On September 3, 2024, the European Union’s Court of Justice (ECJ) issued its highly anticipated judgment in the Illumina/Grail case (C-611/22 P and C-625/22 P) concerning the European Commission’s (EC’s) power to review...more
On June 28, 2024, the European Commission (EC) held a workshop on competition in virtual worlds and generative artificial intelligence (AI). The event followed the EC’s January 2024 call for contributions on the level of...more
As a new policy statement from the European Commission (EC) treats wage-fixing and no-poach agreements as inherently anticompetitive (restriction of competition “by object”) with few possible defences, companies should...more
On March 26, 2024, Skadden hosted a discussion on key developments in antitrust enforcement in the pharmaceuticals and life sciences sectors.
...more
4/18/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Competition ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Healthcare ,
Life Sciences ,
Member State ,
Mergers ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
UK
The already complex business calculus that goes into a merger has become even more complicated in the past several years because of stepped-up government scrutiny. Major transactions have been blocked or abandoned in the face...more
3/26/2024
/ Acquisitions ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Competition ,
Cross-Border Transactions ,
Domestic Dealmaking ,
EU ,
Foreign Direct Investment ,
Investment ,
Mergers ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
UK
In this episode of our “Fierce Competition” podcast, European antitrust/competition co-head Ingrid Vandenborre, partner Julia York and counsel Michael Sheerin dissect the Illumina-Grail merger challenge, which spanned three...more
On February 8, 2024, the European Commission (EC) adopted a revised Market Definition Notice (revised Notice). The revised Notice confirms the EC’s and EU courts’ existing approach to understanding dynamic and innovative...more
Key Points -
- EU competition regulators are increasingly considering “ecosystems” of products and services in their analysis of the competitive impact of mergers — a framework that often does not fit with the historical...more
12/14/2023
/ Competition ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Innovative Technology ,
Mergers ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
Skadden is proud to present our newest podcast, Fierce Competition. Hosted by our global antitrust/competition team, the podcast explores antitrust policy and enforcement around the world, including the latest developments...more
On April 25, 2023, the UK Government published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Bill) which, among other things, introduces a new ex ante regulatory regime for digital markets. The Bill...more
On 25 April 2023, the UK government published the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (Bill), which will introduce wide-ranging amendments to the UK competition and consumer law regimes that expand the powers of...more
US Regulators Pursue an Expansive View of Antitrust Laws -
For almost two years, industry participants have felt the effects of the Biden administration’s “big is bad” approach to antitrust — not only in technology sectors,...more
12/19/2022
/ Antitrust Division ,
Biden Administration ,
Buyers ,
Competition ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Domestic Dealmaking ,
EU ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Global Dealmaking ,
Merger Agreements ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
Remedies ,
UK ,
Vertical Mergers
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) was published in the Official Journal of the EU on 12 October 2022. The legislation, which regulates large technology platforms, enters into force on 1 November 2022 (20 days...more
On 31 May 2022, Skadden, Compass Lexecon and Concurrences convened for a fireside chat to discuss developments in merger control and digital markets, followed by a panel discussion on a range of issues, including the...more
On April 20, 2022, the U.K. government announced amendments to the U.K. competition and consumer law regimes....more
The European Commission (Commission) is accepting public comment on its proposed revisions to European Union regulations and guidance on common competitor cooperation arrangements, which are due to expire on 31 December 2022....more
On January 26, 2022, the EU General Court (the Court) annulled the European Commission’s (the Commission) decision that Intel had abused its dominant position regarding its x86 central processing unit (CPU) computer chips and...more
Takeaways -
More than 50 countries now have the discretion to conduct competition reviews of mergers below mandatory notification thresholds, and the European Commission, EU member states, the U.K. and others are using...more
On September 22, 2021, the European General Court issued its judgment upholding the decision by the European Commission (Commission) to fine Altice for gun-jumping in the acquisition of Portugal Telecom (PT) in 2015. The...more
The U.K. government is consulting on far-reaching reforms to U.K. competition and consumer laws, which would substantially expand the powers of the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and reduce procedural protections....more
The European Union and United Kingdom have each proposed modifications of their antitrust rules on distribution. The proposals diverge significantly on common distribution practices, creating legal challenges for distribution...more
In a webinar held on March 25, 2021, Skadden antitrust/competition partners Kenneth Schwartz and Ingrid Vandenborre joined Charles River Associates vice presidents Andrew Dick and Oliver Latham to discuss the important role...more
The U.K.’s Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has released new merger assessment guidelines that confirm the U.K. regulator’s intensified approach to merger control.1 The guidelines largely codify the CMA’s recent output,...more
4/19/2021
/ Acquisitions ,
Competition ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Digital Platforms ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Guidance Update ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
New Guidance ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
The new Article 22 EU Merger Regulation (EUMR) Guidance released by the European Commission (EC) enables the EC to review any acquisition, even those that do not qualify for notification under national (or EU) merger control...more
Commissioned by the U.K. government to review its antitrust regime, Conservative Member of Parliament John Penrose’s “Power to the People” report proposes streamlined, modest changes rather than wholesale reform to the...more