A partner in the Bristol office of international law firm Osborne Clarke has been appointed to a high-level government body that helps shape the UK’s future trade policy.
Competition and trade partner Marc Shrimpling, pictured, is the only solicitor on the Strategic Trade Advisory Group (STAG), which is chaired by the trade minister Ranil Jayawardena. 
Among its 21 members are CBI director-general Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, Federation of Small Businesses national chair Mike Cherry, and Paul Nowak, Deputy General Secretary of the TUC.
STAG’s membership has recently been expanded to represent the views of business, civil society, consumers and academia from across the country.
In his role on STAG, Marc will help realise opportunities across all nations and regions of the UK as well as look at its future trade policy.
Marc has worked at Osborne Clarke for five years and has been a partner for three years. Last year was awarded the International Law Office’s Client Choice Award for Competition & Antitrust.
He has considerable experience undertaking the full range of competition, regulatory and state aid law work. He specialises in advising manufacturers and brand owners on their international distribution and supply strategies, helping them safeguard brand value, reputation and intellectual property.
He has acted for businesses subject to investigation by the UK competition authorities, supporting clients at every stage from dawn raids through to successful appeals.
He has also worked on secondment at the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) policy team and was responsible for developing policy and drafting guidance for the current UK competition regime.
He said: “I am delighted to have been appointed to share my knowledge and experience with government at this significant moment, as the UK pursues an independent trade policy for the first time in over 40 years.
“As the UK enters into new free trade agreements with international partners across the globe, it is important for businesses across all sectors to identify the tangible opportunities that can accelerate their international sales growth.”
Marc previously worked in the Bristol office of Foot Anstey as head of competition & EU. Prior to that he was a solicitor specialising in EU and UK competition law at Bristol-based national firm Burges Salmon.
