United Kingdom: Antitrust/Competition Law

The UK's Competition and Markets Authority has launched three additional investigations into hidden fees, intensifying its enforcement campaign against drip pricing practices.

Mounting geopolitical tensions and heightened security concerns have highlighted the need for greater scale, resilience and autonomy in Europe’s defence sector. This has prompted a fundamental policy shift.

The High Court recently delivered a significant judgment in the CMA's case against Emma Sleep, addressing the contentious issue of discount claims and reference pricing in retail. The court's decision to reject the CMA's proposed strict 1:2 ratio requirement—which would have mandated that retailers sell one mattress at full price for every two sold at a discount—marks a pivotal moment in consumer protection law. This ruling emphasizes a more flexible, context-driven approach to pricing claims ra

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 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

The Competition and Markets Authority has dramatically increased its enforcement activity, imposing over £5.7M in fines in early 2026 and accelerating investigation timelines under new statutory duties. Businesses face heightened scrutiny across consumer protection practices, from advertising to commercial operations, requiring immediate attention to compliance frameworks and rapid-response capabilities.