Investment funds
Advising a major bank on an FCA competition market investigation.
Acting for an international bank in a European Commission cartel investigation, including applying for leniency before the Commission and various national competition authorities; advising on settlement negotiations and private damages actions.
Acting in connection with the investigation by the (then) Office of Fair Trading into MasterCard's UK interchange fee arrangements.
Acting for various private equity funds in relation to investments in a range of sectors, including advising on the structure of the transaction and securing regulatory clearance from competition authorities worldwide.
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Investment funds
Competition
Merger control
Bryony has analysed potential acquisitions and collaborations and obtained regulatory clearance for clients active in numerous sectors, in transactions ranging from private equity fund investments to substantive mergers between competitors. Highlights include:
Advising a major US corporation on all non-US filings relating to an acquisition of a competing business in the technology sector (complicated by a parallel attempted acquisition in the sector). The transaction was cleared by the European Commission in Phase II.
Advising a British manufacturer of healthcare products in relation to its acquisition by a multinational consumer goods company. The transaction was cleared by the European Commission in Phase I, subject to commitments.
Advising a third party on an intervention against an acquisition in the security software sector.
Advising a US analytics company in relation to its acquisition of a software solutions provider and securing a Phase I clearance from the UK competition authorities.
Advising a major food manufacturer in relation to its acquisition of a competing food business and securing a Phase I clearance from the UK competition authorities.
Cartel investigations
Acting in an appeal to the General Court for annulment of the European Commission’s decision in Gas Insulated Switchgear.
Acting for an international bank in a European Commission cartel investigation, including applying for leniency before the Commission and various national competition authorities; advising on settlement negotiations and private damages actions.
Acting for immunity and leniency applicants in various cartel investigations conducted by the European Commission.
Acting in the European Commission's first settlement case (DRAMS).
Abuse of dominance
Analysing business practices and advising on their compatibility with Article 102 TFEU and the UK Chapter II Prohibition on abuses of a dominant position.
Audits / raids
Conducting competition audits (including reviewing documents and conducting interviews) to identify any potential competition law issues, and assessing associated risks; reviewing and updating competition compliance programmes.
Damages actions
Acting for clients involved in various follow-on damages actions brought in the English and German courts for damages suffered relating to European Commission cartel cases.
Market studies / investigations
Advising a major bank on an FCA competition market investigation.
Commercial agreements
Reviewing and advising on the compatibility of various types of commercial agreements with the competition rules in a range of sectors, both prior to execution and also in the context of legal due diligence. Agreements include distribution agreements, technology transfer agreements and research and development agreements.
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