Nicola Boyle
Nicola Boyle is London Managing Partner and has been instrumental in developing the firm’s competition practice in London having joined Hausfeld shortly after its launch in 2009.
Expertise
Nicola Boyle’s experience lies in large-scale and complex litigation, including in relation to competition law and commercial disputes.
She has acted for corporate and individual clients on some of the most significant cartel damages claims of the last decade, both in the UK and continental Europe, including in claims relating to the Paraffin Wax, Methionine, Copper Tubes and Power Cables Cartels and the 'Interchange fee' litigation against Mastercard and Visa in London.
Nicola has also acted for claimants in relation to abuse of dominance claims, including for Foundem in its high-profile dispute against Google. She is a driving force behind Hausfeld's market leading position in collective actions and acts for the Consumers' Association in relation to its opt-out claim on behalf of some 30 million consumers against Qualcomm.
A keen proponent of alternative dispute resolution, she is a skilled negotiator and has successfully resolved a number of complex multi-party disputes outside of the courts. Nicola has widespread expertise in litigation funding, after the event insurance and advising clients how to manage risk via alternative fee arrangements.
Clients
Nicola has represented multi-nationals, private businesses and individual claimants in a wide range of disputes, in particular in the energy and financial services sectors.
Working towards a diverse, equitable and inclusive work force is paramount to Nicola who is an active member of Hausfeld's Diversity Equity and Inclusion Committee.
Legal Practice Course, Nottingham Law School
LLM (focusing on EU environmental law), University of Birmingham
LLB (Honours), University of Birmingham
B.A., University of Birmingham
Solicitor, England and Wales, 2000
Member - The Law Society of England & Wales
Nicola previously taught an undergraduate course in European law at the University of Birmingham.
She also participated in the Competition Appeal Tribunal working group on the implementation of the UK Consumer Rights Act and the European Damages Directive.
Chambers UK
Nicola Boyle has "impressive experience, a very strategic mind and showcases the most pragmatic views in the most difficult circumstances" and "she is an absolute asset on your side." - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK and Chambers Global, 2025
Nicola is "wise, clever and very capable” and “very personable and super intelligent.” - Group Litigation: Claimant, Chambers UK, 2025
Nicola Boyle is “very collegiate so can work alongside junior partners and barristers” and “there isn't anything that she doesn't consider or that she leaves out”; “strategically, she is all over the details.” - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global, 2024
Nicola Boyle “is very personable and knowledgeable, making it easy to get on with her and discuss ideas” and “absolutely knows her stuff.” - Group Litigation: Claimant, Chambers UK, 2024
'Nicola Boyle is very solid and she knows a good case when she sees it... She is very pragmatic and knows which points to push forwards.' - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK and Chambers Global 2023
"Nicola is good at managing complex cases and helping clients to negotiate in difficult multiparty situations." - Competition Law Private Enforcement Claimant, Chambers UK 2022
Nicola Boyle advises clients on claims for damages arising from price fixing and abuse of dominance matters. She is particularly active for multinational clients on domestic and international proceedings. - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK, Chambers Europe, 2021
Chambers UK continues to rank Nicola as a leading lawyer and has done so for a number of consecutive years: "Nicola Boyle handles UK follow-on damages cases for large claimant groups. She has a wider practice that extends to the defence of complainants' interests in CJEU appeals against EC decisions." - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2020
Nicola Boyle acts for a number of international companies on claims for damages arising from cartel and abuse of dominance decisions. She has represented clients before the competition authorities in several European countries. Interviewees say: ‘Nicola is excellent at getting everything done and making sure things work smoothly’. - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global 2019
Nicola is an excellent lawyer and a real fighter for her clients. She spots problems in advance and shows how to deal with them. - Competition Law: Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK 2018
Nicola is regarded an expert in damages claims with experience in the financial services and industrial sectors. Clients describe her as ‘very hands-on, knows the cases well and has a good eye for detail’. – Competition Litigation: Competition Law Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK 2017
Nicola Boyle has been highlighted as a notable practitioner in the field. Nicola has that rare quality of being able to grasp every detail of a case whilst still maintaining a clear strategic overview. she is an experienced top-quality litigator who combines expert competition knowledge with a sound, pragmatic approach. - Competition Litigation: Competition Law Private Enforcement: Claimant, Chambers UK 2016
Legal 500 UK
'Leading Partner' Nicola Boyle is 'one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with. She is the complete practitioner.' - Competition Litigation, 2025
Recognised as a 'Leading Partner' - Group Litigation: Claimant, 2025
Recognised as a 'key lawyer' - Environment, 2025
'Leading individual' Nicola Boyle ‘is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with, she combines a brilliant intellect with excellent client service' - Competition Litigation, 2024
'Brilliant intellect' - Competition Litigation, 2024
'Highly knowledgeable as well as being battle hardened in the leading cases.’ - Group Litigation: Claimant, 2024
"An exceptional partner..." Ranked as a "leading individual, Nicola Boyle is one of the most impressive solicitors I have ever worked with. She is commercially and legally astute, and is a fantastic team manager. The complete solicitor..." "[She] is a class act. Consistently spearheads the most significant competition disputes." - Competition Litigation 2023
Ranked as a 'Leading Individual'. - Competition Litigation, 2022
Ranked as a 'Leading Individual': ‘Nicola Boyle is a very effective litigator and a diligent case manager, with a very good overall strategic vision.’ - Competition Litigation, 2021
Legal 500 mentions Nicola Boyle as ‘highly recommended’. - Competition Litigation, 2020
‘Nicola Boyle is amazing and great at leading a team’. - Competition Litigation, 2020
‘An excellent legal mind’ - Competition Litigation, 2019
Nicola is acknowledged for acting as co-counsel for numerous entities in the interchange fee litigation. – Competition Litigation 2018
‘Enthusiastic and highly competent litigator.’ – Competition Litigation, 2015
Who’s Who Legal
Recognised as a Thought Leader and Global Leader in Competition Plaintiffs since 2023.
Nicola Boyle is "a well-renowned competition specialist who garners praise for her work on follow-on cartel damages claims." - Global Leader for Competition Plaintiffs 2022
Nicola Boyle is “held in high esteem by sources who highly recommend her first-rate practice in follow-on cartel damages claims”. - Global Leader for Competition Plaintiffs, 2021
Nicola Boyle secures notable recommendations for her skill with large follow-on competition damages matters in the EU. - Global Leader for Competition Plaintiffs, 2020
Nicola Boyle is an acclaimed competition plaintiff expert in the European market. She wins recommendations from her peers and clients for her practice, which focuses on representing groups in follow-on cartel damage matters. – Global Leader for Competition Plaintiffs, 2019
Nicola was mentioned among ‘Thought Leaders Global Elite’ in the 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal Thought Leaders – Competition 2019’.
Nicola was mentioned for her ‘exceptional performance’ in the ‘Who’s Who Legal 2018 Plantiffs Chapter’, calling the European offices “stand out…leading firm in the European market”.
Lawdragon
Nicola was recognised by Lawdragon in 2021 and 2023 in their 500 Global Litigation Lawyers for International Litigation & Disputes. In 2024, she was also commended as part of the 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers for Competition law, esp. plaintiff and ranked in he prestigious Top 500 Leading Global Litigators.
Nicola has acted on a number of significant follow-on cartel damages claims on behalf of claimants from across Europe and a number of which have helped develop the law in this area. Most notably:
In addition, she led the Hausfeld team which:
Nicola Boyle has impressive experience, a very strategic mind and showcases the most pragmatic views in the most difficult circumstances.
Nicola Boyle is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with. She is the complete practitioner.
Nicola is very collegiate so can work alongside junior partners and barristers. There isn't anything that she doesn't consider or that she leaves out, strategically, she is all over the details.
Nicola Boyle ‘is one of the best lawyers I have ever worked with, she combines a brilliant intellect with excellent client service'
'Nicola Boyle is very solid and she knows a good case when she sees it... She is very pragmatic and knows which points to push forwards.'
Nicola Boyle is one of the most impressive solicitors I have ever worked with. She is commercially and legally astute, and is a fantastic team manager. The complete solicitor.
She is good at managing complex cases and helping clients to negotiate in difficult multiparty situations.
A very effective litigator and a diligent case manager, with a very good overall strategic vision.
Handles UK follow-on damages cases for large claimant groups. She has a wider practice that extends to the defence of complainants' interests in CJEU appeals against EC decisions.
Nicola Boyle is amazing and great at leading a team.
Nicola is excellent at getting everything done and making sure things work smoothly.
‘An excellent legal mind’.
An excellent lawyer and a real fighter for her clients. She spots problems in advance and shows how to deal with them.