michael's arrival also greatly reinforces our ability to handle cross-border mergers and antitrust investigations.

"Ben has outstanding experience of high value commercial litigation and will play a crucial role in further developing our contentious competition capability.

"In addition, Michael's proven track record as an experienced competition practitioner at the EU level and in Germany is a great asset to the practice, and significantly reinforces the strength and breadth of our EU and competition practice".

Ben joins from US litigation boutique Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Sullivan & Hedges where he was a senior associate in the firm's London office.

They join the existing Partners, Guy Lougher, Alan Davis, Giles Warrington, Jenny Block and Stuart Cairns bringing the total number of Partners in the EU & Competition Group at Pinsent Masons to 7.