Neil Campbell is an internationally recognized authority in competition law, antitrust, foreign investment and international trade. He has extensive experience in regulated industries, including energy, financial services, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, broadcast / telecom and transportation. Neil is the leader of the firm’s Competition, Antitrust & Foreign Investment Group.
Well-known for his work in complex mergers and litigation matters, Neil has led over 300 merger clearances under the Competition Act and the Investment Canada Act, dozens of cartel cases and related class actions, as well as multiple abuse of dominance and other unilateral conduct investigations and proceedings. He represented defendants in the Supreme Court of Canada case that established the law on certification thresholds, umbrella purchaser claims and limitation periods for price-fixing class actions in Canada.
Neil represents clients in matters before the federal, Ontario and British Columbia courts, the Competition Tribunal, the Canadian International Trade Tribunal and the Canadian Transportation Agency, in addition to the Competition Bureau and the Canada Border Services Agency. He also advises on marketing and distribution, as well as grey market, joint venture and compliance issues.
Neil was appointed to the roster of the Canada-United States–Mexico–Agreement (formerly NAFTA) Chapter 19 (Trade Remedies) panellists in 2018. His vast experience in trade law includes acting in matters relating to anti-dumping, the Canada Free Trade Agreement and government procurement, export / import controls, economic sanctions, foreign corrupt practices, and investor-state disputes under trade agreements and bilateral investment treaties.
A former chair of the Market Surveillance Panel (2007–2012) which monitors Ontario’s wholesale electricity market on behalf of the Ontario Energy Board, Neil also has significant experience on Market Rules compliance and enforcement issues.
Neil has appeared before Canadian parliamentary committees on competition policy matters and is a member of the C.D. Howe Institute’s Competition Policy Council. He is the co-founder of the Merger Streamlining Group which has made dozens of submissions to government authorities in respect of compliance with the ICN Recommended Practices for Merger Notification and Review Procedures over the past two decades. He has also served as a co-author or coordinator for multiple CBA Competition Section, ABA Antitrust Law Section and IBA Antitrust Section submissions to agencies and governments on competition law and enforcement policies.
