A pro bono scheme set up to provide free competition law advice to individuals and small businesses has caught the attention of the European Commission (EC).

More than 35 City and national firms, including CMS Cameron McKenna, Pinsent Masons, Ashurst, Baker & McKenzie, Taylor Wessing, Simmons & Simmons, Reed Smith Richards Butler and Macfarlanes, as well as two sets of chambers, now participate in the project, which originally saw 21 firms club together to form the group in October 2006.