Joe is a partner in Travers Smith's Dispute Resolution Department. Joe's practice covers a broad range of commercial litigation, acting for both claimants and defendants.

Since joining Travers Smith in January 2018, Joe has been heavily involved in the defence of follow-on damages claims in the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Joe also has extensive experience in the defence of high value claims against solicitors and accountants and in dealing with regulatory investigations pursued by the Solicitors Regulations Authority (SRA) and Financial Reporting Counsel (FRC).

He has a diverse competition practice, and acts for major clients on a wide range of significant matters, including matters of strategic commercial or industry-wide importance. He has particular experience in dealing with UK and EU cartel investigations, obtaining UK, EU and international merger clearances, leading National Security (NSI) and FDI reviews, and resolving competition law disputes including follow-on damages litigation. Stephen also advises clients on UK market studies/investigations and European Commission sector inquiries, the competition law aspects of commercial agreements and compliance with competition law.

Stephen's expertise covers a broad range of sectors including technology, financial services, infrastructure, utilities, life sciences, construction, sports, media, consumer products and brands.

Stephen is regularly recognised by the legal directories, often in connection with his strong knowledge of merger control and cartel matters, and is regularly invited to speak as a competition law expert at industry events. He is also frequently quoted in general and trade press on a wide range of competition, national security and foreign investment issues.

Fabian Hübener is a lawyer in Noerr's Brussels office. His practice focuses on advising on EU antitrust law issues. He has successfully advised several clients in proceedings before the European Commission and national competition authorities. He also represents clients in referral proceedings before the ECJ. Another focus of his practice is the antitrust assessment of distribution models, in particular in the automotive industry. He also has extensive experience in the enforcement of antitrust damages claims.

Michele Avagliano is a Vice President at Compass Lexecon, based in London. Michele has been involved in a number of high-profile cases before European competition authorities and courts. He has worked on merger control, damages claims (both follow-on and standalone), cartel investigations, State aid investigations and arbitrations in a range of industries including agriculture, electricity, healthcare, natural gas and LNG, oilfield services, online retail, technology and vehicle manufacturing.

Michele has provided witness evidence and acted as economic expert in proceedings before the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, and has acted as economic expert in dozens of proceedings before Italian courts.

Michele holds an M.Sc. in Economic and Social Sciences from Bocconi University in Milan and a B.Sc. in Statistics, Economics, Finance and Insurance from Sapienza University in Rome. Before joining Compass Lexecon, he worked as an economist at the UK’s Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and at the UK’s Office of Fair Trading (OFT).