News & Insights (Competition, EU and Trade)

Advocate General recommends that the ECJ dismiss AstraZeneca's appeal against Losec antitrust decision

Last year, we reported on AstraZeneca's decision to appeal to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) against a finding by the ...

When will discounts and rebates in supply agreements be anti-competitive?

A recent appeal decision by the European Court of Justice ("ECJ") has provided a useful recap on the circumstances in ...

OFT refers private healthcare market to Competition Commission

On 4 April 2012, the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) confirmed that it would refer the private healthcare market to the Competition ...

Health and Social Care Act promises to improve competition in healthcare - has it fallen at the first fence?

On 20 March 2012, the House of Commons voted to adopt the Health and Social Care Bill which has now been given Royal Assent and ...

Siemens and Areva react to European Commission concerns to avoid regulatory meltdown over "non-compete" and confidentiality obligations

Update Case COMP/B1/39.736 – Siemens/Areva On 14 March 2012, the Commission announced that it is considering accepting ...

Shakeup of Competition Regime proposes higher merger fees and more criminal convictions

On 15 March 2012, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills ("BIS") published the government’s response to its ...

Taylor Wessing advises Rutland Partners on €180M Sale of Attends Healthcare

International law firm Taylor Wessing has advised Rutland Partners, the specialist turnaround and restructuring investor, on the ...

OFT finds tracking data market ‘insufficiently important’ despite parties’ monopoly

The Office of Fair Trading (“OFT”) has provided an interesting example of how it can exercise its discretion when applying the ...

European Commission opens formal investigation into eBooks

On 6 December 2011, the European Commission announced that it has opened a formal investigation into whether a number of ...

Restricting online sales and selective distribution

The European Court of Justice ("ECJ") has stated that where a selective distribution agreement contains a clause which ...

Radar: Technology & Communications Update - November 2011

This month’s issue covers two interesting CJEU judgments which are particularly relevant to online publishers, as well as ...

Taylor Wessing advises investor group led by Emerald Technology Ventures in sale of filter technology specialist inge watertechnologies AG to BASF

Over complexity and funding gap: potential stumbling blocks for Hargreaves' Digital Copyright Exchange

The Hargreaves Review published today recommends that the Government bring together rights holders and other business interests ...

You never give me your money: Competition law, damages actions, and the healthcare sector

Public healthcare bodies that have suffered loss as a result of competition law infringements should consider ‘follow on’ damages ...

Taylor Wessing advises on creation of global leader in innovative drug discovery

Taylor Wessing is advising SuperGen, Inc., a NASDAQ listed pharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of ...

When taking a medicine off the shelves infringes competition law

At a time when industry experts are talking about the death of the blockbuster drug, product lifecycle management strategies are ...

Case review - Brent London Borough Council and others v Risk Management Partners Limited

First Supreme Court procurement judgment - public authorities can give work to bodies they have established collectively without ...

Regulation - in the Spotlight

The courts’ focus on industry strategies could mean some practices are deemed infringements of competition law It is well known ...

Rupert Murdoch Reaches for the Sky… at the Expense of Sky News

The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport has decided not to refer the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News ...

ECJ tells insurance and pension providers not to use gender to discriminate

The European Court of Justice has today followed Advocate General Kokott's Opinion that men and women must be treated equally in ...

Competition regulators clear Project Canvas

Ofcom and OFT give Freeview-on-demand joint venture green light On 19 October 2010 Ofcom announced that it would not investigate ...

EU ruling confirms WorldCup and Euros should be screened for free

The single European market: ahead at half time

The opinion of Advocate General Kokott in Football Association Premier League Limited v QC Leisure The Advocate General has ...

Not a Penny More, Not a Penny Less?

The OFT starts a long-awaited investigation into the sale of e-books The OFT has finally responded yesterday to the growing ...

OFT launches investigation into digital publishing

The OFT has finally responded this morning to the growing clamour surrounding the e-book industry by announcing that it is ...

InFocus: Life Sciences & Healthcare e-newsletter - January 2011

Welcome to the January 2011 edition of InFocus, the Life Sciences and Healthcare newsletter. This month we discuss: Sold Out - ...

New European rules on agreements between competitors

The New Research & Development and Specialisation Block Exemption Regulations and Horizontal Co-Operation Agreements ...

First High Court decision on the automatic stay of a procurement

Indigo Services (UK) Limited v The Colchester Institute Corporation, David Donaldson QC as a Deputy High Court judge (1 December ...

The EU Patent and the EU Patents Court - what does 2011 hold?

As we enter 2011 the question still remains - are we any closer to a unified patent system for Europe?  Below is a summary ...

Public and Regulatory Law Update - December 2010

Cabinet Office consultation on time limits under the procurement regulations The Cabinet Office (CO) has recently published a ...

Outright bans of internet sales, selective distribution, and competition law

Internet sales still constitute one of the biggest commercial challenges to owners of luxury and specialist brands, and the key ...

Public and Regulatory Law Update - November 2010

Veolia v Nottinghamshire County CouncilCourt of Appeal decision to protect confidential information Issue The Court of Appeal ...

OFT Consultation – The application of competition law to land agreements

Background Land agreements currently benefit from an exemption in relation to Chapter 1 of the Competition Act 1998 (the ...

MPF award for Taylor Wessing's commitment to sustainability

Taylor Wessing is celebrating after winning the Sustainability Reporting category at the prestigious MPF European Practice ...

ECJ hands down decision in Akzo Nobel/Akcros Chemicals relating to legal professional privilege and in-house lawyers

On 14 September 2010 the ECJ handed down its long awaited judgement in relation to an appeal by Akzo Nobel Chemicals Limited and ...

The European Commission's 1st Report on the Monitoring of Patent Settlements was published on 5 July 2010

The Report looks at the European competition law aspects of patent settlements, identifies potentially problematic types of ...

The New Vertical Restraints Block Exemption Regulation

The European competition rules which govern agreements between suppliers and distributors are set to change this month (June). ...

Advocate General's Opinion on Akzo Nobel/Akcros Chemicals

On 29 April 2010 Advocate General Kokott gave an opinion in relation to an appeal by Akzo Nobel Chemicals Limited and Akcros ...

European Commission to remove tax obstacles to cross-border venture capital

The European Commission has been looking at ways to facilitate cross border venture capital ("VC") investment within ...

Taylor Wessing advises data security specialist Secerno

Taylor Wessing has advised Secerno, a leading provider of data security and control technology, on the sale of its Heterogeneous ...

Taylor Wessing advises Google on acquisition of Plink

EU Privacy Update - EU Standard clauses for transfer of personal data to non-EU data processors replaced

The EU privacy rules place restrictions on the ability of organisations to send personal data out of Europe. The European Union ...

Taylor Wessing advises esure insurance on its buyout from Lloyds

Taylor Wessing LLP has advised leading online motor insurance provider esure on its management buyout from Lloyds Banking Group, ...

Public Law Update - February 2010

This update provides an overview of two recent key legal developments relating to the public sector. Firstly, the ECJ has now ...

Taylor Wessing TMT Patents Update

This update provides an overview of some recent key developments relating to patents in the technology, media and ...

Taylor Wessing takes part in the public consultation launched by the European Commission on the new block exemption regulation for the insurance sector

Patents Update - November 2009

This update aims to provide an overview of some key developments of November 2009.  Most notably, there have been ...

Public and Regulatory Law Update - November 2009

The latest update from the Public and Regulatory Law Group aims to provide an overview of some of the key developments in this ...

Taylor Wessing advises Brawn GP

For more information or to speak to Russell Van Praagh, please contact Helen Needham at Taylor ...

PODCAST: Legal Experts debates the OFT fines

Martin Baker explains the implications of the OFT's decision to fine 103 construction companies a total of £129.5 million for ...

The European Antitrust Review 2010 - Germany: Abuse of Dominance

In Germany, unilateral conduct of a dominant undertaking is restricted by sections 19 and 20 of the Act against Restraints of ...

Public and Regulatory Law Group Update

This short briefing provides you with a concise selection of cases from previous months that will have wider application in your ...

Taylor Wessing launches its second Global Intellectual Property Index

With the value of many tangible assets, in particular real estate, falling in the current economic climate, there's a growing ...

New Partner for Taylor Wessing in Brussels

Taylor Wessing is pleased to announce the appointment of a new partner, Bart De Moor, to its Brussels office.  Bart De ...

The Private Competition Enforcement Review

Overview of recent private antitrust litigation activity in Germany The basis for private cartel enforcement in Germany is the ...

Clarification of the FSA disclosure requirements under the UK Listing Authority Rules

Until recently, it has been unclear whether persons discharging managerial responsibilities ("PDMRs" - eg, directors of ...

Taylor Wessing grows its regulatory capability with new public law partner

Taylor Wessing is delighted to announce the appointment of Len Murray as a Partner in the firm's IT, Telecoms and Competition ...

Companies Act 2006 - Guide to October 2008 changes

On 1 October 2007, the new Companies Act 2006 came into force.  How do these changes affect your company?  October 2008 ...

Anti-suit injunctions in arbitration cases

Is it consistent with the Brussels Regulation for a court of an EU Member State to grant an injunction restraining a party from ...

Market abuse and circumstantial evidence

On 1 July 2008, a Final Notice was issued by the FSA against Mr John Shevlin, an IT technician, imposing a fine of £85,000 for ...

"All change please!" - Sweeping new UK legislation on unfair commercial practices comes into force on 26 May 2008

Criminal liability for unfair business-to-consumer ('B2C') commercial practices and misleading business-to-busines ('B2B') ...

THE MICROSOFT DECISION: WHAT ARE ITS IMPLICATIONS?

Q&A with Taylor Wessing's Michael Dietrich

For a European antitrust lawyer with some familiarity with the U.S. system, it is very difficult to understand why both the U.S. ...

Legal professional privilege in European Commission competition investigations

The recent decision of the Court of First Instance (CFI) in joined cases T-125/03 & T-253/03, Akzo Nobel Chemicals Ltd and ...

The Companies Act 2006 - Headline changes

On 1 October 2007, the new Companies Act 2006 comes into force. How do these changes affect your company? Find a brief overview ...

The Companies Act 2006 - Guide to October 2007 changes

On 1 October 2007, the new Companies Act 2006 comes into force. How do these changes affect your company?

The Companies Act 2006 - Guide to April 2008 changes

On 1 October 2007, the new Companies Act 2006 comes into force. How do these changes affect your company? April 2008 changes.

The Companies Act 2006 - Directors' Duties

On 1 October 2007, the new Companies Act 2006 comes into force. How do these changes affect your company's Directors' ...

Taylor Wessing advises shareholders EganaGoldpfeil Europe (Holdings) GmbH and Strellson AG on restructuring the shareholdings and trademark portfolio of JOOP! GmbH

Taylor Wessing advises AVIDA Group in acquisition of Berlin Capital Fund

Taylor Wessing advises Avery Weigh-Tronix on €123m sale to European Capital

EU News - New Commission guidelines on the method of setting of fines

The European Commission has recently revised its methodology for setting of fines on companies that infringe EC competition rules.

Taylor Wessing Germany promotes 17 partners from its own ranks at partners’ meeting in Nice

Are you prepared for the new EU public procurement Regime?

The new EU public procurement regime will apply from 31 January 2006. It consolidates the existing regime and introduces new ...

Commission proposes major boost for private competition claims

The European Commission's consultation paper on private competition damages claims proposes a number of changes to national legal ...

Article 82 discussion paper fails to impress

Instead of announcing a significant policy shift, the Commission's discussion paper is something of a disappointment.

Court upholds Commission's GE / Honeywell merger decision

The Commission has won a Pyrrhic victory in the appeal against its prohibition of the 2001 GE / Honeywell merger.

Taylor Wessing Germany receives acclaim at Juve Awards

Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals

The European Commission has initiated a new Chemicals Policy - REACH.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment

The EU Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive aims to reduce the environmental impact of waste

PPRS investigated by OFT

The Office of Fair Trading has launched a market study into the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. The Office of Fair ...

OFT fine-tunes cartel whistle-blowing rules

The UK's Office of Fair Trading has published details of changes to its leniency policy for cartel whistle-blowers, intended to ...

Generic pharmaceuticals and the EU competition rules

The European Commission has fined AstraZeneca €60 million for misusing the patent system to delay market entry of generic ...

EU News - Sectoral inquiry into the energy sector

The Commission has announced an investigation into competition in the energy sector. The inquiry will particularly focus on the ...

EU News - Judgment of the ECJ in Case C-53/03 SYFAIT v GlaxoSmithKline

The ECJ has found that it has no jurisdiction to answer a question referred by the Greek Competition Authority on whether the ...

EU News - New rights for passengers

Air passengers in the EU will have strengthened rights to claim for compensation if they are affected by over-booking, flight ...

EU News - Sectoral inquiry into the financial services sector

The Commission has announced an investigation into competition in the financial services sector. The inquiry will particularly ...

Taylor Wessing secures landmark judgment in the Competition Appeal Tribunal - CAT confirms power to impose timetable on regulators for reinvestigation of complaints

EU Moves to limit textiles products from the People's Republic of China - New investigation TWUK English

The European Commission has initiated a safeguard investigation into exports of nine categories of Chinese textile to the EU.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is now in force. It provides wide rights of access to information held by public authorities ...

European Company Statute

On 8 October 2004 the European Company Statute came into force, creating a European public limited liability company with its own ...

All change for Competition Rules

A major reform of the EC competition rules took place on 1 May 2004.

EC Merger Reforms

As part of a far-reaching shake-up of EC merger control, a new EC Merger Regulation came into force on 1 May 2004.

New EC technology licensing rules

Taylor Wessing prepared a briefing paper on the new draft Technology Transfer Block Exemption (TTBE) Regulation and accompanying ...

Competition Appeal Tribunal can impose timetable on regulators

In a landmark judgment, the Competition Appeal Tribunal confirmed that it has the power to set a timetable for competition ...