Anneliese is a specialist competition law practitioner. She has extensive experience in relation to follow-on and standalone claims and “knows competition damages actions inside out”. She has also been involved in a number of the key collective proceedings cases, appearing before the Court of Appeal in the Gutmann, McLaren and Merricks proceedings, and is extremely familiar with the collective proceedings regime.

Cases

Collective Proceedings Cases

• Philip Evans v Barclays Bank PLC and others – claims relating to the European Commission’s FOREX decisions – acting for Barclays Bank – led by Mark Hoskins KC.
• Mark McLaren Class Representative Limited v MOL (Europe Africa) Limited & others – follow-on claims relating to Case AT.40009- Maritime Car Carriers – acting for K-Line – led by Tony Singla KC.
• London & South Eastern Railway Limited v Justin Gutmann – standalone abuse of dominance claims – acting for LSER – led by Paul Harris KC.
• Govia Thameslink Railway and others v Gutmann – standalone abuse of dominance claims – acting for LSER – led by Paul Harris KC.
• Boyle and Vermeer v Govia Thameslink Railway Limited – standalone abuse of dominance claims – acting for GTR – led by Paul Harris KC.
• Merricks v Mastercard Inc & others – claims arising out of Comp/34.579.
• Mastercard – acting for Mr Merricks – led by Marie Demitriou KC and Victoria Wakefield KC.

Follow-on and Stand Alone Claims

• Volkswagen AG and others v MOL (Europe Africa) Limited & others – follow-on and standalone claim arising out of Case AT.40009- Maritime Car Carriers – acting for K-Line – led by Tony Singla KC.
• Jaguar Land Rover Limited v MOL (Europe Africa) Limited & others – follow-on claim arising out of Case AT.40009- Maritime Car Carriers – acting for K-Line – led by Tony Singla KC.
• Royal Mail Group Limited v DAF Trucks Limited & others; BT Group Plc & others v DAF Trucks Limited & others; Dawsongroup Plc v DAF Trucks Limited & others – follow-on claims arising out of Case AT.39824 Trucks – acting for the Claimants in all three cases – led by Robert Palmer KC and Tim Ward KC.
• Emerald Supplies Ltd v British Airways plc – follow on claims arising out of Case AT.39258 – Airfreight acting for Claimants – led by Philip Moser KC.
• Nestec SA and others v Dualit Limited and others – abuse of dominance as a defence to a patent infringement claim – acting for Dualit – led by Mark Vanhegan KC.
• H Newson and others v IMI Plc and others – copper fittings cartel –  acting for a Part 20 Defendant.
• Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety for Northern Ireland and others v Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC and others – “Pay for delay” abuse of dominance claim – led by Paul Harris KC.
• The Scottish Ministers and others v Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC and others – “Pay for delay” abuse of dominance claim – led by Paul Harris KC.
• 2Travel Group Plc (in liquidation) v Cardiff City Transport Services Limited (Trading as Cardiff Bus) [2012] CAT 19 – follow-on abuse of dominance claim – first follow on damages claim decided in the CAT and the first award of exemplary damages for a breach of competition law – led by Michael Bowsher KC.
• Plus Markets Plc v The London Stock Exchange – abuse of dominance claim – led by Peter Roth KC (now Mr Justice Roth).

 Regulatory Cases

• R (on the application of Teva) v Secretary of State for Health –in relation Teva challenged the MHRA’s decision to refuse marketing authorization for a generic medicine – acting for the Secretary of State – led by Anneli Howard KC.
• Advising a pharmaceutical company in relation to an investigation by the CMA.
• AC Nielsen Company Limited v Competition and Markets Authority (CAT – Settled – Appeal against a decision of the OFT not to refer a merger to the Competition Commission) – led by Robert Palmer.
• Advising a shipping company in relation to the proceedings opened by the European Commission against 14 container liner shipping companies concerning in price signalling and its compatibility with Article 101 TFEU and Article 53 EEA.
• Advising in relation to a highly publicised merger between two substantial media companies.
• UBS AG, DB Group Services (UK) Ltd v HMRC –  Supreme Court – led by Paul Lasok QC.

Anneliese has considerable experience in the field of procurement law. Her “…grasp of the law and her drafting of pleadings is second to none”.

Cases

Notable cases include:

• The Queen (on the application of the Good Law Project Limited) v Minister for the Cabinet Office and Public First – representing the defendant in relation to a challenge of the award of a contract for the provision of focus group services at the start of the Covid–19 pandemic, led by Sir James Eadie KC and Michael Bowsher KC.
• Hinduja Global Solutions (UK) Ltd v Student Loans Company Limited – representing the claimant challenging the award of a contract for the supply of onshore contact centre services for the operational areas of Apply to Pay and Repayment Customer Services.
• Bechtel Limited v High Speed Two (HS2) Limited – representing the intervener – secured payment of a significant proportion of the intervener’s costs.
• Mitie Limited v Secretary of State for Justice – representing the claimant who was challenging the award of a contract for the provision of facilities management services to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Services, led by Michael Bowsher KC.
• Profile Security Services Limited v Magnox Limited & Others – representing the defendants in relation to the challenge to the award of a contract for nuclear decommissioning services, led by Philip Moser KC
• Neology UK Limited v Sheffield City Council – representing the Defendants against a challenge to a mini-competition for the appointment of a contractor to construct, operate and manage Sheffield Clean Air Zone Automatic Number Plate Recognition Network.
• Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus v Ministry of Defence – representing the defendant in relation to the challenge to the award of a contract for hospital services to the Armed Forces in Cyprus, led by Philip Moser KC
• Bombardier Transportation UK Limited v London Underground Limited; Hitachi Rail Europe Limited v London Underground Limited – representing Bombardier and Hitachi who challenged a procurement carried out by London Underground Limited for the London Underground New Tube for London Rolling Stock (Deep Tube Upgrade Programmed) Project, led by Philip Moser KC.
• Patentes Talgo S.L.U. v High Speed Two (HS2) Limited  – representing Patentes Talgo S.L.U. in a procurement being carried out by High Speed Two (HS2) Limited for rolling stock and associated services for the high speed railway known as ‘High Speed 2’, led by Philip Moser KC.
• Marston Holdings Ltd v Ministry of Defence  – representing Marston Holdings Limited who challenged the Ministry of Defence’s conduct of the tender process for the award of a contract(s) for the supply of Approved Enforcement Agency services on behalf of Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Services, led by Michael Bowsher KC.
• Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus v Secretary of State for Defence [2018] 11 WLUK 300 – successfully represented Secretary of State for Defence in having a claim brought by the Mediterranean Hospital of Cyprus struck out on the basis that it was time barred, led by Philip Moser KC.
• Openview Security Solutions Limited v London Borough of Merton – representing the winning tenderer, Tyco Fire & Integrated Solutions (UK) Limited, in relation to the protection of its confidential information.
• Endred (UK Group) Limited v Her Majesty’s Treasury and others [2015] UKSC 45 – Claim for breaches of the Public Contract Regulations 2006 (as amended) and general principles of EU law for an alleged direct grant of a public services contract concerning tax free childcare vouchers without undertaking a procurement process, led by Philip Moser KC.
• GroupM UK Limited v Cabinet Office – claim for breaches of the Public Contract Regulations 2006(as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to the government’s procurement of a multi-million pound contract for media buying services, led by Michael Bowsher KC and Joanna Smith KC
• Faithful + Gould v UKSBS – Claim for breaches of the Public Contracts Regulations 2006 (as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to a framework agreement for the provision of project management and design team services, led by Philip Moser KC
• Willmott Dixon Partnerships Ltd v London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham – Claim for breach of the Public Contract Regulations 2006(as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to a contract for housing repair services, led by Michael Bowsher KC.
• Clarity Informatics Limited v Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust – Claim for breach of the Public Contract Regulations 2006(as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to the procurement of IT services relating to the processing and analysing of data, led by Philip Moser KC.
• Atlantis Medical Limited v Minister for the Cabinet Office – Claim for breach of the Public Contract Regulations 2006(as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to the procurement of a national Framework Agreement for the supply of certain health professionals and staff for use by UK public bodies, including the NHS, led by Michael Bowsher KC.
• SkyLink Aviation Inc v The Secretary of State for Defence – Claim for breach of the Public Contract Regulations 2006(as amended) and general principles of EU law in relation to a contract for the provision of rotary wing support to UK operations in Afghanistan, led by Michael Bowsher KC
• AG Quidnet Hounslow LLP -v- Mayor and Burgesses of the London Borough of Hounslow [2012] EWHC 2639 (TCC) – allegation that insufficient advertising of a development opportunity amounted to a breach of Article 56 TFEU, led by Michael Bowsher KC.

Anneliese has experience in the field of data protection and information law, in particular Freedom of Information Act 2000 (“FOIA”).

Cases

• Kings College London v Information Commissioner EA/2014/0054 – Application of section 43(2) and section 40 of FOIA to King College London staff salaries.
• Hynd v Information Commissioner and Office for National Statistics EA/2013/0198– Application of section 21 of FOIA Bousfield v Information Commissioner EA/2012/0074– Application of section 42 of the FOIA where an allegation of contempt of Parliament had been raised.
• Voges v Information Commissioner and Transport for London EA/2011/0076– Application of section 14 of the FOIA in relation to information held by Transport for London concerning the commission of an offence.
• Lampert v The Information Commissioner and the Financial Services Agency EA/2010/0203– Application of sections 14 and 40 of the FOIA to information held by the FSA.
• Public and Commercial Services Union v The Information Commissioner and the Ministry of Justice EA/2009/0123– Application of section 30(2)(b) of the FOIA to information held by the Ministry of Justice regarding prison staff conditions of employment.
• David Fergusson v The Information Commissioner and the Electoral Commission EA/2010/0085– Application of the sections 40(2) and 30(1)(a) of the FOIA to information held by the Electoral Commission following an investigation into donations accepted by Wendy Alexander MSP’s campaign team.

Competition Law: “Anneliese’s work is consistently excellent. She drafts brilliantly, demystifies complex issues, constantly considers the broader litigation strategy and is extremely responsive.” “Anneliese is very diligent and super-clever.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2025

Group Litigation: “Anneliese is very intelligent and gives great advice.” “Anneliese is a very confident advocate. She deals with difficult judges well and has a very disarming demeanour.” “Anneliese assimilates the facts well. I think she is silk level and someone who works well as part of a team.” – Chambers UK, 2025

Public Procurement: “Anneliese is very sensible, very practical and a very good draftsperson. She is a pleasure to work with.” “A good team member with great judgement, who you know will get everything done well.” – Chambers UK, 2025

Leading junior in Public procurement – Legal 500, 2025

Leading junior in Competition: “Excellent drafting, clearly cuts through complex issues, responsive and turns drafts quickly. Anneliese offers good strategic insights and is a pleasure to work with.” – Legal 500, 2025

Leading junior in Group Litigation: “Anneliese is an effective advocate, she understands the law extremely well, and she is an absolute joy to work with.” – Legal 500, 2025

Competition Law: “She is very methodical, steady, logical, and well ordered.” “She works seamlessly with instructing solicitor teams in an impressive manner.” “She is astute, drafts beautifully and is also a very good advocate.” “Anneliese is thoughtful, with a 360-degree view of the issues on a case.” – Chambers UK, 2024

Public Procurement: “Practical, organised and sensible, and also someone with  strong commercial sense.” “Anneliese is hard-working and dependable.” “She produces concise, useful analysis and persuasive written submissions.” – Chambers UK, 2024

Leading junior in Competition – Legal 500, 2024

Leading junior in Public procurement: “A calm and realistic junior with an analytical approach.” – Legal 500, 2024

Leading junior in Group Litigation – Legal 500, 2024

Competition Law: “She is good on judgement calls and gets hands-on with the documents. She is a good advocate on her feet and did an excellent job in the hearing.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2023

Public Procurement: “She is a good, clear drafter, who analyses cases well and is very straightforward in her approach.” “Her knowledge on procurement matters is excellent.” – Chambers UK, 2023

Leading junior in Competition: “Anneliese is very insightful, commercially minded and a real pleasure to work with.” – Legal 500, 2023

Leading junior in Public procurement: “Anneliese is intelligent, reliable and a hard worker. A trusted junior.” – Legal 500, 2023

Leading junior in Group Litigation: “A calm, measured and focused advocate.” – Legal 500, 2023

Recommended in Government Contracts, Who’s Who Legal Global Guide 2022

“Anneliese Blackwood earns plaudits as a go-to junior in competition and public procurement, where she has prolific experience before courts of all levels”. – Competition, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2022

“Ranks highly among peers thanks to her broad practice which encompasses all aspects of public procurement.”. – Government Contracts, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2022

Competition Law: “She is enthusiastic, rolls her sleeves up and understands the details of the cases.” “She is fantastic, client-focused, capable and very practical, and makes good judgement calls.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2022

Public Procurement: “Anneliese is a class act and someone to watch.” “She can be depended upon to provide timely opinions on complex procurement matters.” – Chambers UK, 2022

Leading junior in Competition: “Anneliese is excellent at legal research and answering thorny queries that require a deep dive into legislation and case law.” – Legal 500, 2022

Leading junior in Public procurement: “Anneliese is brilliant. Hard working and dependable. A first port of call when non-silk barrister support is needed for a contentious procurement matter.” – Legal 500, 2022

“Anneliese Blackwood is acclaimed by sources as “an exceptionally intelligent advocate who is strategic and able to get into the details”. – Government Contracts, Who’s Who Legal 2021

Competition Law: “Not only was she good on the law but she also really got to grips on the economics of the case.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2021

Public Procurement: “Has an insightful, authoritative grasp of the law, and pays thorough, diligent attention to the finer details of a case.” “She’s approachable and client-friendly.” – Chambers UK, 2021

Leading junior in Competition: ‘‘Anneliese is very intelligent and has a lot of experience in competition damages actions. A great all-rounder: skilled advocate, provides clear and insightful advice, very good to work with and team-oriented.’’ – Legal 500, 2021

Leading junior in EU Law: ‘‘She is very analytical and provides very thorough, strategic advice’’ – Legal 500, 2021

Leading junior in Public procurement: ‘‘Excellent drafting, attention to detail and hugely responsive. Insightful and sees the issues and understands difficult concepts very quickly.’’ – Legal 500, 2021

“Stands out as a “brilliant advocate” with impressive experience of damages claims”. – Competition, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2020

“Without a doubt an extremely good lawyer”, distinguished for her impressive work advising and representing pharmaceutical companies on public procurement contracts.” – Government Contracts, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2020

Leading junior in Competition: ‘‘She provides very strategic and considered advice.’’ – Legal 500, 2019-20

Leading junior in EU Law: ‘‘Thoughtful and insightful’’ – Legal 500, 2019-20

Leading junior in Public procurement: ‘‘She is very analytical and picks up very minor, technical points that often escape others.’’ – Legal 500, 2019-20

Competition Law: “She knows competition damages actions inside out and is very thorough.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2020

Public Procurement: “Anneliese’s grasp of the law and her drafting of pleadings is second to none.” “Absolutely brilliant, really responsive and very easy to deal with. She has fantastic attention to detail and an understanding of the client’s commercial needs.” – Chambers UK, 2020

Competition Law: “She is always on top of her brief and fantastic to work with.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2019

Public Procurement: “Approachable and very client-friendly,” she is “an excellent junior whose knowledge of the procurement regime, attention to detail and drafting skills are all impressive.” – Chambers UK, 2019

Leading junior in Competition: ‘‘Very impressive attention to detail and is very effective at turning around documents within short timescales.’’ – Legal 500, 2018

Leading junior in EU Law: ‘‘Impressive attention to detail and is effective at turning around documents within short timescales’’ – Legal 500, 2018

Leading junior in Public procurement: ‘‘An excellent procurement junior – her knowledge and drafting skills are standout qualities.’’ – Legal 500, 2018

Competition Law: “She is very good at understanding economic evidence and distilling it for the client, and her advocacy is very good, too.” – Chambers UK, 2018

Public Procurement: “She is very impressive. Her attention to detail and her grasp of the very technical matters in cases set her apart.” – Chambers UK, 2018

Leading junior in Competition: ‘‘Bright and easy to work with.’’ – Legal 500, 2017

Leading junior in EU Law: ‘‘She is very bright and her analysis is spot-on.’’ – Legal 500, 2017

Leading junior in Public procurement: ‘‘She is very bright and her analysis is spot-on.’’ – Legal 500, 2017

Competition Law: “She is very bright and very calm, and has particular expertise in merger control.”  – Chambers UK, 2017

Public Procurement: “She is very commercially minded and very quick to understand client concerns. An effective junior with a great understanding of the law.” “Anneliese is extremely user-friendly and very strong tactically.” – Chambers UK, 2017

Leading Junior in Public Procurement: ‘‘Smart and strong tactically.’’  – Legal 500, 2016

Leading Junior in EU and Competition: ‘‘A combination of high intellect and a willingness to engage at client level.’’ – Legal 500, 2016

Government Contracts: Has a strong focus on procurement law and has been involved as junior counsel in a number of high profile cases. She is “very focused and dedicated to her clients”, according to sources. She is also praised for both her “excellent” written and oral skills. – WHO’S WHO LEGAL (WWL) UK BAR 2016

Competition Law: “…continues to build her reputation in the market.” – Chambers UK, 2016

Public Procurement: “She is dedicated, diligent and extremely sharp. Working with her is a pleasure as she ‘gets it’ straight away.” – Chambers UK, 2016

“Skilled in dealing with experts.” Leading Junior in EU and Competition Law. Legal 500, 2015

“Quick to spot practical and commercial issues.” Leading Junior in Public Procurement Law. Legal 500, 2015

Competition Law: “She is very good and undoubtedly a star of the future.” “Her work is completed to a high standard and she really gets stuck in.” – Chambers UK, 2015

Data Protection: “She can think on her feet and is incisive in her cross-examination of witnesses.” – Chambers UK, 2015

Competition Law: Has developed a reputation as a rising star at the junior level. Recently gained experience in some of the more demanding and complex follow-on damages cases. “One of the most intelligent lawyers I have had the pleasure to work with,” said one solicitor. “She has the ability to assimilate huge bits of information and transform them into easy to digest, simple narrative.” Chambers UK, 2014

Data Protection: Appears regularly before the Information Tribunal on a range of matters, and represents a variety of clients, including the Information Commissioner and public bodies. “Anneliese was thorough, alert, knowledgeable, prompt and approachable.” “She provided excellent written skeleton arguments and had a good grasp of detail. She was also excellent in her oral advocacy.” Chambers UK, 2014

“The ‘thorough, alert, knowledgeable, prompt and approachable’ Anneliese Blackwood” is recommended under Data Protection Law. Legal 500, 2013

• Pegasus Scholarship 2009 – Worked in Mallesons Stephen Jacques, Melbourne and in the chambers of Chief Justice Black of the Federal Court of Australia.
• Bar European Group Phoenicia Scholar 2008
• Lady Templeman Anglo-Indian Goodwill Award 2007 (Middle Temple) – Visited various courts and tribunals in Delhi, India hosted by the late Mr L.M. Singhvi.
• Astbury Scholarship 2006-2007 (Middle Temple)
• University College London Dean’s List 2004-2005
• Bar Vocational Course (Outstanding) – Inns of Court School of Law
• Bachelor of Civil Law – Brasenose College, Oxford
• L.L.B. Laws (First Class) – University College London
• Member of the editorial committee of the European Advocate.
• Teaching Fellow at University College London on the LLB Public Law II course (2006-2007)