Nicola Chesaites

Nicola Chesaites specializes in competition and EU law litigation. She has acted in leading competition damages claims and collective (class) actions in the UK, representing claimants and defendants before the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. Notably, Nicola has acted in a number of high-profile competition damages cases in the UK, including in relation to trucks, roll-on, roll-off car transportation, and FX manipulation litigation.

Dual qualified in England and Wales (barrister) and Belgium (advocaat), Nicola has advised multinationals on their European-wide competition litigation strategies, coordinating national claims alongside litigation before the EU courts in Luxembourg. She also has experience coordinating transatlantic disputes alongside U.S. counsel.

Alongside her competition litigation practice, Nicola has significant experience representing corporates in challenging the actions of EU institutions and defending the EU in trade disputes before the EU courts. She has appeared before the EU courts in more than 28 cases and has acted in a wide range of disputes, including banking resolution, trade, sanctions, passenger rights, pharmaceuticals, competition, and transparency/ access to documents, in direct actions, preliminary rulings, and appeals. Nicola was formerly a Référendaire at the EU General Court, which — combined with her previous representation of the EU — provides her with valuable insights into EU disputes.

The legal directories describe her as “a top-flight practitioner for EU competition disputes” (WWL Competition), “a key practitioner” in the area of competition litigation, who has “played a leading role in a number of significant matters” (Legal 500), and “very creative, challenges accepted thinking and comes up with new ideas” (Chambers and Partners). Nicola was also recognized in The Lawyer’s “Hot 100” in the category of litigation in 2017.