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BA and BCL (Oxon); Licence Droit (Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas)
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Ciar is a sought-after junior barrister whose practice spans all areas of Chambers’ work, with a particular focus on competition, sport and public law. Ciar is regularly instructed in high-profile and complex litigation across her core practice areas and has experience of appearing in a range of tribunals, including the Competition Appeal Tribunal, High Court, Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
Ciar is recognised in the directories as a leading junior in competition law. She is described as “quick, focused and exceptionally bright” (C&P UK, 2026) and “one of the most talented and reliable juniors at the competition bar” (Legal 500, 2026).
Ciar has experience across the whole spectrum of competition law, and is regularly instructed in high-profile and complex competition litigation.
Highlights of Ciar’s current and recent instructions in this field include:
Ciar has extensive academic and practical experience of public and administrative law. She is regularly instructed in judicial review proceedings, both as joint and sole counsel. Ciar has particular experience in housing-related judicial reviews, and her cases often raise complex human rights and/or discrimination issues. Ciar has also represented Afghan nationals in judicial reviews relating to the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy, and accepts instructions in human rights damages claims.
Highlights of Ciar’s public law instructions include:
Ciar has a busy and rapidly developing sports law practice. She has considerable experience of sports disciplinary issues and is currently acting for a football club in high-profile disciplinary proceedings. Ciar’s competition law expertise makes her well-placed to advise on sports-related disputes which raise competition issues (most recently in the competition litigation brought by Super League Basketball, see the ‘competition’ section above). Ciar also accepts instructions in sports-related commercial disputes.
Ciar has particular expertise in relation to the medical care exemption. She has been instructed in several high-profile cases in this field, including the Upper Tribunal’s recent landmark ruling on the application of the exemption to cosmetic care: Illuminate Skin Clinics Ltd v HMRC [2025] UKUT 341 (TCC). Other notable instructions include acting for the taxpayer in Spectrum Community Health CIC v HMRC [2021] UKUT 162 (TCC), which concerned the interaction between the exemption and the principles which govern the identification of a single or composite supply for VAT purposes.
Ciar accepts instructions in relation to all aspects of EU law and advises private clients, NGOs and regulatory bodies on the interpretation of EU legislation.
Ciar has experience in both data protection and freedom of information law. She accepts instructions in FOI proceedings and judicial reviews raising data protection issues.
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Leading junior in Competition: “It’s like having two people on the team, she is so able and hard-working. She has not made anything approaching half a mistake in her work. She is always committed and ready to roll up her sleeves.” “Ciar is fantastic. She is quick, focused and exceptionally bright. She is also a very calm and measured advocate.” – Chambers UK, 2026
Leading junior in Competition: “Ciar is one of the most talented and reliable juniors at the competition Bar. Her analysis is always utterly rigorous and her judgment is impeccable. She is a can-do junior for whom nothing is too much trouble.” – Legal 500, 2026
Leading junior in Competition: “Ciar McAndrew is fantastic and has great advocacy skills. She is doing things well above her years of call.” “Ciar is absolutely fantastic – I would work with her again in a heartbeat.” “Ciar is a very talented junior and an invaluable member of the counsel team.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2025
Leading junior in Competition: “Ciar’s drafting is excellent, be it pleadings, first drafts, letters, submissions or research notes.” – Legal 500, 2025
Up and Coming in Competition: “She is hands on, proactive, and responsive, and I couldn’t recommend her highly enough.” “Ciar was an excellent junior on the case and provided brilliant support throughout.” “Ciar is an integral member of the defence team and is amassing considerable technical knowledge of all aspects of competition litigation, including collective proceedings.” “Her technical ability is consistently impressive, as is her written advocacy.” “Ciar is excellent and delivers a top-rate service.” – Chambers UK, 2024
Leading junior in Competition: “An excellent team player and willing to get involved in all aspects of the case, Ciar has a good eye for detail and is great to work with.” – Legal 500, 2024
Up and Coming in Competition: “In her output and her judgement she is far, far superior to her year of call. I would value her opinion on everything.” “She is incredibly bright and a very good team player.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2023
Leading junior in Competition: “Despite being junior, Ciar is extremely knowledgeable and provides valuable insights. She works extremely hard to always deliver high quality work and always remains calm and collected in high pressure situations.” – Legal 500, 2023
