Profile: Martin Coleman

Competition

Biography: Competition

Martin Coleman is based in London and heads the global competition law group at Norton Rose. He previously spent six years in Norton Rose's Brussels office and was managing partner there. Martin is recognised in legal directories as a leading UK competition lawyer, describing him variously as "a leading authority on competition issues in London", "wonderfully experienced and well informed", and praising his "fighting qualities" and his "skill in translating complex legalese into comprehensible commercial language".

Commentators have described Martin's practice group as follows: "This 'extremely professional team' continues to achieve positive results. Clients comment on how 'it provides 110 per cent dedication and handles EC merger issues with ease'"; Norton Rose "has a rounded competition practice and sound regulatory capabilities often winning work on competition matters from larger rivals"; "a diverse practice peppered with interesting and substantial work"; and "a dependable and responsible team, offering a personalised and efficient service from partner to assistant level".

Martin's clients include major international companies such as HSBC Bank, Carlsberg, Group4Securicor, Stena Lines and major UK broadcasters. He has led many cases before the European Commission and UK competition authorities, including market investigations and Phase II investigations, and has advised major businesses, public authorities and national governments on competition law issues. His practice covers a range of industrial sectors including broadcasting, air, sea and rail transport; financial services; consumer goods; and services and pharmaceuticals.

He also has strong experience of competition law litigation, in recent years representing organisations such as the Law Society of England & Wales on a competition law challenge to their solicitor indemnity rules, and the Indian pharmaceutical multinational Ranbaxy on a claim brought by the UK government for damages in respect of an alleged cartel. He has also advised Ranbaxy on the first criminal investigation and charges brought in the UK in respect of alleged cartel activities.

Martin has recently advised on emerging Asian competition law regimes, speaking at a conference to mark the introduction of competition law in Singapore and advising companies in Hong Kong and China on competition law issues globally and the implications of proposed competition laws in those jurisdictions.

Martin was educated at Worcester College, Oxford and he has BA and BCL degrees from Oxford University. He is co-author with Michael Grenfell of one of the first practitioner books on the Competition Act 1998 and is a frequent writer, speaker and broadcaster on competition law issues. He is a member of the Legal Services Consultative Panel, which advises the UK secretary of state for justice on regulation of legal services.