Competition law considerations are often crucial when planning corporate transactions.  A failure to address competition law issues may delay the completion of a transaction and may even prevent the transaction from happening at all. 

 

Our team has extensive knowledge of the application of both UK and EU competition law in the context of corporate deals.  We understand especially the need to provide guidance at an early stage on the likely significance of merger control law for the particular deal under review.  We recognise that in some cases a transaction which in formal terms easily qualifies for review will raise few substantive issues while a deal which only just qualifies for review may raise some extremely complex problems. 

 

We work with specialist economic advisers and overseas lawyers as necessary, to identify quickly the transaction's key issues.  Our highly-experienced lawyers are used to dealing with both UK and EU filings as well as with multi-jurisdictional filings.  We work closely with the relevant competition authority to resolve any issues so that transactions can be completed as planned. 

 

Our firm also plays an active role in the development of competition law.  Besides shaping the law through our work, our team is responsible for the mergers control chapter in the company law textbook, Tolley's Company Law. The team is made up of David Strang, Sheila Tormey and Richard Craig.