EU and UK Competition

Cartel Investigations, Restrictive Practices, and Dawn Raids

• Representing a global industrial group regarding the investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority into its subsidiary’s minimum online advertised price policy, settling with the maximum possible penalty discounts for cooperation, compliance and early settlement.
• Defended NYK Group, a leading Asian shipping group in the roll-on-roll-off car carrier cartel investigation by the European Commission, leading to multi-party settlement and seven related follow-on private damages claims, in a number of jurisdictions and including one of the first UK competition law class actions.
• Advising a major health care insurer in relation to an investigation by the UK Competition and Markets Authority into the private health care market.
• Successfully defended a Japanese bank in the European Commission’s LIBOR cartel investigation.
• Representing Japanese carrier in a series of English court litigations in connection with the Airfreight case.
• Secured immunity for Japanese auto parts manufacturer in European Commission cartel investigation and subsequently defended it in follow-on damages claim.
• Achieved a dismissal in English High Court for an Asian carrier regarding follow-on damages claim to the air cargo cartel infringement decision that the European Commission adopted. Settled the same matter for a second carrier.
• Representing two UK companies in ongoing challenge to Norwegian wool subsidy scheme in multiple courts, including bringing and arguing appeal before the EFTA Court.

Unilateral Conduct by Dominant Companies

• Advising a leading supplier of consumer products on bundling, tying, and rebate schemes.
• Representing a major consumer electronics group in its antitrust defense against a standard essential patent action introduced by a competitor in France.
• Advising and representing a testing software vendor in an antitrust investigation involving refusal to supply interoperability information.
• Advising a leading technology company relating to an alleged abuse of a dominant position by its main rival and also advising on a proposed bundling, tying and rebate scheme.
• Securing a favorable outcome for the REEL Group, a French engineering group, in the European Commission’s antitrust investigation into Rio Tinto Alcan’s tying practice in the aluminum sector.

Mergers, Acquisitions, and Joint Ventures

• Representing US defense group in the unwinding of its joint venture with a French defense group.
• Advising a European food group in a major French acquisition.
• Advising an international communications network in a strategic acquisition.
• Advising a leading internet video streaming provider on a number of telecom mergers in Europe.
• Advising Rockwell Collins Inc. on the EU and third-country merger control aspects of its acquisition of ARINC Inc.

Antitrust Compliance

• Assisting an international construction group on antitrust compliance training across the group, following antitrust investigation.
• Advising on the EU competition law aspects of the licensing of globally-recognized brands.
• Advising an international financial services company on its market data gathering practices and possible information exchange issues.
• Advising a global insurance group on the creation of an international health insurance consortium with a German-based insurance company.
• Acting as outside counsel to the board of directors of a biotech trade association on a broad range of compliance issues.
• Advising a leading supplier of high-end sport goods in relation to online commerce (including with regard to resale price maintenance, most-favored-nations, and vertical agreement issues).