Gerald Barling, QC, has been appointed president of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), more than eight months after his predecessor resigned.

Mr Barling, who joins from Brick Court Chambers, replaces Sir Christopher Bellamy, who is now a consultant at Linklaters.

Mr Barling, 58, was described as an "excellent appointment" by one competition barrister.

He would "instil a much-needed sense of rigour into the court, which has been drifting of late," the barrister said.

Crucial to Mr Barling's appointment is his experience dealing with with telecommunications law. The CAT, founded in 1999, now has jurisdiction to hear certain cases under the Communications Act 2003.

He becomes a justice of the High Court assigned to the Chancery division as part of the role.

Mr Barling acted for retailer B&Q when it successfully challenged the UK’s Sunday trading laws in a case that led to the reform of the Shops Act.

Sir Christopher Bellamy, the previous president, took up a position at Linklaters after stepping down earlier this year.

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