United Kingdom: Antitrust/Competition Law

Explore comprehensive legal insights and expert commentary across diverse practice areas, or tune in to informative podcasts featuring industry thought leaders. Stay informed with the latest developments...

The UK government has formally responded to the Competition and Markets Authority's comprehensive review of the Subsidy Control Act 2022, accepting key recommendations for improvement. The response outlines planned changes to guidance, streamlined routes, and transparency measures, while the CMA's assessment reveals how the regime is functioning in practice and what challenges public authorities face in implementation.

The UK Government has launched a comprehensive consultation on reforming competition law enforcement, collective actions, and regulatory appeals. The proposals include stricter certification tests for opt-out claims, immunity from private litigation for cartel whistleblowers, and the transfer of regulatory appeals to the Competition Appeal Tribunal. These changes could fundamentally reshape how businesses defend against competition claims and engage with sector regulators.

This newsletter examines pivotal competition law developments across the UK and EU, including the CJEU's landmark €4.125bn fine against Google for Android-related abuses, the UK Court of Appeal's significant ruling on distribution system restrictions, and the implications of Andy Burnham's premiership for UK competition policy.

The strict criteria laid down in the EU Court of Justice's (CJEU) landmark Bronner judgment have often been deployed by dominant firms as a "shield" when facing accusations of acting abusively by blocking competitors from using or accessing their assets.

Freight transport M&A showed signs of recovery in Q1 2026, with deal volume rising approximately 5% and capital concentrating in larger strategic transactions. North American activity surged back to pre-Liberation Day levels, while geopolitical risks and structural oversupply continued to reshape buyer strategies and underwriting models across the sector.

The Competition and Markets Authority has wielded its new consumer enforcement powers for over a year, imposing millions in fines and redress orders while deploying AI monitoring and advisory letters to target businesses across multiple sectors. From misleading pricing to unfair contract terms, the CMA's expanding enforcement strategy reveals critical compliance risks that consumer-facing businesses can no longer afford to ignore.

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has transformed consumer enforcement in its first year under new powers, moving with unprecedented speed to impose millions in fines and order substantial refunds across multiple sectors. From drip pricing in driving schools to hidden fees on ticket platforms and unfair parking charges, the CMA is demonstrating that consumer protection violations now carry serious financial consequences—with liability extending beyond consumer-facing subsidiaries to parent co

The European Commission has completed its first statutory review of the Foreign Subsidies Regulation, three years after the regime entered into force. While declaring the FSR "fit for purpose," the Commission acknowledges that notification procedures impose disproportionate burdens on businesses and signals targeted procedural adjustments for 2027. The review examines enforcement activity across mergers, public procurement, and ex-officio investigations, revealing compliance challenges and stakeholder conce