suing, or being sued?

The competition authorities (such as the Competition Commission and the Office of Fair Trading) can impose not only fines and penalties, but can also order damages (compensation) to be paid and injunctions through UK civil courts. A business suffering loss caused by anti-competitive activity may also persuade the authorities to investigate and impose corrective measures.

We can advise on the various options you may have in making a complaint about a third party’s anti-competitive practices, as well as advising on the best way to respond to enquiries, complaints or formal investigations launched by UK or EU regulators or by third parties.

Steps can also be taken to limit the disruption, damage and stress for management and staff by an unannounced inspection visit, or ‘dawn raid’, by the competition authorities. We are able to work with you to ensure that adequate ‘dawn raid cover’, including immediate access to specialist legal advice, is in place should the worst happen.

We also have experience of representing clients in the Competition Appeal Tribunal (which considers the correctness of OFT decisions), in judicial review proceedings (where the court is asked to overturn, for example, an OFT decision because of procedural irregularity) and in claims for damages in the High Court where the claimant alleges breach of competition law by the defendant.

We can help you find the most appropriate remedy for breaches of competition law, including injunctions to stop anti-competitive behaviour and claims for damages (monetary compensation).

If you would like a breakdown of the specific services that we provide in this and in other areas of competition law, please go to our services page.

For further information please contact Mary Chant in the competition team on 023 8085 7043 or email mary.chant@bllaw.co.uk