On 1 June 2023, the European Commission (EC) adopted revised Horizontal Block Exemption Regulations on research & development agreements (R&D BER) and specialisation agreements (Specialisation BER) (jointly referred to as...more
6/14/2023
/ Algorithms ,
Anti-Competitive ,
Competition ,
Cooperation Agreement ,
Data-Sharing ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Exemptions ,
Horizontal Agreements ,
National Security Agency (NSA) ,
Popular ,
Sustainability ,
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
The UK government has published a much-anticipated Bill which will make significant changes to the UK competition and consumer rules and bolster the powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Revised merger...more
The UK government has published a much-anticipated Bill to shake up the competition and consumer regime. Front and centre is a brand new UK digital markets regime. The new rules aim to boost competition in the digital sector...more
Nearly a year after the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced its Sustainability Taskforce, it has issued for consultation draft guidance to show how businesses can pursue green cooperation without fear of...more
With the EU FDI Regulation close to celebrating its second year anniversary, the European Commission (EC) has published its second annual report on EU FDI screening covering the operation of the mechanism in 2021. In...more
The UK National Security and Investment Act 2021 (NSIA) has been in force for over six months. We know that within the first three months, the UK government received 221 notifications and “called-in” 17 deals for a more...more
UK competition rules are facing unprecedented levels of change. Last month we reported on the UK Government’s intentions for broad reforms to the competition and consumer law regimes. Now, the Government has set out the...more
After 13 years before the EU courts, on 26 January 2022 the General Court (GC) partially annulled the European Commission’s decision finding that Intel abused its dominant position by excluding its main rival from a computer...more
The European Commission (EC) sector inquiry final report and accompanying staff working document set out the EC’s antitrust concerns in the markets for consumer Internet of Things (IoT) related products and services in the...more
The UK government is continuing to build up its guidance in preparation for the commencement of the UK’s national security regime on 4 January 2022. ...more
The UK government has taken a further step in preparation for the commencement of the UK’s strengthened national security regime on 4 January 2022. ...more
The General Court has largely upheld the European Commission’s decision to fine Altice a record amount for breaching procedural merger control rules in relation to its acquisition of PT Portugal. The ruling will likely...more
In a move aimed at driving growth and delivering competitive markets that work for consumers, the UK government has published two consultations on proposals for reform of the UK competition and consumer rules.
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The UK’s strengthened national security regime will commence on 4 January 2022. From that date there will be a dramatic expansion of the UK Government’s ability to scrutinise investments. This will include a power for the UK...more
The UK’s strengthened national security regime will commence on 4 January 2022. From that date there will be a dramatic expansion of the UK Government’s ability to scrutinise investments. That will include a power for the UK...more
On 29 April 2021, the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the Act) received royal assent. The Act dramatically expands the UK Government’s powers to scrutinise investments. The regime that the Act puts in place has not...more
The European Commission (the EC) has adopted new Guidance to encourage more referrals to it from EU Member States (under Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation) of transactions that do not meet national merger control...more
The UK Government commissioned John Penrose MP to undertake an independent review of UK competition policy last September. Penrose was specifically tasked with looking at potential reforms to the UK’s competition regime in...more
Since the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published its Digital Markets Strategy in 2019 (see our alert on its 2019 priorities) it has completed many of the priority tasks it had assigned itself – including...more
The European Commission (EC) has published its draft Digital Markets Act (DMA), which will introduce broad reforms to the application of EU competition law to ‘gatekeepers’ in the digital sector. The proposals set out...more
Under State aid rules, UK and EEA Member State governments may not generally provide selective assistance to businesses without prior approval from the European Commission (EC). This includes assistance in the form of...more
Merger review processes are being impacted worldwide as merger control authorities adapt to take account of the consequences of Covid 19. While critical transactions are likely to be reviewed, as far as possible, in...more
The table below sets out an overview, based on our current awareness of the position as regards foreign investment control, of the different approaches being taken by authorities around the world in response to the Covid-19...more
Adverse economic or social conditions have not historically tended to affect the general application and enforcement of antitrust rules. This remains the overall position in the circumstances of Covid-19, with many antitrust...more
On 8 December 2020, the UK Digital Markets Taskforce published its recommendations to the UK Government on the possible design and implementation of a new regulatory regime to govern the behaviour of digital firms with market...more