About Us
About Us
Bulk Mail Claim Limited
The Tribunal has authorised Bulk Mail Claim Limited to act as the class representative.
Bulk Mail Claim Limited was incorporated for the purpose of acting as the class representative in these proceedings. The class representative’s duty is to act fairly and adequately in the interests of all members.
Mr Robin Aaronson is the sole director and sole member of Bulk Mail Claim Limited.
As the sole director and member of Bulk Mail Claim Limited, Mr Aaronson will have oversight of the Claim and will make decisions on behalf of the company.
Over the course of his career, Mr Aaronson has held senior roles (including in public bodies) in which he has promoted competitive markets and tackled anti-competitive conduct. In particular:
- in 2000, Mr Aaronson was appointed by the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry as a member of the Postal Services Commission (Postcomm, the regulator of the postal industry at that time), initially for a term of five years. In 2005, his term was extended by a further 18 months; and
- from 2009 to 2017, Mr Aaronson served as a Member of the Competition Commission (later the Competition and Markets Authority).
In these roles, Mr Aaronson was deeply involved in regulating and remedying market structures and conduct which prevented, restricted or distorted competition.
During the course of the Claim, Mr Aaronson will also be assisted by a consultative panel consisting of Roger Witcomb and Lesley Ainsworth.
- Roger Witcomb began his career as an economist at the Bank of England before lecturing in economics at Cambridge University. Between 2009 and 2017, Roger was a panel member of the Competition and Markets Authority (formerly the Competition Commission). Between 2011 and 2016, Roger was the chair of the Competition Commission and panel chair of the CMA.
- Lesley Ainsworth qualified as a solicitor and was a partner in international law firm Hogan Lovells for 25 years, specialising in EU and UK competition law (retired June 2013). She practised in London, Brussels and New York and led the competition practice in the firm’s London office for many years. From 2013 to 2018 she was a member of the Competition and Markets Authority (formerly the Competition Commission). Since 2019 she has been a member of the Financial Conduct Authority’s Competition Decisions Committee and of the Payment Systems Regulator’s Competition Decisions and Enforcement Decisions Committees.
Class Members Customer Group
Bulk Mail Claim Limited has set up a Class Members Customer Group to act as an advisory body to support it in the Claim. This group will play a key role in ensuring that the interests of all class members are fairly and adequately represented throughout the legal process. A brochure explaining more about the Customer Group is available here and the full terms of reference for the Customer Group are available here.
Applications to join the Customer Group are now open. If you meet the eligibility criteria and would like to join the Class Members Customer Group, please apply using the form here.
Legal Team
Bulk Mail Claim Limited has instructed Lewis Silkin LLP, a leading law firm with a wealth of expertise in litigation. Bulk Mail Claim Limited has also instructed an experienced team of specialist competition law barristers at Monckton Chambers.
Litigation Funder
The costs of bringing the Claim are being funded by a highly experienced commercial litigation funder who is a member of the Association of Litigation Funders of England and Wales and abides by its Code of Conduct.
Expert Economist
Bulk Mail Claim Limited has also instructed an expert competition economist. The expert will be responsible for providing evidence in relation to the losses that have been caused by Royal Mail’s unlawful behaviour.