We have considerable experience in advising clients across a range of sectors on complex cartel investigations and anti-competitive agreements, including before the European Commission (EC), the European Courts, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), and the Belgian Competition Authority.
We have established excellent working relationships based on our many years of experience working for, or with, the competition authorities on a number of complex cases.
We understand the time-critical nature of a company’s response when a cartel investigation is launched. Our close relationships with leading forensic IT and legal outsourcing firms assist clients in high pressure situations by responding quickly to dawn raids by regulatory and enforcement officials, ensuring forensic evidence preservation, document collection and using the latest artificial intelligence software in the most effective manner to ensure clients are able to make informed decisions.
We value the need to provide sound judgment and commercial advice on the antitrust risks associated with proposed commercial agreements with business partners. We ensure our advice always focuses on the key issues, a commercial approach to risk and setting out a practical way forward.
CLIENTS & CASES
- Barclays in relation to the Libor and Forex investigations by the European Commission.
- BidonThis as a third-party complainant resulting in the CMA’s investigation into ATG Media’s suspected concerted practices in the supply of auction services in the UK.
- International Investment Bank in relation to the FCA’s investigation into the Libor/Euribor misconduct.
- AXA in relation to the CMA’s market investigation into digital comparison tools and follow on investigation into a price com parison website (PCW) for its use of most favoured nation clauses in the home insurance market.
- National Lighting Company in relation to the CMA’s domestic light fittings Resale Price Maintenance (RPM) investigation.
- International pharmaceutical company on its defence in relation to the CMA’s investigation into suspected anti-competitive agreements.
- International Oil Company in relation to the EC’s investigation into the alleged manipulation of the energy agency Platts’ oil price benchmarks
- Multinational resource company on the establishment of a new European benchmark pricing mechanism.
- International pharmaceutical company on its proposed global co-development and commercialisation agreement.