Mark Simpson has joined Cooley as a partner in the firm’s London antitrust and competition investigations and disputes practice. Simpson advises on all aspects of UK and European Union competition law, with a focus on high-profile contentious matters – including competition litigation, investigations and regulatory challenges, and alternative dispute resolution, as well as merger law control and cartel damages actions. He has dealt with multiple matters before the English High Court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal and the European Court of Justice. Simpson arrives from Norton Rose Fulbright, where he was head of antitrust and competition.
“Mark is an outstanding antitrust lawyer and litigator,” said James Maton, head of Cooley’s London business litigation practice. “He has advised on some of the most complex cross-border competition issues and related litigation matters in the UK and has strong experience in technology and other innovation sectors that perfectly complement Cooley’s platform. We are excited that Mark has joined our rapidly expanding litigation group in London.”
“Mark is a fantastic addition to Cooley’s fast-growing, global team advising the world’s leading tech companies and innovators on major, complex antitrust-based disputes, and we are particularly proud of what he brings to our leading investigations and disputes group,” said Ethan Glass, chair of Cooley’s antitrust and competition practice. “London is a critical hub for these complex and critical matters, and Mark is one of the city’s most respected lawyers in the space.”
Simpson advises clients across the full life cycle of antitrust litigation disputes – from dawn raids by government investigators through to agency investigations, regulatory appeals and defence of civil damages cases. As well as counselling companies, Simpson also advises trade associations, government agencies and regulators. He has particular experience in the technology, telecommunications, electricity networks and broadcasting sectors. Simpson’s legal acumen is informed by his tenure spent outside of private practice as an in-house adviser at mobile telecommunications company Telefónica and at the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, along with serving as a government adviser in the New Zealand business ministry.
“Cooley is a go-to platform for companies driving the modern economy, and I am excited at the opportunity to further grow the firm’s antitrust disputes practice in London,” Simpson said. “Antitrust litigation has boomed in recent years, and this is set to continue in the UK and Europe, especially for major tech companies, with many disputes being consumer collective action based.”
Simpson’s arrival at Cooley follows Charlie Lightfoot joining in London in October 2023 as global chair of the firm’s international arbitration practice and as a partner in the firm’s litigation department. Caroline Hobson joined as a partner in the London antitrust and competition practice in March 2022.
Cooley’s antitrust and competition group is a top-tier antitrust practice recognised by The Legal 500, Global Competition Review and Chambers USA. The team handles all aspects of antitrust and competition law matters – including counselling, M&A, government investigations and litigation – for the most disruptive enterprises in the modern economy, from emerging, venture-backed companies to Fortune 500 corporations. The firm regularly steers clients through regulatory review of bet-the-company transactions, government investigations and high-stakes litigation.