Tom Bolster is a competition disputes specialist.
Expertise
He was recognised by Global Competition Review as part of the next generation of leading antitrust practitioners. He is also regularly recognised by Legal 500, Chambers & Partners and Who’s Who Legal as a key induvial in this field. He advises clients in several competition law claims before the English and French Courts. His promotion to Partner in 2020 recognised his contributions to building Hausfeld’s automotive practice, the largest of its kind in Europe.
Clients
Tom has acted for eight leading automotive manufacturers in pursuing damages claims and negotiations relating to auto-part cartels across multiple European jurisdictions. He has led on claims relating to car glass, bearings, thermal, braking and occupant safety systems, as well as maritime car carrier services. He has negotiated dozens of settlements in this area over the last decade and has experience taking such claims all the way to trial.
Tom is also experienced in group litigation for corporate clients across multiple other sectors and was one of the lead lawyers in the Air Cargo claims in the High Court, and the trucks litigation in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), two of the largest and most complex cartel damages actions brought in the UK to date.
Tom is bilingual in French and English and holds a dual degree in English and French law from King’s College London and Paris 1 University (Panthéon-Sorbonne).
Working towards a diverse, equitable and inclusive work force is paramount to Tom who is an active member of Hausfeld's Racial Justice group and our Disability Inclusion group.
Legal Practice Course, The College of Law
Panthéon-Sorbonne (Maitrise en Droit), Univerisité Paris 1
LLB English & French Law (First class honours), King's College London
Solicitors, England and Wales, 2011
Member - The Law Society of England & Wales
Tom has a real heart for justice and enjoys using his skills to make a difference in society. He is on the managing committee of a grass-roots charity providing legal aid and education to poor and marginalised peoples across East-Africa.
Tom is also on the board of the charity “Bread of Hope” which, among other activities, provides supplies to food banks in the London area.
Legal 500 UK
Recognised as a 'Next Generation Partner' - Competition Litigation, 2025
'Next Generation Partner' Tom has ‘great technical strength’. - Competition Litigation, 2024
'Key Lawyer' - Banking Litigation, 2024
Tom is recognised as a 'key lawyer.' - Competition Litigation, 2023
Tom is recognised as a 'key lawyer'.- Competition Litigation, 2022
Tom is recognised as a 'key contact' for multijurisdictional claims.- Competition Litigation, 2021
Lexology
Recognised as a Thought Leader in Lexology Index Competition Reports 2025.
Global Competition Review
Recognised in the GCR 2024 40 under 40.
Lawdragon
Tom was recognised by Lawdragon in 2024 in their list of 500 Global Plaintiff Lawyers for Competition law, esp. plaintiff
Super Lawyers
In 2015, Super Lawyers recognised Tom as a Rising Star in the field of Commercial Litigation in London.
Legal Business Awards 2019
Hausfeld was nominated as 'Competition Team of the Year' for its innovative work with Peugeot (PSA Group) against two European and four Japanese manufacturers of automotive bearings, found guilty of price fixing in 2014.
The Lawyer
In 2019, The Lawyer nominated the Trucks cartel case as one of their Top 20 Cases for 2019. In the UK, Hausfeld represents Wolseley UK Ltd & Ors, Suez Groupe SAS & Ors and Veolia Environnement S.A. & Ors. “The trucks litigation is one of the most significant follow-on damages cases being heard in the English courts”, said The Lawyer, “Lining up to defend the manufacturers from further damages are some of biggest names in litigation.”
In 2018 the aforementioned bearings cartel was pinpointed by The Lawyer as one of their Top 20 Cases to watch. The case ultimately settled before trial.
Tom plays an integral part of Hausfeld’s antitrust automotive practice - the strongest in Europe - representing 7 car manufacturers, 4 of which are in Europe’s top 10. He has been part of the legal team working with his automotive clients on recovering follow-on damages as the result of the following cartels:
During his time at Hausfeld, Tom has helped broker dozens of settlements (the majority for seven or eight figure sums) on behalf of cartel victims. Settlements achieved for his automotive clients alone amount to several hundred million Euros.
Tom has also assisted with the Hausfeld team that is collaborating with Spanish firm, Eskariam, representing thousands of Spanish dairy farmers in a case arising out of Spanish regulatory (CNMC) findings in respect of the Spanish milk cartel.
Tom has litigated several cartel damage claims in England’s High Court and the UK CAT, and has experience taking such cases all the way up to trial. In addition, he is coordinating a large cartel claim in France and has previously assisted on similar claims in the Dutch, German, Italian and Polish courts.
