Expertise

Cooperation agreements including joint ventures and consortiums, co-insurance, alliances, establishment of trade associations and advice on information exchange, standard terms and wordings

Supply, distribution and agency – advice on Art 101 TFEU, the Competition Act 1998 and the EU Vertical Restraints Bock Exemption, as well as disputes, termination and compensation under the Commercial Agents Regulations 1993)

Competition assessment of subcontracting – vertical, and between competitors

Cartel and market investigations, assisting companies and associations with requests for information from the European Commission and other competition authorities

Damages actions for involvement in cartels

Abuse of dominance, acting for dominant suppliers and non-dominant complainants (rebates, refusal of access to information/infrastructure, discrimination)

Advice on compatibility of government funding and public authority schemes with the EU State aid rules

Mergers and acquisitions – advising on the practical impact of merger control regimes, need for filings, including whether notification is recommended under Enterprise Act 2002 in the UK, where notification is voluntary

Risk management, compliance programmes and training on compliance, responding to dawn raids, and contact with competitors

EU public procurement, structuring schemes, variations, Notices, and pursuit and defence of actions for breach of tendering obligations

Land agreements and Competition Act 1998 in the retail sector.