Competition lawyers
Pinsent Masons has one of the largest and most highly-respected
teams of competition law specialists outside the 'Magic Circle'
(the five largest City law firms).
Our EU and Competition Group is a team of 15
dedicated competition law specialists based in London,
Birmingham, Leeds and Brussels. It comprises five partners and 10
qualified lawyers including a dedicated Professional Support Lawyer
and a former UK competition regulator (ex-OFT Assistant Director of
IT, Media and Sport).
Our major international clients benefit from a local presence
and knowledge combined with Pinsent Masons' seamless national
service and City standards.
In addition, the Group has international capability with
experience of co-coordinating multi-jurisdictional merger
clearances which, as with any other multi-jurisdictional work, is
facilitated by a network of strategic European alliance firms, the
Pinsent Masons Luther Group.
Many clients of the EU and Competition Group are leaders in
their market sectors and the Group has extensive experience and
knowledge of the business implications and legal complexities this
brings. The aim of the Group is to deliver pragmatic commercial
advice to minimise clients' exposure to competition law risks.
Competition law experience
Cartel investigations and dawn raids
Acting on 14 substantial cartel investigations in recent years,
including two significant EU price-fixing cases, in sectors
including building products, construction, dairies, energy, food,
independent schools and retailing. Several of the cases
involved successful leniency applications.
Compliance and behavioural advice
Advising MBNA Europe Bank Limited in relation to the ongoing
investigation by the OFT of MasterCard UK and Visa interchange
fees.
Market studies and market investigation references
Representing clients in relation to market investigations before
the Competition Commission, including the 'store card', 'home
credit' and 'supermarkets' inquiries. In the home credit
inquiry we are representing the Consumer Credit Association,
which is the representative body for the home collected credit
industry in the UK and Ireland and is a central figure in the
Competition Commission's investigation.
Mergers & Acquisitions and joint ventures
Acting for Cott Beverages Limited on the acquisition of its UK
competitor Macaw, a contentious transaction before the OFT which
was referred to, and ultimately cleared by, the Competition
Commission.
Advising Opodo, an online travel joint venture between nine
major European airlines, on a major shareholder restructuring.
Abuse of a dominant position
Recent examples include advising KAL (the world's leading
independent developer of software and middleware for cash
dispensers) on a complaint to the OFT against NCR Corporation and
representing a leading software house on a complaint to the
European Commission against 25 of the UK's largest life
insurers.
Proceedings before the Competition Appeal Tribunal
Representing water sector regulator, OFWAT, in appeal
proceedings brought before the Competition Appeal Tribunal by Aqua
Resources Limited who wished OFWAT to take action on a
complaint.
What others say
- The Group is lauded for being "very client focused and well
aware of how to speak to the business community"
Chambers & Partners UK
- "Pinsents' competition practice has thrived through close
co-operation of its various offices across the country"
Chambers & Partners UK
Contacts
For further information, please contact any of the
following:
