CMA appoints new members to Standing Counsel panel

Members of the Standing Counsel panel assist the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) with its cases, both in an advisory capacity and by representing the CMA in court. The CMA first established its Standing Counsel arrangements in 2015 and expanded its Standing Counsel panel in 2018.

The CMA has now appointed 3 additional Queen’s Counsel (QCs) and 5 additional junior counsel to the panel. This is in addition to the 3 existing panel members (Rob Williams QC, Ben Lask, and David Bailey).

The new members are:

Toby Riley-Smith QC of Henderson Chambers

Catherine Addy QC of Maitland Chambers

Josh Holmes QC of Monckton Chambers

Tristan Jones of Blackstone Chambers

Alexander Cook of 4 Stone Buildings

Julianne Kerr Morrison of Monckton Chambers

Michael Armitage of Monckton Chambers

Daisy Mackersie of Monckton Chambers

The CMA has expanded its Standing Counsel to make sure it has the right number of members to assist in its work going forward. This reflects the growth in litigation undertaken by the CMA across all areas of activity as well as in anticipation of an increase in workload, following the UK’s departure from the EU and the establishment of the Office for the Internal Market and the Digital Markets Unit.

CMA General Counsel Sarah Cardell said:

We are pleased to welcome these accomplished new members to our expanded Standing Counsel panel.

This will ensure we meet the growth in litigation across all areas of the CMA’s activities and the enhanced responsibilities of the CMA following the UK’s exit from the EU.

Notes to editors

Media queries should be directed to: press@cma.gov.uk or 020 3738 6460.

Marie Demetriou QC has reached the end of her 6 year term with the CMA after renewing her appointment previously and will no longer appear on the panel, although she will continue working with the CMA on a number of cases.

Toby Riley-Smith QC took silk in 2016 and is a leading specialist in consumer law, with expertise in the regimes regulating both consumer finance and consumer products. He will focus on the CMA’s consumer law litigation.

Catherine Addy QC took silk in 2017. She has an extensive commercial and chancery litigation practice and is a leading specialist in insolvency-related work. Her focus on the panel will be on director disqualification work .

Josh Holmes QC took silk in 2017 and specialises in competition law and regulation. He regularly appears before UK and EU Courts and regulators and has also advised on competition and regulatory matters arising in other jurisdictions.

Tristan Jones is a leading junior barrister across his core practice areas of competition, public, regulatory, telecoms and EU law .

Alexander Cook is an experienced litigator, with a practice including commercial litigation, insolvency and company law .

Julianne Kerr Morrison has a broad practice in public law, competition and regulatory work, data protection and freedom of information, and human rights . She will start her appointment in March 2022 .

Michael Armitage has a varied practice with a particular focus on competition law, public law and judicial review, including cases with a commercial/EU law focus .

Daisy Mackersie practices in the fields of competition, procurement and regulatory law and has experience in wider public law matters.