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MA (Hons) Cambridge (First Class) Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Oxford
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Daniel Beard is widely regarded as one of the Bar’s leading specialists in competition, EU, regulatory and public law. He is noted as a first rate advocate and has won various awards for his work.
He has appeared in courts from Haverfordwest to the Falkland Islands. He regularly appears in High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in the UK as well as in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
In EU law matters, Daniel has appeared in a large number of cases in the Court of Justice and General Court in Luxembourg.
He acts in arbitrations and his work has developed in various international jurisdictions including in Hong Kong where he has acted in a number of the leading cases under the new competition regime.
Prior to taking silk, Daniel was a member of the Attorney General’s A Panel and standing Counsel to the Office of Fair Trading.
Daniel is recognised as an outstanding competition and regulatory lawyer and has appeared in and advised upon many of the leading cases over recent years. He appears regularly in the Competition Appeal Tribunal both for private clients and regulators in damages actions, judicial review challenges and infringement appeals.
Damages litigation: Daniel has a vast amount of competition damages litigation experience since the start of the competition regime going back to generic drugs cartel claims (NHS v Norton) the air cargo litigation (Emerald v BA) and the gas insulated switchgear cartel claims (National Grid v ABB). He has acted in some of the leading damages trials including the trucks cartel claims (Royal Mail/BT v DAF) and the first completed class action trial (le Patourel v BT). He is currently retained in numerous class action claims including: foreign exchange; trucks; water/sewage; and Sony Playstation.
As a result of his very extensive involvement in damages claims (both for defendants and claimants), Daniel has a great deal of experience with multi- national and domestic proceedings from pre-litigation preparation through to full trial including dealing with jurisdictional (conflicts of laws) issues.
Mergers and market investigations: Daniel has a great deal of experience of merger and market investigation and advisory work over many years. He has acted in many of the UK merger and market investigation cases litigated over the past two decades going back to IBA v OFT (Isoft/Torex). His work includes Sky v Competition Commission (Sky/ITV), SCOP/Eurotunnel v Competition Commission (MyFerryLink) and more recently leading for Microsoft in the Microsoft/Activision litigation against the CMA.
CAT Appeals: Daniel has very extensive experience in CAT litigation and has acted in numerous CAT appeal cases. Notable recent appeals include successfully overturning the decision of the CMA in the Compare the Market case (BGL v CMA).
Utilities regulation: Daniel has a broad knowledge of utilities regulation particularly in the energy and telecommunications and media fields.
Commercial and intellectual property litigation: he has also been involved in a wide range of other commercial and intellectual property litigation involving competition and EU law issues and advises and acts in urgent injunctive relief cases.
Daniel has very wide experience of EU law. He regularly appears in the EU courts in Luxembourg (and is EU qualified).
The issues arising in Daniel’s EU litigation have covered the full range of competition issues including State Aid. He is a first choice advocate for major clients in the technology sector.
Recent cases include:
He has also been involved in a large number of non-competition EU cases covering constitutional issues, data protection and fundamental rights including Opinion 2/13 EU/ECHR (acting for the UK in relation to EU accession to the ECHR) and T-85/09 and C-595/10P Kadi v Council and United Kingdom v Kadi (sanctions on suspected terrorist concerning fundamental rights and the interaction between EU law and international law, in particular in relation to UN Security Council Resolutions).
By reason of his knowledge and experience, Daniel is listed as a potential arbitration panel member under Article 171 of the EU Withdrawal Agreement.
Daniel has advised and appeared for a broad range of clients in relation to public and administrative law and human rights matters.
He has acted in relation to judicial review and public law challenges in relation to a range of regulatory matters including: telecommunications; energy; media plurality; mergers and competition procedure.
He has also acted in a large number of general domestic public law and human rights matters from library closures to war pensions and tourist VAT exemptions to Brexit ferry companies with no ferries.
Daniel has worked on a range of security related matters. He has also acted as a Special Advocate in relation to SIAC and Control Order cases (including the quashing of a Control Order in the Bullivant case).
Competition Law (ranked as a Star Individual): “An absolute superstar, he can really get to the heart of an issue and thinks through how to present things to regulators and judges. He makes a huge impact on every deal he works on.” “He is just absolutely superb. He can deal with everything well and unobtrusively.” “Daniel is among a small handful of leaders in the field. He has an extraordinary legal mind and handles clients beautifully.” “He’s one of the standout silks at the Bar; he knows the field inside out. There’s a reason why we’re all queueing to instruct him on things.” “He is terrific – a live wire, super bright and incredibly knowledgeable on competition law. He’s also very good at cross-examination – tough and excellent.” – Chambers UK, 2026
European Law: “Daniel is very knowledgeable and always an energetic advocate in court. He will pursue points doggedly.” “He’s a first-rate advocate, ferociously intelligent but very user-friendly, and good at building rapport with the judge.” “Daniel is immensely experienced before the European courts on very high-profile matters. He’s very clever and a great advocate, he has quite a low-key but persuasive manner.” “His intellectual capacity, ability to manage clients and work with a team are second to none. If I could have him for every case I would.” – Chambers UK, 2026
Group Litigation: “Daniel is super bright. He is a really good cross-examiner and has a really good way in engaging with the tribunal. He is great on his feet and able to pivot.” – Chambers UK, 2026
Administrative & Public Law: “Daniel is super bright and a really good cross-examiner. He is great on his feet and able to pivot when faced with difficult questions.” “Daniel is ferociously intelligent but very user-friendly and good at building rapport with the judge.” – Chambers UK, 2026
Telecommunications: “Daniel Beard is a fantastic advocate.” “Daniel Beard is top, definitely.” “Daniel Beard is extremely impressive.” – Chambers UK, 2026
Leading silk in Competition: “Daniel is a brilliant advocate. He bridges the gap between the economics and law in competition cases effortlessly and it makes him a fierce cross-examiner. He has significant expertise in cases in the tech sector and clients love him.” – Legal 500, 2026
Leading silk in European Union relations: “Superb advocate, with a clear focus. Very easy to work with, with a very clear and open style.” – Legal 500, 2026
Leading silk in Group Litigation: “Superb advocate, with a clear focus. Very easy to work with, with a very clear and open style.” – Legal 500, 2026
Competition Law (ranked as a Star Individual): “Daniel Beard KC is obviously outstanding.”, “He is really a superstar, but also very user-friendly.” “He is truly exceptional and world-class.” “Daniel is a top advocate and loved by clients.” – Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2025
European Law: “Daniel Beard KC is a hands-on barrister with superb client-handling skills.” “Daniel Beard KC is one of the sharpest and best advocates I have worked with over the years.” – Chambers UK, 2025
Administrative & Public Law: “Daniel is a wonderful advocate as he is very measured.” – Chambers UK, 2025
Telecommunications: “Daniel Beard is a clear heavy hitter in the competition and telecoms space. He is incredibly astute, bright, very strategic and focused, and he is very effective.” “He is a commanding figure. He has a great brain, masses of common sense and a brilliant way with judges.” – Chambers UK, 2025
Leading silk in Competition – Legal 500, 2025
Leading silk in European Union relations – Legal 500, 2025
Leading silk in Group Litigation: “A fantastic mind and an encyclopaedic knowledge of competition law. He has an ability to distil the most complex issues into clear and effective submissions. He is also great on his feet and able to convey very complicated material in a succinct and persuasive manner.” – Legal 500, 2025
Recommended in Competition, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2025
Recommended in Telecoms, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2025
Recommended in Media & Entertainment, Who’s Who Legal UK Bar 2025
MA (Hons) Cambridge (First Class) Bachelor of Civil Law (BCL), Oxford
Daniel has written numerous articles on competition and public law. He was a founder of the Competition Law Journal, Jordan Publishing. He speaks regularly on competition, EU and public law matters and has appeared on the BBC and Channel 4 News.
