Competition and Regulation

Guiding your business through competition law and regulatory processes.

We're here to get your deal approved and to resolve your competition investigations and disputes. We ensure the smooth passage of deals through global merger and investment control processes, help you to navigate enforcement by regulators and offer actionable strategic advice on how to best advance your commercial interests. 

Our team was awarded Competition Team of the Year in 2023. We regularly advise on the largest multi-jurisdictional and domestic projects.

Don't just take our word for it, you can find crucial evidence about how we've  helped our clients here.

 

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Competition Highlights

500+

15+

80+

Matters

years

countries




completed in the last 3 years.

Consistently working on the biggest claims presented to the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

We've acted on Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in over 80 countries.

500+

15+

Matters

years



completed in the last 3 years.

Consistently working on the biggest claims presented to the High Court and Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT).

80+

countries


We've acted on Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) in over 80 countries.

We help you to take legal action, enforce competition and regulatory law and aid in the regulatory approval of your deals. 

Merger Control, National Security and Foreign Investment

Use our legal expertise to get through multi-jurisdictional filing requirements and merger control approvals, from straightforward deals to complex mergers that are subject to a Phase 2 investigation. Our expertise extends to national security, foreign investment and foreign subsidy reviews.

We support our clients through every phase of their merger or acquisition, and routinely manage multi-jurisdictional processes globally.

 

Infringement Allegations

We represent those concerned in breaches of competition laws – defending you or engaging with regulators to defend your interests. We respond to dawn raids across the UK and Europe and manage the process to its conclusion, including in the courts. When working with our team, you will be provided with crucial strategic advice that helps you identify potential issues in your operations. We guide how you address these concerns, including mitigating future risk and obtaining immunity from penalties.

Market Studies and Investigations

Access legal advice around information gathering, market studies and investigations when regulatory bodies launch an inquiry. 

Multiple regulators like the European Commission, UK CMA, Irish CCPC, French Autorité de la Concurrence, German Bundeskartellamt, Spanish CNMC and Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) may require your business to take part in large market studies and investigations. It's important your business interests are protected when asked for these submissions, we work closely with your project team to ensure your views on key issues will be clearly understood.  

At the beginning of an inquiry, we work with you to understand your commercial and regulatory landscape and its impact on your business. We collaborate to agree a strategy and ensure that your responses to the regulator's questionnaires are aligned with the strategic objectives of your business.  At the end, we will work with you on implementation of any outcomes and have supported clients in response to compliance with orders and undertakings. 

We have successfully supported many main parties in these reviews conducted by competition and sectoral regulators.

Private Damages Actions

We act for both claimants and defendants in competition disputes, to protect your interests, mitigate your risks and deliver your best outcome. Our clients' competition disputes are varied and include collective actions as well as more traditional standalone and follow on damages claims.

You will work with a team that is routinely at the forefront of developments in this area, who have acted on the first successful damages action brought in the CAT (2travel v Cardiff Bus) as well as one of the first collective actions following the introduction of the new regime (Road Haulage Association v DAF & others) and the first opt-in claim in the jurisdiction.

 

Competition Law Compliance

Advising on competition law compliance is a cornerstone of our practice. We offer guidance in various contexts, including industry initiatives, joint ventures, distribution arrangements, public procurement, and scenarios involving companies with significant market power.

We ensure that our clients comply with competition law requirements without jeopardising their competitive edge.

Economic Regulation

We are specialists in sectoral regulation, including financial services and payment systems, energy, telecoms, water and groceries (GSCOP and the Controlled Land Order). 

Access a team that routinely work at the intersection of antitrust and regulation, and support strategic advocacy before the FCA, PSR, Ofwat, Ofgem, Ofcom and the ORR.

We are uniquely placed to provide comparative insights across different regulated sectors and have a rich perspective on new regulatory regimes, such as the CMA's Digital Markets Unit and the application of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024.

 

State Aid and Subsidy Control

We advise public and private sector clients on the application of the EU state aid rules, we help you to find funding routes that are compatible with EU treaty rules and projects that are backed by the European Structural and Investment Fund (ESIF). 

We also advise on UK and international subsidy control. We are representing a client in two CMA referral processes under the Subsidy Control Act.

We also advised the UK Department for Transport on the State Aid and subsidy control implications of its West Coast and HS2 rail franchises." and replace it with we also advise on UK and international subsidy control.

We regularly represent clients on CMA referral processes under the Subsidy Control Act, including the single largest ever notification with subsidies in excess of £10bn.

Competition & Regulation Work

Safran x Singapore Airlines 

We notified the creation by aeronautical group Safran and Singapore Airlines of a full function joint venture active in the field of avionics maintenance services.


Facebook (Meta) x GiPHY

Advising GIPHY on Facebook / GIPHY (including the Phase 2 investigation and subsequent appeal to CAT).


JD Sports x Footasylum

We advised JD Sports on the CMA’s Phase 1 investigation of its acquisition of Footasylum and on the IEO aspects at Phase 2.


Renaissance Luxury x Agatha

We have notified the acquisition by jewellery specialist Renaissance Luxury Group of 70 Agatha shops which required the same number of local competition analysis.


EDF and Hinkley Point C

Advising EDF in securing EU state aid approval in connection with the Hinkley Point C new nuclear power plant, a major UK airport on a passenger incentive proposal for airlines, and a Big 4 clearing bank on the State aid implications of the UK's Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.