Competition and anti-trust
In an area of increasing risk and complexity, the consequences of failing to comply with competition law rules are serious. Businesses face the possibility of multi-million pound fines and damages actions and employees face the prospect of criminal sanctions and director disqualification. Our competition and antitrust lawyers guide you through these risks and provide straightforward, practical and commercial advice.
We deal with all aspects of competition law, advising national and multinational companies and the public sector clients across a wide range of industries. We routinely advise on issues such as competition authority investigations (including dawn raids), UK and multi-jurisdiction merger control rules, distribution and online resale structures and strategies and the implementation of effective competition law compliance programmes.
What we do
- Clients鈥– we advise national and international clients, including private and public sector bodies.
- Sector expertise鈥– we have detailed sector expertise many key sectors including automotive, retail, distribution, health and agriculture.
- Supply and distribution鈥- advising on supply and distribution structures and strategies including online resale channels.
- Joint ventures and co-operation agreement – advising on issues such as R&D projects and large-scale commercialisation agreements.
- Dominance – advising on the assessment of dominance and conduct by dominant businesses.
- UK, EU, and multi-jurisdictional merger control鈥– advising on all aspects of merger control from initial jurisdictional analysis to seeking UK and EU clearances and coordinating multi-jurisdictional filings.
- UK national security and investment / FDI controls – assessing the application of the UK’s new national security and investment rules to transactions and dealing with notifications to the Investment Security Unit (ISU).
- Competition authority investigations, dawn raids, leniency and immunity applications鈥– we handle investigations from beginning to end including providing rapid response dawn raid teams, handling detailed information requests, making leniency/immunity applications and responding to statements of objection.
- Appeals against competition authority decisions鈥– we have brought successful appeals against competition authority decisions and quantum of fines.
- Market investigations鈥– we advise on how to deal with competition authority market investigations.
- Competition law complaints and disputes鈥– advising on bringing complaints to the competition authorities and private actions for damages.
- Compliance programmes including competition law audits鈥– developing and implementing competition law compliance programmes including initial risk assessments, compliance manuals/guidance notes and delivering interactive training sessions.
Featured experience
Competition Act investigation
Advised on a Competition Act investigation by the regulator including handling section 26 requests for information and submissions to the authority.
澳门六合彩资料 luxury brand
Advised an international luxury brand on the implementation of a selective distribution system and online resale controls.
Competition law compliance training
Running face-to-face and virtual training competition law compliance training sessions for the sales and commercial teams of a national brand.
Automotive manufacturer
Advising an automotive manufacturer on participation in a joint R&D project for new technology.
Key contacts
Matthew Woodford
Partner
Testimonials
"Matthew is undoubtedly an expert in his field and manages to provide advice in a clear and business-focused manner enabling our business colleagues to understand the advice and make鈥痠nformed鈥痙ecisions."
"Matthew has been very helpful and approachable, and took time to understand our business by talking to a number of stakeholders."
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