2021 lee chisman close lens 014 _edited.png

LEE CHISMAN-RUSSELL

Lee's practice spans the full spectrum of competition law matters, having acted for clients in a number of the CMA’s regulatory cartel investigations and subsequent appeals before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
He has unique experience acting for class representatives in opt-out competition class actions, as well as stand-alone actions before the CAT. Lee has advised household names on matters of competition law, such as Mitsubishi Motors, Yankee Candle, Addison Lee, and Jacuzzi, to (shamlessly namedrop) but a few. Lee has also acted in a variety of merger control transactions (both for Target and Acquirer).

Request a full CV

COMPETITION EXPERIENCE

Indicative examples of Lee's recent experience

GENERAL COMPETITION

Acted for: defendants, claimants, interveners, appellants, and respondents, in the High Court, Court of Appeal and extensively in the specialist competition forum, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).
Advising the Target on global FDI on its sale to Meta
Advised a UK golf governing body regarding the proposed World Handicap System.
Advised the leading hot tub brand regarding its distribution agreements.
Designed and delivered multiple competition law compliance training programmes in various sectors such as pharmaceuticals, food and agriculture, and retail.
Drafting and filing complaints with the Competition and Markets Authority and European Commission about anti-competitive practices in various sectors.
Assisted a watch spare parts manufacturer in relation to Article 102 proceedings against a global premium watch brand.
Advised company directors on the application of the Company Directors Disqualification Act and Competition Disqualification Orders in relation to breaches of competition law.
Advised Addison Lee in its challenge to the restriction on the use of London bus lanes for its private hire vehicles praeut Black Cabs.
Part of the competition law advising team for the British Association of European Pharmaceutical Distributors (BAEPD).
Advised a local authority on the application of the state aid rule to, inter alia, the Trafford Centre Development.
Advised the Ofcom appointed “One Touch Switching Co” regarding competition law.
Advising the leading folding bike brand regarding its reseller agreements.
Advising a leading luxury car brand on its franchise agreements.
Acted as the first "litigation friend" in CAT proceedings for a Litigant In Person.

REGULATORY WORK

Acted for a defendant in CMA Chapter I Investigation Case 50697 - Demolition Cartel
Acted for a defendant in CMA Chapter I investigation Case 50511.2 – Prochlorperazine.
Acted for a defendant in CMA Chapter I investigation Case 50507.2 – Nortriptyline.
Acted for 3 defendants in CMA Chapter I investigation Case 9859-14 – Modelling Cartel.
Acted for a defendant in CMA Chapter I investigation Case 50697 - Demolition Cartel.
Acted for the whistleblower in CMA Chapter I investigation Case 50477 - Roofing Materials.

COMPETITION LITIGATION (RECENT)

Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT)

Case 1615/5/7/23 Up and Running (UK) v Deckers UK. Acted for the claimant in standalone proceedings.
Case 1688/5/7/24 Instaplanta (Yorkshire) Limited v Leeds City Council. Acted for the claimant in standalone proceedings
Case 1581/5/7/23 Utilita Energy Limited v PayPoint plc & Anor. Acted for the claimant in quasi follow-on proceedings.
Case 1587/1/12/23 Squibb Group Limited v Competition and Markets Authority. Acted for the appellant appealing a decision of the CMA.
Case 1569/5/7/22 Instaplanta (Yorkshire) Limited v Leeds City Council. Acted for the claimant in standalone proceedings.
Case 1533/5/7/22 Commercial Buyers Group v Associated Lead Mills and others. Acted for the claimant in follow-on proceedings.
Case 1426/3/3/21 CityFiber Limited v Ofcom. Acted for 4 of the proposed interveners.
Case 1404/7/7/21 David Courtney Boyle v Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) & Others. Acted for the class representative.
Case 1344/1/12/20 Lexon (UK) Limited v Competition and Markets Authority. Acted for the Appellant appealing a decision of the CMA.
Case 1359/5/7/20 Rest & Play Footwear Ltd v George Rye & Sons Ltd. Acted for the claimant in Chapter I proceedings.
Case 1351/5/7/20 Churchill Gowns Limited v Ede & Ravenscroft Limited. Acted for the claimant in Chapter II proceedings.

High Court

Case CP-2022-000006 Berkeley Homes v Southern Water. Acted for the defendant.
Case BL 2024 LDS 000075 Leeds City Council v Instaplanta (Yorkshire) Limited. Acted for the defendant in Part 7 & 8 proceedings.

Court of Appeal

Case CA-2025-002716 - Deckers UK v Up and Running (UK). Acting for the Respondent on appeal from a CAT decision (see above - 1615).

MERGER CONTROL, ETC.

Send For Help Limited / SoloProtect Limited. Notification to the CMA plus full Phase One process
Assistance with notification analysis regarding the merger between two suppliers of packaging material.
Acted for the Acquirer with an NSI Act notification regarding the purchase of a cloud computing business.
Advised the Target on the merger aspects of the sale of one of the UK's largest offshore wind farm developments.
Advised two leading cruise ship companies on the competition aspects of a proposed JV.
XPO Logistics / Kuehne + Nagel Drinkflow Logistics. Acted for the Target (Art. 4(4) - Full referral).
Premier Vet Alliance / Simplyhealth Group Limited. Acted for the Target.
Acted for a global Japanese car manufacturer in the proposed sale of its spare parts business.
Advising [the Target] on the global FDI of its sale to Meta.
Acting for [the Acquirer] in its purchase of a division of a UK energy company.
Acting for [the Acquirer] in the purchase of a competing (3 buying 1) business in the sports leisure industry.