COMPETITION

This growing area of law will be an issue of increasing relevance to businesses, both large and small. It does not only affect how ‘big business’ behaves - it can also be a threat - or an opportunity - to smaller businesses.

Clients need to be aware of what they and others can and cannot do in terms of arrangements with suppliers, customers, or with those providing similar goods and services to their own.

Relevant areas can also include proposed exclusivity arrangements, collaboration or partnering agreements, ‘information-sharing’, or just what is going on in the marketplace.

Our lawyers have acted for companies involved in specific and in market-wide investigations, and have extensive experience of advising businesses and organisations in meeting their responsibilities, and/or so avoiding competition liabilities.
Work has included:

Advising on distribution agreements, exclusive or otherwise
Drafting commercial contracts to comply or to minimise risk
Implementing post-investigation changes within companies to achieve compliance
Advising companies who have an actual or potential dominant position in their marketplace
Advising companies who are being excluded from or restricted in a market eg by a supplier’s refusal to supply
Implementing ‘dawn raid’ contingency plans for businesses at risk of unannounced investigation.