Any business operating in the UK needs to be aware of the competition rules and how they apply to commercial activities in the UK and beyond. It is also important to realise that simply operating in a small market does not necessarily mean that the competition rules will not apply.
The existing competition laws prohibit a range of commercial arrangements considered to be restrictive including restrictive agreements, collusive agreements between competitors and abusive behaviour by operators holding a dominant position e.g. predatory pricing by a monopoly supplier. The range of business practices governed by those rules is wide and includes the types of activities entered into by companies on a daily basis. For example, commercial agreements, supply of goods and services, joint ventures and business acquisitions could all fall foul of the competition rules.
Whether your company is party to business alliances, commercial agreements, or is considering new production, marketing or distribution strategies, having access to affordable experts with knowledge of international antitrust and EU competition laws is essential to ensure that you are not attracting the attention of a competition regulator and the risk of substantial fines for falling on the wrong side of the rules.
The legal and regulatory environment in which companies operate is increasingly complex and global. Competition regulators across the globe collaborate with each other and share information about companies under investigation regardless of the territory concerned. Significantly, in addition to the adverse publicity generated by being the subject of an investigation by a competition enforcement agency, the level of financial penalties being imposed for illegal practices is increasing.
At Setfords, you can access specialist advice on all competition and regulatory issues, and feel assured that you are receiving top quality, affordable and practical advice from commercially minded experts. We can carry out commercial audits of existing arrangements and advise on any amendments that may be required to avoid falling foul of the competition rules.
Our expertise includes:
- Commercial agreements
- Licensing and distribution
- Vertical and horizontal agreements
- Cartels and price fixing
- Dawn raids
- Competition investigations
- State aid
- Competition litigation
For more information please email us on info@setfords.co.uk or call us on 01483 408780
