Stewarts is the pre-eminent Competition Litigation practice acting for claimants in the UK.

We represent global corporations and major enterprises seeking redress for losses caused by cartels, restrictive agreements and abuses of dominance that unlawfully inflate prices or distort competition. Our work typically involves claims valued in the hundreds of millions or billions, reflecting the scale of harm and the financial, competitive and reputational stakes involved.

Clients rely on us for clear, strategically focused advice in disputes that are technically demanding, commercially significant and often multi-jurisdictional. We combine deep competition expertise with an evidence-driven approach to secure substantial recoveries through settlement or judgment.

Unrivalled experience in complex claimant actions

We have unrivalled experience advising corporates across multiple sectors on all aspects of competition litigation, acting for claimants in many of the most significant competition damages actions before the English courts.

Our work includes both standalone and follow-on damages claims arising from regulatory decisions in the UK, EU, US and other jurisdictions, as well as claims involving abuses of dominance and restrictive agreements.

We are routinely instructed on disputes involving sophisticated legal, economic and evidential issues, and work closely with clients to ensure litigation strategies support wider commercial objectives.

Focus on cartels and abuse of dominance

We have particular expertise in claims seeking compensation for losses arising from anti-competitive conduct.

These disputes often involve allegations of cartel activity, restrictive agreements or abuses of dominant market positions that have distorted competition or inflated prices. Successfully pursuing such claims requires a detailed understanding of markets, pricing behaviour and economic impact.

Our lawyers have extensive experience building robust claims that establish both liability and quantum in highly contested and technically complex environments.

High-stakes, multi-layered disputes

Competition litigation rarely exists in isolation. Many matters involve parallel regulatory investigations, cross-border issues, significant disclosure exercises and multiple stakeholders with competing interests. We work closely with boards, in-house legal teams and senior decision-makers to align litigation strategy with broader commercial priorities, regulatory sensitivities and long-term business objectives.

Our focus is not simply on pursuing a claim, but on achieving outcomes that support our clients’ wider strategic goals.

Economics at the core of strategy

Our dedicated in-house economist is embedded in every case and plays a central role in shaping strategy from the outset.

By designing and stress-testing theories of harm and quantum at an early stage, we strengthen legal arguments, assess value rigorously and enhance negotiating leverage. This integration of legal and economic expertise enables us to present claims that are analytically robust, commercially credible and strategically effective.

The ability to combine legal and economic analysis within a single team is a significant advantage in complex competition damages litigation.

Strategic litigation backed by precedent-setting success

We have a proven track record of taking complex competition claims through trial and appeal, including landmark victories before the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal that have helped shape the development of competition law and strengthen claimants’ positions.

We are the only claimant team in the UK to have secured both trial and subsequent appellate victories in a complex competition damages action. This experience gives us a deep understanding of how to advance technically demanding claims through every stage of the litigation process.

Our approach combines detailed preparation, strategic clarity and determined advocacy, enabling us to pursue claims with confidence before the highest courts.

Innovative funding for large-scale claims

We have unparalleled experience structuring funding arrangements for high-value, long-running competition disputes.

Our expertise includes third-party litigation funding, after-the-event insurance and risk-sharing arrangements designed to enable clients to pursue substantial claims while managing financial exposure. We work closely with funders and insurers to develop structures that align with our clients’ commercial objectives and risk appetite.

This capability is particularly important in competition litigation, where the scale and duration of disputes can require sophisticated approaches to funding and costs management.

Lean, expert teams delivering rigorous execution

We deploy compact, highly experienced teams with close partner involvement throughout every matter.

This approach avoids unnecessary cost while maintaining the strategic depth, analytical rigour and responsiveness required in complex competition claims. Clients benefit from direct access to senior lawyers and continuity of advice from the outset of a claim through to resolution.

Our focus is on delivering the highest quality work efficiently and effectively.

A reputation for analytical rigour

Our practice is recognised for its analytical strength, evidential discipline and strategic clarity.

Courts, opponents and funders understand that our claims are carefully constructed, economically robust and supported by rigorous analysis. This reputation strengthens our clients’ position throughout a dispute, whether pursuing settlement or litigating to judgment.

Widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading claimant-side competition litigation practices, we are trusted by clients pursuing some of the largest and most complex competition damages claims in the market.