Frederic Depoortere

Sep 9, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Niels Baeten |Bill Batchelor |Frederic Depoortere

On September 3, 2024, the European Union’s Court of Justice (ECJ) issued its highly anticipated judgment in the Illumina/Grail case (C-611/22 P and C-625/22 P) concerning the European Commission’s (EC’s) power to review transactions based on a referral by national competition authorities in the EU pursuant to Article 22 of the EU Merger Regulation (EUMR).

Jun 24, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Niels Baeten |Bill Batchelor |Frederic Depoortere

Key PointsAs a new policy statement from the European Commission (EC) treats wage-fixing and no-poach agreements as inherently anticompetitive (restriction of competition “by object”) with few possible defences, companies should consider: Ensuring their compliance tools reflect the risks of wage-fixing and no-poach agreements. Refraining from agreements and information exchanges on wages, compensation or benefits.

May 29, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Niels Baeten |Bill Batchelor |Frederic Depoortere

The United Kingdom’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (the Act) received royal assent on 24 May 2024. The Act introduces wide-ranging amendments to the UK competition and consumer law regimes that expand the powers of the UK’s competition authority — the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — and significantly alter the merger control and antitrust investigation processes.

May 29, 2024 | jdsupra.com | Niels Baeten |Bill Batchelor |Frederic Depoortere

The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCC or the Act), adopted on 24 May 2024, empowers the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to regulate the conduct of major tech platforms. The CMA can designate companies with "Strategic Market Status" (SMS) if: their turnover exceeds certain thresholds, their digital activity is linked to the UK, and they have substantial and entrenched market power and a position of strategic significance.

May 23, 2024 | concurrences.com | Niels Baeten |Bill Batchelor |Frederic Depoortere |Aurora Luoma

The United Kingdom’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (the Act) received royal assent on 24 May 2024. The Act introduces wide-ranging amendments to the UK competition and consumer law regimes that expand the powers of the UK’s competition authority — the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) — and significantly alter the merger control and antitrust investigation processes. Key amendments include:Merger control: New filing thresholds “for killer acquisitions” of nascent busi...