In the first application by the CMA for a competition disqualification order to reach the courts, the High Court, on 3 July 2020, imposed a competition director disqualification order for a period of 7 years on Mr Michael Martin, a former director of Gary Berryman Estate Agents, and ordered an interim payment of costs of … Read more
We are delighted to share with you our newly updated report on Foreign Investment: Rising Tides of Politics in Regulation, which reflects a swathe of recent changes to Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regimes around the world against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic. FDI filings have become an increasingly important piece of the regulatory jigsaw … Read more
On 29 June 2020 the CMA imposed total fines of £5.8 million for resale price maintenance (RPM) in the musical instruments and equipment sector, in three separate cases. This follows the fines imposed in August last year on Casio (£3.7 million) and in January this year on Fender (£4.5 million) for similar conduct and brings … Read more
JD Sports has filed an appeal with the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) against the decision by the CMA to prohibit its acquisition of rival retailer Footasylum, with the appropriate treatment of Covid-19 a key area of dispute between the parties and the CMA. Among the grounds of appeal published on 23 June 2020, JD Sports … Read more
The UK Government has a significant choice to make over the next few weeks: it has to decide on its approach to protecting national security in a changing global landscape, while maintaining the country’s appeal – built up over the last 40 years – as an attractive and predictable jurisdiction for business and trade, welcoming … Read more
The UK government has announced two significant amendments to the UK merger control regime, intended to enhance its powers to scrutinise certain foreign direct investment (“FDI”) into the UK, against the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic and wider national security concerns. These amendments come ahead of the National Security and Investment Bill (“NS&I Bill”), which … Read more
On 17 June 2020, the UK Supreme Court handed down judgment in a consolidated set of appeals in the multilateral interchange fees (MIFs) litigation relating to the MasterCard and Visa card schemes. The judgment addresses a mix of issues, some of which will have far-reaching consequences for competition litigation in the UK. The Supreme Court … Read more
On 17 June 2020, the UK Supreme Court handed down judgment in a consolidated set of appeals in the multi-lateral interchange fees litigation. In Sainsbury’s v Visa and others and Sainsbury’s v Mastercard and others the Court considered a number of issues relevant to competition litigation. A key element of the judgment relates to the … Read more
The Covid-19 health crisis raises substantial challenges for businesses and consumers and has had a significant impact on competition law affecting the consumer sector. While the particular implications will vary by jurisdiction, some common trends may be identified. One broader development is that competition authorities have recognised that certain forms of temporary cooperation between businesses, … Read more
