Latest by Melanie Musgrave

COVID-19: The Dairy Sector and Welsh health services granted temporary UK competition law exemptions and the European Commission issues first 'Comfort Letter' to Pharmaceutical Manufacturers

Published on 01 June 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The UK Government has granted a temporary competition law exemption for certain collaboration within the dairy sector and Welsh health services and the European Commission has published its first 'comfort letter' to allow co-operation to ensure supplies of medicines for COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19: What is the CMA's current approach to UK merger assessment?

Published on 29 April 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The CMA has been adapting its working practices to react to the ongoing challenges of a change in working environment that has an impact on almost all businesses.

COVID-19: Coronavirus and Competition Law - The Current Enforcement Scene

Published on 06 April 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

COVID-19: The groceries sector - temporary competition law exemption comes into force

Published on 03 April 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

In light of "exceptional and compelling reasons of public policy" arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Secretary of State (the "SoS") has announced temporary competition law arrangements in the groceries sector.

COVID-19: CMA provides guidance to business on its approach to co-operation in response to the pandemic

Published on 01 April 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

Businesses, which do not benefit from the specific competition law exemptions granted by the Secretary of State (in the groceries, Solent Ferries and healthcare services sectors), may co-operate without fear of enforcement action by the Competition and Markets Authority (the "CMA"), provided that this co-operation is undertaken "solely to address concerns arising from the current crisis and does not go further or last longer than what is necessary".

COVID-19: help for supermarkets and other retailers with competition law compliance in challenging times

Published on 24 March 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The Government is providing the supermarkets with the necessary comfort, so that they can co-operate with each other in order to keep the shelves stocked and deliveries continuing during the course of the COVID-19 crisis.

Online resale price maintenance practices attract highest fines yet from the CMA

Published on 05 February 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The CMA announced on 22 January 2020 that it has fined Fender, the guitar manufacturer, £4.5 million for illegal resale price maintenance practices ("RPM").

Another successful round for the CMA

Published on 05 February 2020. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The Court of Appeal confirms that an absolute online sales ban imposed by a supplier on its authorised retailers is illegal.

Online resale price maintenance and pricing software under scrutiny

Published on 30 July 2018. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The imposition of fixed or minimum prices on their online retailers, in breach of EU competition law, has resulted in four consumer electronics manufacturers being fined over €111 million in total by the European Commission.

Luxury brands: The tale of selective distribution systems and online platform restrictions

Published on 19 December 2017. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

In the much awaited Coty preliminary ruling, the European Court of Justice (the "ECJ") has confirmed that, subject to certain conditions, luxury goods manufacturers can employ selective distribution systems to preserve the luxury image of their products and can prohibit their authorised distributors from utilising third-party online sales platforms.

Digital Comparison Tools: The CMA's Verdict

Published on 20 October 2017. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel and Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner

The CMA has recently concluded its year-long digital comparison tools (DCT) market study with the publication (on 26 September 2017) of its Final Report. However, this is by no means the end of the story. In addition to making recommendations to DCTs, their users, the regulators (in particular, the FCA), other bodies and the Government, the CMA has launched a competition investigation into the use of wide "most favoured nation" (MFN) contractual arrangements by a DCT in the home insurance sector and will keep other commercial arrangements under review.

Digital comparison tools: the CMA decides against a market investigation reference

Published on 30 March 2017. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

Six months after the CMA launched its market study into digital comparison tools, it has decided not to make a market investigation reference, but will focus on four areas of possible concern in a second phase of its market study.

The Insurance Block Exemption: The End of an Era

Published on 13 March 2017. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel and Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner

31 March 2017 sees the expiry of the Insurance Block Exemption

Online Sales and Price-Fixing

Published on 01 December 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The CMA recently issued a warning to online retailers against price-fixing and using automated re-pricing software to facilitate such arrangements.

Digital comparison tools under review

Published on 12 October 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The UK's CMA has launched a market study into price comparison tools, such as price comparison websites and smartphone apps. The aim is to establish what action, if any, is required to improve how this market works. The CMA has until 28 March 2017 to decide whether to open an in-depth market investigation.

Price fixing online – a new competition authority warning

Published on 18 July 2016. By Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") has released an open letter to suppliers and retailers warning against online practices which constitute price fixing.

Insurance Block Exemption: does EC report signal beginning of the end?

Published on 18 March 2016. By Lambros Kilaniotis, Partner and Melanie Musgrave, Of Counsel

With just over a year to go before the current Insurance Block Exemption is due to expire (its expiry date is 31 March 2017), the European Commission has just published its Report on the Block Exemption's application.