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.
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.
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- Merger Control, National Security and Foreign Investment
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
News and Articles
Featured Insight
Update: The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's newly adopted Ultimate Beneficial Ownership Rules

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Detecting bid-rigging through AI and public procurement law implications

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Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Bill: impact on property owners

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Public procurement – the importance of clear tender rules and when to seek clarification of tenders

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UAE Merger Control: Impact on M&A transactions and introduction of the new annual sales test

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Redress payments: Court of Appeal finds no blanket prohibition on tax deductions

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The new UK digital markets regime: Move fast and break things; or speak softly and carry a big stick?

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Energy Performance of Buildings Reform – Government Consultation Published

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PPNs 015 and 018 on prompt payment in public procurement

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Increasingly complex UK and cross-border landscape for navigating risk in pharmaceutical communications

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UK and EU competition spotlight on cloud and data storage services

Featured Insight
Greenwashing in the EU, France and the UK: comparative overview and best practice

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The Pitfalls of Selective Distribution

News
Addleshaw Goddard launches new Competition practice in Spain led by Sara Fernández

Featured Insight
Honours even in first leg of Manchester City vs Premier League clash

Key Contacts

London, UK

Manchester, UK

London

London

Dublin, Ireland

France

Madrid, Spain