Announcements — 01/09/2025

Leading European competition, tech regulation and litigation firm Geradin Partners hires former British government minister, Damian Collins OBE 

London, 1 September 2025  

Geradin Partners is expanding its digital regulation capabilities in London with the hire of former government minister, Damian Collins OBE.  Damian will lead the firm’s policy practice in London. 

The development of digital regulation in the UK and EU has a strong policy dimension. This has been an important part of the firm’s work for clients on the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act and Online Safety Act, and the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Digital Services Act, and AI Act, amongst others.  

Damian is a respected expert on these issues. He is a former British government Minister for Tech and the Digital Economy, with responsibility for online harms, digital competition and AI safety. He played a leading role in the passage of the DMCC Act through Parliament. He chaired the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, leading major inquiries into social media disinformation and the impact of addictive and immersive technologies. In 2021, he chaired the Joint Committee of the House of Lords and House of Commons which led the scrutiny of the UK’s Online Safety Act. He is currently a visiting Senior Fellow the Centre for Media, Democracy and Technology at the Max Bell Public Policy School at McGill University in Canada. Damian was awarded the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his political and public service in the King’s Birthday Honours List 2023. 

Damien Geradin, founding partner of Geradin Partners, says: 

“Our firm has been at the forefront of digital regulation issues throughout their development. Our clients will now benefit from Damian’s unique insights into the policy environment as this continues to develop over the next few years.” 

Damian Collins OBE says: 

“I am thrilled to join Geradin Partners’ market-leading tech, media and telecoms practice.  Sophisticated companies need guidance on the political and regulatory environment in these areas, which can change quickly and in complex ways. We are perfectly placed to provide that guidance.” 

Geradin Partners is the leading firm for digital regulation in the UK.  It was the only law firm invited to give evidence to the House of Commons public bill committee, and also to the House of Lords digital and communications select committee, during and after the passage of the DMCC Act. The firm has six former senior lawyers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), and has been closely involved in all of the CMA’s major investigations in the tech sector. 

Geradin Partners’ policy practice is developing quickly across Europe with the recruitment of Marie Sellier (former VP of Public Affairs for Vivendi) in Paris, and the presence of Tuomas Pöysti (Finland’s former Chancellor of Justice) and Jan Vapaavuori (former Mayor of Helsinki, Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs, and Vice-President of the European Investment Bank) in Helsinki. 

About Geradin Partners  

Geradin Partners is the premier pan-European law firm for competition law and digital regulation in major cases throughout the EU and the UK. Following its German expansion in September 2025, it has offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, Brussels, Cologne, Helsinki, London and Paris, with over 50 specialist lawyers. It is recognised by its clients and peers for its commitment to excellence, as well as for its innovative and strategic approach.  

For all questions, please contact Damien Geradin (dgeradin@geradinpartners.com; + 32 471 17 95 25) or Tom Smith (tsmith@geradinpartners.com; +44 797 964 2347). 

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Damien Geradin

(+32) 471 17 95 25

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