Cameron Firth

Partner, Head of Competition/Antitrust

About

Cameron is an antitrust lawyer with over 15 years’ experience practising all aspects of antitrust law in the UK and the EU. Cameron regularly represents a wide range of clients before the UK Competition & Markets Authority and the European Commission, as well as before the English and European courts.

Cameron advises clients on the full range of antitrust law issues, including:

  • obtaining merger control clearances from regulators throughout the world;
  • dawn raids and inspections undertaken by the UK and EU regulators;
  • investigations (both by regulators and internal) in relation to antitrust compliance; and
  • providing advice and guidance on anti-trust and state aid compliance for both dominant and non-dominant companies.

Cameron has extensive experience of antitrust and regulatory litigation before the English courts and the European courts in relation to antitrust and regulatory issues, including cartel damages cases, having represented parties claiming damages as well as parties defending such claims.

Cameron has particular expertise in the application of antitrust law in the retail/consumer sector as well as the application of both antitrust law and IP/regulatory law in the pharmaceutical and media/telecoms/broadcasting sectors.

Cameron has a BA (Hons) in Law from the University of Cambridge and a Masters in European Law from the Institute of European Studies, University of Brussels. Cameron also has experience of working for the regulator, having worked for DG Competition.

Experience

  • Advising on the first ever cases in the EU finding that patent settlement agreements constitute a restriction of competition, namely: 1) Arrow Generics re: citalopram, currently before the Court of Justice in Luxembourg; and 2) Actavis UK re: paroxetine, currently on appeal before the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal.
  • Representing Flynn Pharma before the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal in successfully overturning the CMA’s first ever stand-alone unfair pricing decision;
  • Advising Actavis UK/Auden Mckenzie in connection with the CMA investigation into alleged excessive and unfair pricing of hydrocortisone tablets and a related alleged anti-competitive agreement.
  • Advising Actavis UK/Auden Mckenzie in connection with the CMA investigation into alleged excessive and unfair pricing of hydrocortisone tablets and a related alleged anti-competitive agreement.
  • Advising Prysmian in connection with various sets of follow-on damages claims before the English High Court arising from the European Commission’s power cables cartel decision.
  • Advising Qantas in connection with the co-ordination of its defence to multiple follow-on damages claims before the English High Court, arising from the European Commission’s airfreight cartel decision, and parallel proceedings in Germany and the Netherlands.
  • Advising the BBC in connection with the spin-off of its production business into a new commercial subsidiary, BBC Studios, and ensuring compliance with state aid and fair trading rules.
Cameron provides an excellent service in relation to both complex matters and ad hoc queries. When approached with a new issue, he quickly understands the points to be addressed.

Chambers UK 2023

Cameron Firth is really excellent at fighting the client's corner and advocating for their interests.

Chambers UK 2023

‘[Cameron] is softly spoken but authoritative and completely unflappable,’ states one source, while another reports: ‘He is prepared to give a view and is not too risk-averse’.

Chambers UK 2020

Cameron Firth is recognised as a leading competition lawyer.

Chambers UK 2020

Strategic thinker’ Cameron Firth is also highly recommended and is noted for his involvement in the CMA’s recent investigations into the pharmaceutical market.

The UK Legal 500 2019

Cameron Firth and Fiona Beattie are both very experienced and give clear, decisive guidance. They are pragmatic and sensitive to commercial factors, but also do not shy away from giving difficult advice when needed.

The UK Legal 500 2019

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