BCLP recognized in ‘The Lawyer’ Top 20 Cases of 2025

International law firm BCLP has earned recognition for involvement in one of the most-anticipated UK cases this year: The New Lottery Company Limited and Northern & Shell PLC v The Gambling Commission. The case and the firm’s role are featured in The Lawyer Top 20 Cases of 2025.

This marks BCLP’s fifth appearance in the highly regarded annual listing, with a total of eight cases recognized over the past five years.

BCLP represents the claimants, The New Lottery Company (TNLC) and Northern & Shell PLC (N&S). The Gambling Commission faces claims from TNLC and N&S dating back to 2020, when the commission kicked off one of the UK’s largest ever public procurement processes – the Fourth National Lottery Competition contract – valued at over £8 billion, seeking the operator for the lottery from 2024-2034. N&S was one of the bidders. However, after a two-year procurement process, the contract was awarded to Czech-owned Allwyn Entertainment.

That triggered a string of High Court litigation with BCLP’s clients challenging the fairness of the decision and alleging serious breaches of the procurement regulations.

Throughout 2024, there were multiple interlocutory hearings on the matter, with the trial now set for 8-weeks commencing in October 2025.

BCLP’s team is headed by Partners Graham Shear (EMEA Regional Leader – Litigations & Investigations), Chris Bryant and Alexandra Kirby, and an associate team including Emily Watts, Sam Hewitt, Henry Cross and Irina Tuca.