competition

The consequences of failing to comply with competition law regulations are serious.  They include:

• investigation by the OFT or European Commission
• fines of up to 10% of annual turnover
• claims for damages for losses suffered by third parties
• void and unenforceable contracts
• criminal prosecution of individuals
• disqualification of directors
• brand damage and a drain on management time and resource

We provide our clients with compliance programmes designed to assist them in understanding the law in the context of their business, and understanding what behaviour can lead to the consequences listed above. We also advise on all aspects of agreements and conduct, so that competition law issues can be managed in practice as they arise.

Finally, we advise on the competition law aspects of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures: we can obtain merger clearances for corporate transactions, and where appropriate can use competition law to oppose transactions between third parties.

The range of competition law advice provided to clients includes advice relating to EU and UK mergers, Articles 81 and 82 of the EC Treaty, the UK Competition Act 1998, the UK Enterprise Act 2002, public procurement law and State Aid.