 |
|
 |
Competition
As governments have moved over the last two decades from state-ownership and managed economies towards free markets, so competition policy has grown in importance.
In short, under the new macro-economic systems, companies are allowed to act, more or less, in whatever way they deem commercially expedient in terms of how and where they trade provided, however, that they do not interfere artificially with free and fair competition. The "goal posts" come with a complex set of instructions, namely competition law. Fortunately, these rules have become increasingly harmonised, both globally and, more noticeably, at a regional level particularly within the European Union.
Our lawyers advise on European competition laws, both national and supranational, and assist clients, specifically, with the following:
- Advising on national and supra-national merger control rules and the effect of competition law on company acquisitions or disposals
- Conducting anti-trust audits to help clients identify any current or potential infringements of competition rules and devising compliance programmes to help them ensure future compliance with those rules
- Commercial advice concerning the compliance of distribution arrangements, joint ventures and all forms of contractural arrangements
- Drafting agreements to satisfy the special "block exemption" rules applicable to certain types of vertical and horizontal agreements, including distribution, purchasing, patent and know-how licenses, research and development, etc
- Assisting clients under investigation by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT), the European Commission and other national sectoral regulators and representing clients before those bodies
- Assisting clients in challenging the restrictive agreements or practices of others, or to attack abuses by other entities dominant in the relevant market(s) by submission of complaints to the relevant enforcement bodies
- Representing clients in infringement proceedings before the Court of First Instance, the European Court of Justice and national courts
- Advice in contentious matters in all forms of dispute resolution including civil litigation, arbitrations, mediations etc
- Advising clients with regard to the sector specific rules that apply to water, energy, transport, etc.
- Advising on the EU’s state aid regime
Competition Alert service
As part of Watson, Farley & Williams' continually developing service our competition lawyers have established a regular competition e-mail update detailing major developments in the market over the previous month.
Click here to see examples of recent competition alerts
Steven Burkill, Bangkok
Lucien Rapp, Paris
Eugenio Tranchino, Rome
Stephen Tupper, London
Alfred Yudes, New York
|
|
Experience: |
|
|
|
People: |
|
|
| News: |
|
|
| Publications: |
|
|
|
 |