Neil Warwick

Neil is a recognised expert in EU & Competition Law whose practice includes State aid and EU Structural Funding.  With over 25 years’ experience in private practice and in-house, Neil has represented major public and private sector organisations – particularly in complex contentious matters.

He works with listed companies on precedent setting merger clearances, multi-national organisations on brand maximisation and compliance; as well as public sector bodies on vires issues and fund creation having set up over twenty five public/private investment funds.  Clients range from Franke, Arriva Plc, Nike Inc. and Atom Bank to British Business Bank.

Relevant experience includes advising:

• Franke, Zip Heaters, Ideal Standard, Aqualisa and Davroc Lefroy on the design and implementation of selective distribution systems to deal with internet market free riders. For over a decade Neil has represented most of the major brands in the sector to improve sales channels and brand maximisation.
• Multiple precedent setting competition/procurement actions including the first ever dawn raid in the UK, the first rail clearance before the EU Commission, the first referrals of rail clearances from the EU to the UK and numerous high court injunction cases including Arriva the Shires Ltd –v- London Luton Airport Limited and The Queen on the application of easyBus –v- Stansted Airport Limited
• The first public/private property development fund in England created in conjunction with a Local Enterprise Partnership dealing with State aid and procurement compliance as well as the implementation of all of the fund management arrangements.

Awards / rankings: Neil has been recognised by most of the major legal directories as an expert in EU and Competition Law.  In 2018 he was awarded an OBE for his services to the economy having overseen over £1 billion of European Structural Investment funding in the North East.  As a well-known commentator on Brexit, Neil has appeared on Sky TV (Adam Boulton), Regional TV and Radio as well as national news, such as the Independent and regional news such as Insider Media.  Neil is regularly asked by public sector organisations to present Brexit readiness training.

Professional memberships: In addition, from 2016 until 2019, Neil was the National Portfolio Chair for Brexit for the Federation of Small Businesses (the largest trade organisation in the UK) which has led Neil to give evidence on Brexit at the House of Lords and House of Commons Select Committees, believed to be the first private practice lawyer in the Country to do so.  Neil is also a trustee of the Community Foundation for Tyne & Wear and Northumberland which is the largest community foundation outside North America.