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 16 dedicated competition law specialists based in London, Birmingham, Leeds and Brussels. It comprises five partners and 11 qualified lawyers including a dedicated Professional Support Lawyer.
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
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