Charles Livingstone
Charles leads Brodies' competition law practice, supporting clients on sensitive and strategically important matters including obtaining merger clearance for major M&A projects, investigating potential competition breaches, responding to dawn raids and acting in competition litigation. He also advises private and public sector clients on State aid and public procurement, in both contentious and non-contentious scenarios.
Charles also supports commercial, public sector, charitable and individual clients on public law issues including judicial review, human rights, information law, charity law and public authority powers and duties. He advises clients on constitutional matters, such as the limits on the Scottish Parliament’s powers, and is the co-head of Brodies' Brexit Advisory Group. He also has significant experience of drafting legislation, including Acts of the Scottish Parliament. Charles is an experienced litigator, having handled major cases in courts up to the UK Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Charles also heads up Brodies' cross-practice food & drink sector group.
Living Brodies' values
Clients appreciate Charles's legal insight, collaborative approach and tenacious character. He takes care to ensure that technical and complex legal issues are explained clearly.
Highlights
- Supported a client dealing with a European Commission dawn raid of the client's Scottish premises.
- Secured merger clearance for Abellio's takeover of the East Midlands rail franchise.
- Led the Scotch Whisky Association's challenge to Scotland's alcohol minimum pricing legislation, in the CJEU and Supreme Court.
Rankings
- Ranked Band 1 for Competition Law by Chambers UK 2024 and as a Leading Individual for EU & Competition by Legal 500 UK 2024.
- Identified as a 'Leading Individual' (Parliamentary & Public Affairs) by Legal 500 UK 2024.
- Ranked Band 1 for Administrative & Public Law and ranked band 2 for Parliamentary & Public Affairs by Chambers UK 2024.
"Charles Livingstone really knows his stuff and his attention to detail is second to none. He explains complex legal issues in a simple, straightforward manner and is able to tailor the advice given to be realistic and workable for our business."
Chambers UK 2024
"I think he is extremely thorough and completely reliable. If you want something to be checked, you know absolutely that it will be safe with him and that he is very good at scrutinising the detail very carefully. He is very reliable, to a degree that should give clients complete confidence due to his level of preparation and clear-sightedness."
Chambers UK 2024
"Charles is heavily involved in judicial reviews. He really understands the process and is able to translate complex legal jargon into something easily digestible."
Chambers UK 2024
"Charles Livingstone is an astute lawyer with a deep understanding of both the substantive and the procedural issues arising in public law cases, as well as of the political and commercial dimensions of public law litigation on key issues for the economy of Scotland and the UK more generally."
Legal 500 UK 2023