The UK competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), will be conducting in-depth investigations of investment consultancy and fiduciary management services after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) initiated an investigation. The CMA has a wide range of powers enabling them to investigate and impose remedies. Industry participants should expect requests from the CMA to … Continue Reading
In a case regarding Post Danmark’s rebate structure, the European Court provided further guidance on the legality of rebates and discounts offered by dominant firms. While this case involves bulk mail services, the lessons learned are applicable to a wide variety of industries in determining whether discount structures practiced by market leading firms comply with … Continue Reading
The top story in the UK media today is about alleged corruption in English football. Someone said to be a “fixer” for betting syndicates was secretly recorded boasting that the results of English lower-league matches and even international matches could be bought, once the price was right. Six people, including three players, have been arrested … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Richard Webb. The UK’s new competition body, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), was officially launched on 1st October 2013. The launch was preceded by the publication of Draft Guidance on the authority’s new powers under the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013 (the “2013 Act”), such as its … Continue Reading
This post was written by William J. Sheridan. Yesterday, in FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health Systems, Inc., the Supreme Court rejected an expansive view of the state-action immunity doctrine articulated by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Saying the court of appeals applied the doctrine’s concept of foreseeability “too loosely,” the unanimous … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Angela Gregson. There has been a perception that Asian companies have received unfair treatment at the hands of the European Commission over the years. Three recent appeal cases brought by Mitsubishi Electric Corp (“Mitsubishi”), Toshiba Corp (“Toshiba”) and Fuji Electric Company Ltd (“Fuji”) appear to confirm this as fact. … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Richard J. Waite and Susan Riitala. The UK Government recently announced proposals to merge the UK’s two main competition bodies, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) and the Competition Commission, to create a single competition regulator. Currently the OFT, as well as being responsible for conducting antitrust and cartel investigations, … Continue Reading
This post was also written by Susan Riitala. On 14 September 2010, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) dismissed an appeal by Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd and Akcros Chemicals Ltd made against a decision of the General Court not to allow e-mails exchanged between a client and an in-house lawyer to be covered by legal … Continue Reading
This post was written by Richard Waite. The UK’s main competition authority, the OFT, appears to be gearing itself up to make greater use of its powers to target individuals involved in anti-competitive practices in the UK. Individuals have faced the threat of enforcement action in the UK since 2003, in the form of disqualification … Continue Reading
