An overhaul of the UK consumer law landscape is on the horizon, with the consumer law provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 set to take effect on 6 April 2025....more
On 11 November 2020, the UK Government (the “Government”) published the draft National Security and Investment Bill (the “Bill”), heralding the dawn of a new era through the proposed introduction of the UK’s first standalone...more
The UK will no longer be a Member State of the European Union (the “EU”) as of 11 p.m. on 31 January 2020 (“Exit Day”). A ‘transition period’ will run from Exit Day until 11 p.m. on 31 December 2020 (the “Transition Period”)....more
The Conservative Party’s conclusive win in the U.K.’s recent general election paves the way for long-anticipated and decisive reforms to the country’s national security screening regime. The government first outlined its...more
National security interventions have largely been confined to defense-related transactions - Since mid-2018, there have been a number of important changes (actual and proposed) to legislation permitting intervention by...more
Following settlement negotiations with the parties concerned the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) published on 31st May 2019 a non-confidential version of its decision in which it found six office fit-out firms had...more
An appeal has been launched against the UK competition regulator, the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA) first decision fining a party for gun jumping. On 20 July 2018, the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT)...more
The expansion of the UK government’s foreign investment review powers will require additional scrutiny of potential deals for the early identification of additional steps in the regulatory approval strategy. Key Points: ...more
This week the UK Government enacted two new orders which change the UK merger control thresholds under the Enterprise Act 2002. The legislation extends the jurisdiction of the Competition & Markets Authority (“CMA”) and the...more
The UK government considers that transactions in the following sectors can raise national security concerns: 1. quantum technology; 2. computing hardware; and 3. the development or production of items for military...more
The Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) has imposed a £20,000 fixed penalty on Hungryhouse Holdings Limited (Hungryhouse). The CMA imposed the penalty under Section 110 of the Enterprise Act 2002 (EA02) for failure to...more
The Situation: The UK government is introducing new protectionist measures concerning acquisitions of businesses operating in the United Kingdom. The Impact: The government intends to expand the scope of acquisition...more
On 17 October 2017 the UK Government published a Green Paper heralding reform of national security and infrastructure investment review in the UK (the Green Paper). Specifically, the Government is seeking to strengthen...more
The UK government recently published proposed reforms designed to strengthen its powers to investigate national security implications for investments in certain types of UK assets and industries. These proposals may have...more
Recent developments show the UK Government’s desire to expand their powers to block foreign takeovers. We explore the nature and scope of the proposed legislation and assess its likely consequences....more
Car rental sales in the United Kingdom amount to an estimated £1.2 billion industry. However attempting to rent a car normally means surfing through various price comparison websites in search of a easily understandable and...more
On the 16 December 2015, the Supreme Court overturned a decision of the Court of Appeal and held that the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) had the power to subject the acquisition of the former SeaFrance Dover-Calais...more