Competition Appeal Tribunal Ordinary Panel Member Search

Background The Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) is seeking to appoint eight new Members to the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) Panel of Ordinary Members.

The Panel of Ordinary Members is made up of people with cross-disciplinary expertise in law, economics, business and accountancy plus other related fields.

This requirement is for the search only element for this recruitment campaign. This will be in parallel with the vacancies open for application, which we expect to be for up to a four week period subject to final approval. Applicants can apply through the BIS appointments team mailbox. The below services are not in scope for this requirement: media advertising, input to the applicants pack, a research report, pre-sift to be carried out or longlist panel pack to be produced etc.

The search We are seeking people from diverse backgrounds who have specialist knowledge and experience in the fields of economics, accountancy, business and law and from all parts of the United Kingdom. We are looking for applications from women and other under-represented groups (for example BME candidates) who have the required specialist knowledge and expertise and meet the selection criteria, attached. We need applications from Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland candidates with relevant expertise to ensure that the Tribunal make up represents the UK nature of the Tribunal’s work. The Competition Appeal Tribunal The Tribunal is a specialist judicial body created by the Enterprise Act 2002. Under United Kingdom law, the function of the CAT is to hear and decide appeals and other applications or claims for damages involving competition or economic regulatory issues, including mergers and markets investigations.

Individual cases are heard before a tribunal consisting of three members: either the President or a member of the panel of Chairmen (comprising High Court Judges, equivalent judges in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and other senior lawyers) and two “ordinary members” from a standing panel. Although the Ordinary Members appointments do not fall within the Judicial Commission Regime, once appointed to a Tribunal, an Ordinary Members role will be fully judicial in nature.

BIS is looking to issue a contract with a company who can successfully demonstrate their ability to: • Offer a cost effective approach to delivering the search that meets the needs of this specification, • Identify high calibre applicants who have backgrounds in economics, law, accountancy and business; • Reach out to a broad geographical spread including from the devolved nations; • Identify a strong list of names from under-represented groups (women and BME candidates in particular); • Ensure high calibre individuals apply for roles that have the potential to progress through the campaign process; • Provide a professional service, discreet approach and attention to detail in delivering the search requirements.