Merger control
- advised Granada throughout the consolidation of the independent television sector in the UK. In particular, we represented Granada during the UK Competition Commission inquiry into possible mergers between Carlton, United News and Media, and Granada.
- advised Umbro plc on the merger control aspects of its £285 million acquisition by Nike
- represented AEE on merger control aspects of its acquisition of Lentjes GmbH. This was a Phase 2 ECMR case where we successfully achieved an unconditional approval
Competition investigations
- acting for MMF on its successful appeal to the CAT of the OFT's decision concerning interchange fee arrangements and on the OFT's ongoing investigation into interchange fees
- represented the shipping liners that were party to the Trans Atlantic Conference Agreement in obtaining the annulment of the fines imposed on them for two alleged abuses of a collective dominant position
- represented Mars in national and EC proceedings which have condemned various practices that foreclosed entry and expansion by new suppliers of impulse ice-creams, such as Mars
- acting for Korean Air in relation to the coordinated cartel investigations by the Department of Justice, the Japanese and Korean antitrust authorities into the cargo industry
Litigation before National Courts
- represented Iberian Trading proceedings in the English High Court for damages against BPB and another following the finding of abuse by the European Commission. The Court rules on the admissibility of a Commission competition decision in English proceedings in a landmark judgment. The case was settled in favour of our client.
- represented O2 in the successful defence of proceedings brought by Unipart claiming damages for breach of Article 81 consisting of an alleged margin squeeze.
- represented Day Medical Aids in proceedings against Pihsiang Machinery Manufacturing for breach of an exclusive distribution agreement. The High Court rejected a defence claim that the agreement was in breach of Article 81 EC and the English doctrine of restraint of trade