Stephen Critchley

About Me

I am an English-qualified dispute resolution solicitor with higher rights of audience. 

I advises on all forms of commercial disputes, but with a speciality in damages actions for breach of competition / antitrust law.

I acted for the Claimant in Inntrepreneur Pub Co (CPC) v Crehan, the first and still the leading claim for damages for breach of competition law in the UK. My other experience includes:

• Defending one of the "big four" UK mobile networks against a claim for alleged abuse of dominance in refusing to configure its switches to recognise the number-range of a competitor.
• Representing a household-name telco accused of an anticompetitive agreement to prevent the landing of subsea cables into the UK, allegedly to close the UK market off from competition.
• Advising a drugs company in relation to investigation by the UK Competition & Markets Authority of suspected excessive pricing following a six-fold price increase after its drug was released from price control.
• Advising a major overseas newsagent on the legality of WHSmiths' exclusive agreement with Network Rail for newsagency units at UK rail terminuses. 
• Advising a major home improvement company in relation to a potential State Aid objection to lending extended by a State-owned bank to a competitor in which the bank owned a large stake.
• Advising a major duty free retailer on the legality of BAA's exclusive arrangement with World Duty Free.

Hablo español con soltura.