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Curriculum Vitae
Summary
All specialist areas
Competition/EU Law
Public & Administrative Law
VAT & Customs and Direct Tax
Additional Information
  • What the Directories Say

"Christopher Vajda QC is an experienced litigator and adviser, specialising in European, competition, public and tax law. Known as an "intellectual powerhouse who provides brilliant analysis," he appears regularly in the House of Lords, Court of Appeal, High Court and ECJ." - Chambers UK, 2010

Chambers UK, 2010 descibes Christopher as an "individual who is fully familiar with the leading cases of the day, Christopher Vajda QC "is a creative, versatile lawyer, who is prepared to roll up his sleeves." His recent sorties include representing the claimant in Devenish Nutrition v Sanofi-Aventis."

"Popular, the "well-trusted, consistently impressive and highly committed" Christopher Vajda QC is "a consummate handler of all procurement issues," - Chambers UK, 2010

Chambers UK, 2010 under telecommunications states "Christopher Vajda QC "gets the point across very well in court" and remains an obvious port of call for a range of competition, European and public law matters. Like Roth, he has also been working on a Hong Kong matter, handling a dispute between fixed and mobile operators over the price of the interconnection charge. In other matters, he also advised the UK government in a challenge brought by operators over the treatment of VAT on spectrum licences."

"Christopher Vajda QC "can always be trusted to give a thoughtful and considered answer," report sources. His practice mixes competition and public law, and he recently acted for Ofcom in a major challenge from the government of Bermuda." - Chambers UK, 2010

Legal 500, 2009 - highly rates Christopher Vajda QC for 'an incredible intellect' in Administrative & Public Law.  Under EU and Competition: illustrious "Christopher Vajda QC 'has gracious advocacy skills, which veil an unexpectedly direct, and rigorous cross-examination style'." "'Direct and down to earth' Christopher Vajda QC acted in the multi-party dispute of Bookmakers Afternoon Greyhound Services"" in Media, Entertainment and Sport.

 

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Christopher Vajda QC

QC MA (Cambridge), EC law - Université Libre Bruxelles
Call date: 1979 Silk: 1997

Summary

Christopher Vajda is an extremely experienced litigator in competition, European, public and tax law. Over the last two years he has appeared in three cases before the House of Lords, eight cases in the Court of Appeal, eight cases in the High Court, four cases in the ECJ, one in the CFI, and five cases in the CAT. He also acted recently, before an ECB Appeal panel, for a cricketer in a successful appeal against a decision by the ECB to refuse registration.

Recorder in the Crown Court
Bencher of Gray's Inn
Member of Northern Ireland Bar

Recent/Major Cases

  • He is acting in a number of follow-on competition damages actions
  • He is acting for Nokia in its dispute with IPCom on whether IPCom licensing policy infringes Articles 81 and 82 EC
  • He acted for HM Revenue and Customs on the question of whether, for tax purposes, a Pringles is similar to a potato crisp (Court of Appeal, 2009)
  • He acted for William Hill, Ladbrokes and BAGS in their competition case against AMRAC (Art 81) in the Court of Appeal (2009)
  • He acted for Siemens and CML in the CAT in National Grid's appeal against a finding by Ofgem that National Grid abused its dominant position in relation to the supply of domestic-sized gas meters (2009) which is now on appeal to the Court of Appeal
  • He acted in Devenish v Sanofi-Aventis (Court of Appeal), a follow-on damages action (2008)
  • He acted for a South African cricketer who was banned by the ECB from playing county cricket becuase he had played for the ICL in India. He was successful in an Appeal against the ECB. The Appeal Panel found that the ban was unlawful (2008)
  • He acted for Welsh Water (Dwr Cymru) in Albion Water v OFWAT in the first margin squeeze case to to reach the Court of Appeal (2008)
  • He has represented, both before the CFI and ECJ (2009), SFR in a state aid challenge to the grant of 3G licences in France brought by Bouygues Telecom
  • Abbey Mines v Coal Authority (Court of Appeal) (2008). Acted for Coal Authority in defeating a judicial review of a coal licensing decision
  • Collins v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2006] EWCA Civ 376 (scope of citizenship provisions in the EU Treaty)
  • Halifax and BUPA (2006) ECJ (VAT avoidance)
  • OFT investigation into the setting of private school fees: represented Independent Schools Council and various schools (2005-2006)
  • Racecourse Association and others v OFT [2005] CAT 29 (1st successful challenge to OFT infringement decision)
  • Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Debenhams (2005) CA (VAT on credit cards)
  • Wilson v. L'Ordre des Avocats du Barreau de Luxembourg (ECJ: compatibility of Luxembourg rules on establishment of lawyers with EU law)
  • R ((1) International Air Transport Association (2) European Low Fares Airline Association) v Department of Transport (2004) EuLR 998 (Validity of EU Regulation on compensation for delayed flights)
  • R v SS for Health ex p Imperial Tobacco [2000] 2WLR 834: [2001] 1WLR 127 (HL) (Interim relief in respect of EC Directives)
  • Optident Ltd. v Secretary of State [2001] (HL) (Cosmetics Directive)
  • Factortame cases (fishing, rules on registration of fishing vessels, damages for breach of EC law)