Walker Morris secures Supreme Court permission in Subsidy Control Act case
6th November 2026
Walker Morris has secured permission on behalf of Aubrey Weis to appeal to the Supreme Court in Aubrey Weis v Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA).
The Supreme Court has granted permission to appeal on two grounds concerning the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s (CAT) role and jurisdiction in determining whether financial assistance constitutes a subsidy. It will be the first case under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 to be heard by the Supreme Court.
The proceedings concern two loans made by GMCA to companies linked to Manchester developer Renaker and follow challenges made under the Subsidy Control Act 2022 in the CAT and subsequently the Court of Appeal.
Martin McKeague, Partner in Walker Morris’ Real Estate & Housing Litigation team, said: “The Supreme Court’s decision to grant permission means that important questions around the role of the Competition Appeal Tribunal under the Subsidy Control Act and the status of the loans provided by GMCA, will now be considered by the UK’s highest court.
“As the first case under the Act to reach the Supreme Court, its judgment should provide further guidance on the operation of the subsidy control regime.”
Martin McKeague leads the Walker Morris team advising Appellant, supported by Sarah Ward, Partner in Competition & Foreign Investment and David Manda, Director in Real Estate Litigation.
Walker Morris is supported by Counsel Joseph Barrett KC and Oliver Jackson of 11KBW.
