Call 2020
George Hack
Team Leader
+44 (0)207 842 3762
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Katie Halbard
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 8861
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Hannah Bernstein has a broad commercial practice with a particular interest in competition law, and regulated areas, such aviation, banking, and the professions.
Hannah is currently acting in competition proceedings in the CAT in relation to follow-on damages claims, and acting and advising in relation to a number of class actions. Hannah has experience acting as sole counsel in director disqualification proceedings; and in international arbitration and in the High Court working as part of a team and as sole counsel.
Before coming to the Bar, Hannah was an economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers, advising a range of public bodies and multinational corporations on commercial and competition disputes, providing counterfactual analysis.
Stephan v Amazon Inc
Acting on behalf of UK-based merchants in respect of a variety of alleged abusive practices by Amazon that restrict competition in e-commerce, logistics, and retail markets.
Veolia Environnement S.A. and Others v Stellantis N.V. and Others
Acting for Volvo and Renault Trucks in the UK litigation relating to the Trucks cartel.
Collective settlements: Justin Gutmann v Stagecoach & ors [2024] CAT 32; McLaren Class Representative v MOL & Ors
Acted (with Sarah Abram KC) in obtaining the first and second collective settlement approval orders in the CAT (RoRo [2023] CAT 75, December 2023; Rail Fares 1 [2024] CAT 32, May 2024). In Gutmann, Hannah acted for Stagecoach in relation to an alleged abuse of dominance, and in RoRo Hannah acted for CSAV SA in relation to the follow on damages claim brought by Mark McLaren in relation to RoRo services.
Advanz Pharma Corp & Ors v Competition and Markets Authority [2024] CAT36
Acted (as sole counsel) for Debangshu Dey in director disqualification proceedings (relating to an alleged Market Exclusion Agreement in relation to Prochlorperazine), transferred to the CAT in respect of the competition law issue; the CAT upheld the appeal of the CMA’s decision, finding that there was no Market Exclusion Agreement, and accordingly dismissed the CMA’s application for director disqualifications.
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to potential liability for an alleged breach of the Civil (Aviation) Insurance Regulations (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimants in relation to an argument raised by an aircraft lessor that its leases had been frustrated by the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant on its liability for early termination fees (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the first defendant bank in relation to an application brought by the defendants seeking strike out on the basis of limitation and abuse of process (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for a bank in relation to a claim for breach of mandate and duty of care (during pupillage).
PPI mis-selling
Acted (as sole counsel) for major UK banks in various claims relating to alleged mis-selling of payment protection insurance.
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to an asset disclosure application arising out of alleged misappropriation of assets (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to an arbitration arising out of alleged breaches of confidence (during pupillage).
Acted in international proceedings relating to an alleged breach of the Quincecare duty of care.
Acted for the Commissioner of the Police of the Metropolis in proceedings relating to forfeiture under the Proceeds of Crime Act.
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to a claim arising in consequence of manipulation by the defendant of its annual accounts (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to a claim in dishonest assistance (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel in advising on the enforceability of a sham transaction where that transaction assigns benefits to an innocent third party (during pupillage).
Acted in an international arbitration under the LCIA rules in relation to a dispute concerning both parties performance under a long term relational contract.
Acted (with Jeff Chapman KC) in the High Court in relation to the interpretation and performance of agreements governing the sale of Aston Martin vehicles.
Acted for the Claimants seeking damages for breaches of a share purchase agreement, and a shareholders agreement.
Advised the Claimant company on the validity of a contract where the counterparty to the contract was dissolved at the time of contracting, and on the merits of its claim.
Assisted counsel for a port-operator in advising on the applicability of English law to an agreement between the parties, and on the extent and enforceability of the rights and obligations arising in consequence of that agreement (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to the defendant’s application to set aside service of the proceedings on the basis of alleged material non-disclosure and a jurisdiction challenge (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to a breach of contract claim (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to a dispute in respect of an implied waiver of privilege (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for a UK corporate in advising on the merits of an application for an anti-suit injunction on the basis of an exclusive jurisdiction clause and vexatious conduct (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to a breach of a shareholders’ agreement (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in an application for rectification of the register under the Companies Act 2006 (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to an alleged repudiatory breach of contract and an issue of whether payment obligations continued following termination of the contract (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to an application to contest jurisdiction (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to issues of actionable statements of fact and opinion (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in advising on the merits of a claim for breach of contract involving a potential estoppel (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to the implications of Brexit on a dispute over jurisdiction (during pupillage).
Acted for the Claimants seeking damages for breaches of a share purchase agreement, and a shareholders agreement.
Advised the Claimant company on the validity of a contract where the counterparty to the contract was dissolved at the time of contracting, and on the merits of its claim.
Assisted counsel for the claimant in relation to a breach of a shareholders’ agreement (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the claimant in an application for rectification of the register under the Companies Act 2006 (during pupillage).
Stephan v Amazon Inc
Acting on behalf of UK-based merchants in respect of a variety of abusive practices by Amazon that restrict competition in e-commerce, logistics, and retail markets.
Veolia Environnement S.A. and Others v Stellantis N.V. and Others
Acting for Volvo and Renault Trucks in the UK litigation relating to damages claims brought on the basis of the European Commission’s finding of an infringement of Article 101(1) TFEU.
Lexon (UK) Limited & Others v Competition and Markets Authority
Acted (as sole counsel) for Debangshu Dey in director disqualification proceedings transferred to the CAT in respect of the competition law issue. The CAT upheld the appeal of the CMA’s decision, finding that there was no Market Exclusion Agreement, and accordingly dismissed the CMA’s application for director disqualifications.
McLaren Class Representative v MOL & Ors
Acted (with Sarah Abram KC) for CSAV SA in defending the collective proceedings claim for follow-on damages relating to RoRo services.
Vattenfall v Prysmian and Nexans
Acted (with Aidan Robertson KC and Sarah Abram KC) for the Claimants in this follow-on damages claim relating to the power cables cartel.
Justin Gutmann v Stagecoach & ors
Acted (with Sarah Abram KC) for Stagecoach in relation to an alleged abuse of dominance and in obtaining a CSAO.
Other
Advised on proceedings for breach of Article 101 and 102 TFEU.
Advised on claim for damages arising from alleged unlawful cartel arrangements.
Assisted counsel for a UK corporate in advising in relation to abuse of dominance allegations (during pupillage).
Advised a UK corporate on allegations of collusive behaviour and providing counterfactual analysis (as a consultant at PwC).
Vattenfall v Prysmian and Nexans
Acted (with Aidan Robertson KC and Sarah Abram KC) for the Claimants in this follow-on damages claim relating to the power cables cartel.
Acted in an international arbitration under the LCIA rules in relation to a dispute concerning both parties performance under a long term relational contract.
Acted in international proceedings relating to an alleged breach of the Quincecare duty of care.
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to an issue as to whether English law, or the law of the foreign court, applied to determine questions of limitation; and on the Claimants’ ability to rely on regulatory findings as evidence of the matters found by those regulators (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for the defendant in relation to an application to contest jurisdiction (during pupillage).
Advised a city firm in respect of allegations of misconduct relating to the operation of a client account.
Assisted counsel for a city firm on an internal investigation relating to a potential breach of the Solicitors Accounts Rules (during pupillage).
Assisted counsel for a city firm in advising on the extent of obligations arising under historic anti-money laundering regulations (during pupillage).
Daniel Carall-Green and Christopher Monaghan, led by Mark Brealey KC of Monckton…
Issue 1 of ThoughtLeaders4’s Competition Magazine was released on 15 May and…
Season 2: Episode 5
This episode is hosted by Damien Bruneau and features a discussion with…
George Hack
Team Leader
+44 (0)207 842 3762
Click here to email
Katie Halbard
Team Leader's Assistant
+44 (0)20 3873 8861
Click here to email
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