Competition Law Association

The Competition Law Association (CLA) exists to promote the study and discussion of the law and commercial practices affecting competition, both nationally and internationally, particularly restrictive practices and monopolies, and generally to promote freedom of competition and to combat unfair competition. It is the British branch of the Ligue Internationale du Droit de la Concurrence (LIDC), to which are affiliated corresponding sister organisations in many European countries and also from the USA, Canada, Latin America and Japan. The LlDC is acknowledged by international bodies as speaking authoritatively on competition and intellectual property issues, and the views of the CLA are regularly sought by, for example, the European Commission and the UK Government and national competition authorities.

Membership is open to all those interested in its objectives, whether in industry, private practice or academic life. Students, trainee solicitors and pupil barristers may become associate members. Associate members are entitled to almost all the rights of members, save for the right to vote or to be on the Committee. Also, unlike full members, associate members are not deemed to be members of the LIDC. Present membership is composed principally of barristers, solicitors, academics and patent and trade mark agents. Membership of the Association is also open to applicants from overseas, especially from Commonwealth countries where no local LlDC branch exists.

The LlDC holds an annual international congress at which various topics of current interest are discussed. These events are of a size to allow effective participation by all who attend, whilst still attracting speakers of the highest calibre. Conferences have been held in Amsterdam, Barcelona, Prague, Venice, New York, Montreux, Lisbon, Berlin, Copenhagen and Cambridge.

The Competition Law Association runs a series of luncheon and evening meetings, principally in London, at which individuals distinguished in the field of competition law and intellectual property law are invited to speak. Topics covered recently include media plurality and mergers, merger control and Article 102, the ECJ and European Copyright, the work of the Patents County Court, a series on IP and competition law interface, a roundtable on private actions, the practical and legal implications of the Cardiff Bus case, the European patent litigation system, Euro-defences to IP infringements and anti-trust issues in on-line retailing. Members are encouraged to put forward suggestions for further subjects for discussion, so that meetings may enable a valuable exchange of ideas and constitute a forum for debate on topical issues of interest.

Members are also invited to join the Association's Working Party on Competition Law co-chaired by Mark Clough QC and David Went, which provides a forum for members to contribute to our representations to Government and competition authorities in relation to legislative initiatives.

Once a year, the Association hosts the prestigious Burrell Lecture, followed by a dinner in one of the Inns of Court. Previous Burrell lecturers include Judge Nicholas Forwood QC, Eleanor Sharpston QC, Jonathan Faull, Judge Ian S. Forrester, Prof. Carl Baudenbacher, Rt. Hon. Dominic Grieve QC MP and Judge Christopher Vajda. The Rt. Hon. LJ Arnold delivered the Burrell Lecture in 2021, our guest speaker in 2022 was The Rt. Hon. Lady Rose of Colmworth and for our 2023 lecture, LJ Birss.

Annual Membership Subscriptions Fees

Corporate memberships need to be applied for in advance via the CLA Administrator (admin@competitionlawassociation.org) to verify eligibility.


Existing Members are required to renew their annual subscription by the end of February in order to take advantage of the discounted corporate rate (subject to eligibility). After this time, all renewal fees are payable at the full rate.
 

Those joining for the first time between 1 October and 31 December in any year are entitled to an extended membership covering up to the end of the following December. The annual subscription year for associate members runs 1 October to 30 September. 

Benefits

As a member of the CLA you will be entitled to attend all our events each year (with the exception of the Burrell Lecture) for free. As well as receiving regular updates regarding our events, you will also receive any other Competition and IP-related updates (including various discount offers and details of events by third parties) which we feel will be of interest to you. You will also have exclusive access to our website, which will enable you to download associated papers relating to all our meetings, including brief meeting summaries.  

Privacy Policy

Your data will be stored only for as long as is necessary for the purpose for which it is collected. This is usually for the duration of your membership, including a period of around 6 months after such expiry during which period we will move you to the “Keep Me Informed” mailing list (unless you request otherwise). After such period, unless your membership has been renewed in the meantime, you will be given the option to remain on the “Keep Me Informed” mailing list but if you do not wish to do so, your data will then be deleted or in some cases anonymised. Full details of the CLA Privacy Policy can be found here.

CHAIR: Euan Burrows
Ashurst LLP: London Fruit & Wool Exchange, 1 Duval Square, London E1 6PW
Telephone: 020 7859 2919
Email: euan.burrows@ashurst.com

VICE-CHAIR (INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY): Christopher Stothers
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP: 100 Bishopsgate, London EC2P 2SR
Telephone: 020 7832 7034
Email: christopher.stothers@freshfields.com

VICE-CHAIR (COMPETITION): Sophie Lawrance
Bristows LLP: 100 Victoria Embankment, London EC4Y 0DH
Telephone: 020 7400 8399
Email: sophie.lawrance@bristows.com

SECRETARY: Sharon Horwitz
Competition & Markets Authority: The Cabot, 25 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 4QZ
Telephone: 020 3738 6820
Email: sharon.horwitz@cma.gov.uk 

TREASURER: Jeremy Robinson
Harcus Parker Limited: 7th Floor, Melbourne House, 44-46 Aldwych, London WC2B 4LL
Telephone: 020 3995 3900
Email: JRobinson@harcusparker.co.uk     

PUBLICITY SECRETARY: Jason Logendra
The Walt Disney Company: 3 Queen Caroline Street, Hammersmith, London W6 9PE
Telephone: 020 8222 1135
Email: jason.logendra@disney.com

NATIONAL REPORTER GENERAL: Nicholas Gibson
Matrix Chambers: Griffin Building, Gray's Inn, London WC1R 5LN
Telephone: 020 7404 3447
Email: nicholas.gibson@matrixlaw.co.uk

ADMINISTRATOR: Suzanne Snook 32 Chelmer Lea, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, CM2 7QF
Telephone: 01245 672 083
Email: admin@competitionlawassociation.org.uk

OTHER COMMITTEE MEMBERS:  Kim Dietzel, Kate Kelliher, Carissa Kendall-Windless, Bruce Kilpatrick, Celia Lloyd Davidson, Nathalie Lobel-Lastmann, Christopher Morcom KC, 
Giles Parsons, Collette Rawnsley, Ben Rayment, Tess Waldron, Nick Zweck