Speakers

Richard Brown is an Assistant Director in the Cartels Enforcement team within the CMA. He has led investigations in a number of cartel investigations (both civil and criminal cases). Richard is by background a criminal barrister who practiced for ten years in the criminal courts defending and prosecuting the full range of criminal offences. He then joined the Government Legal Service in 2008 working at the Serious Organised Crime Agency where he conducted civil recovery proceedings, aiming to seize the proceeds of unlawful conduct. He also worked in the Attorney General’s Office advising on the wide spectrum of legal issues and litigation directly involving the Attorney General, in particular the potential adverse impact of reporting on high profile judicial proceedings. 

Sarah Cawthorne is an Assistant Director in the Competition Enforcement team within the CMA. She is currently leading an investigation into conduct in the housebuilding sector, and has previously worked on a range of competition law cases involving digital and pharmaceutical markets.

Sarah joined the CMA in 2020, after completing a PhD at the University of York. She now works from the CMA’s Greater Manchester office in Salford, where she was one of the first members of staff. During her time at the CMA she has been involved in phases across the lifecycle of a regulatory investigation, including dawn raids, case launch, complex evidence reviews, issuing infringement decisions, accepting legally binding commitments, and successfully defending a CMA decision on appeal.