Noel Beale Director, Competition – Regulation

Noel is an experienced competition and regulatory lawyer, having advised private practice and government bodies across a range of different sectors. From 2008 to 2014 Noel was at Ofwat where he was director of legal services prior to rejoining Burges Salmon.

Noel specialises in providing legal and economic advice to clients in relation to anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominance issues, merger control clearances and economic regulatory matters.

At Ofwat, Noel provided advice to the Board and took part in decision making in relation to the whole range of Ofwat’s activities including Competition Act cases, the passage of new legislation, regulatory licence matters, judicial reviews and price reviews – including challenges before the High Court, Competition Appeal Tribunal and Court of Appeal.

Noel has also published articles on competition law matters including the UK Merger Control section of the European Antitrust Review 2016, and regularly provides training to directors and staff in relation to competition law compliance.

• Advising Oasis Healthcare Limited in relation to the merger control issues associated with its acquisition of a number of orthodontic practices in the South East of England and obtaining unconditional clearance.
• Advising a water and sewerage undertaker on the competition issues associated with restructuring its operations as a result of water retail market reform.
• Applying for and obtaining leniency and a no action letter in relation to cartel behaviour in the chemicals sector.
• Currently acting for the main party to a Competition & Markets Authority investigation concerning the legality of restrictions on the advertised prices of products, especially through internet sales.
• Advising a private healthcare provider on the competition issues arising from negotiations with a competitor about the supply of IT services and IT outsourcing, involving complex questions of information exchange.