Ticket resale websites run risk of fines after CMA launches inquiry – The Guardian

Posted December 20th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, inquiries, internet, news by sally

‘Ticket resale websites and the touts who use them could be fined after the competition watchdog launched an investigation into how the best seats are harvested and then sold on at huge mark-ups before fans can buy them at face value.’

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The Guardian, 19th December 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Model agencies fined £1.5m by competition watchdog for price-fixing – The Independent

Posted December 19th, 2016 in competition, fines, news, price fixing by sally

‘Modelling agencies who have represented clients including Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss have been fined a total of £1.5 million for price-fixing, the competition watchdog said today.’

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The Independent, 16th December 2016

Source: www.independent.co.uk

CMA responses: Law Society and SRA at odds, but McKenzie Friends are happy – Legal Futures

Posted December 16th, 2016 in competition, legal profession, legal services, McKenzie friends, news by sally

‘The Competition and Market Authority’s (CMA) report on legal services yesterday provoked a predictably mixed response that pitted the Law Society against the Solicitors Regulation Authority, and found support from the body representing paid McKenzie Friends.’

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Legal Futures, 16th May 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

CMA final report: demand for better price and service transparency from law firms, and review of legal regulation – Legal Futures

Posted December 15th, 2016 in competition, law firms, legal services, press releases, reports by sally

‘Regulators need to deliver a “step change in standards of transparency” so that lawyers’ clients can both understand the price and service they will receive, and compare providers, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said today.’

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Full CMA press release

Legal Futures, 15th December 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Pfizer fined record £84.2m for overcharging NHS – BBC News

Posted December 7th, 2016 in competition, fines, medicines, news by sally

‘Drugs giant Pfizer has been fined a record £84.2m by the UK’s competition watchdog for overcharging the NHS for an anti-epilepsy drug.’

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BBC News, 7th December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Unfair care home practices examined by watchdog – BBC News

Posted December 5th, 2016 in care homes, competition, news by sally

‘A review of the UK’s care home market is being launched by the competition watchdog to see if residents are being treated fairly.’

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BBC News, 2nd December 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Competition Law claims post-Brexit: the issue of applicable law – Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 1st, 2016 in brexit, competition, EC law, news, treaties by sally

‘Once notification is given by the UK Government of its intention to withdraw from the European Union under Article 50 TFEU, EU law will cease to apply in the UK after the expiry of two years (absent an agreement between all 28 Member States extending the relevant period). What then happens to the UK’s competition law regime, which is closely intertwined with EU law, both substantively and procedurally?’

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Blackstone Chambers, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Islands of jurisdiction for competition damages claims in a post-Brexit world – Blackstone Chambers

Posted December 1st, 2016 in brexit, competition, damages, EC law, jurisdiction, news, treaties by sally

‘When the UK leaves the EU, the rules governing jurisdiction in cross-border competition damages claims will likely change. Most immediately, this will impact those who had acquired pre-Brexit causes of action for breach of statutory duty under section 2(1) of the European Communities Act 1972, based on Articles 101 and Articles 102 TFEU. The doctrine of acquired rights would preserve such causes of action;[1] but it is unlikely to preserve EU rules of jurisdiction in relation to them. Thereafter, the changes will impact those able to establish post-Brexit causes of action based on foreign laws, as Kieron Beal QC has explained. In either case, Claimants may wish to establish English jurisdiction, including as against EU domiciled defendants. This post considers some of the issues likely to be encountered.’

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Blackstone Chambers, 22nd November 2016

Source: www.blackstonechambers.com

Ofcom pushes ahead with legal separation of BT from Openreach – Daily Telegraph

Posted November 29th, 2016 in competition, EC law, internet, news, telecommunications by sally

‘Ofcom will order BT to legally separate from its Openreach network after the company failed to address “competition concerns” voluntarily.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th November 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

EU ruling should help clarify legitimacy of online platform bans, says UK competition regulator – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 18th, 2016 in competition, EC law, electronic commerce, internet, news by sally

‘A case before the EU’s highest court should help clarify whether online platform bans should automatically be considered as breaching competition laws, a UK competition regulator has said.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 17th November 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

BREXIT: Hard Brexit will bring £1.2 billion hit to British importers, says study – OUT-LAW.com

Posted November 16th, 2016 in agreements, brexit, competition, EC law, international trade, news, reports, treaties by sally

‘Losing access to the EU’s trade agreements would cost UK importers an extra £1.2 billion a year, according to research conducted on behalf of the Open Britain campaign.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 15th November 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Tribunal starts hearing competition law action brought against Law Society – Legal Futures

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal will today begin hearing a training provider’s claim that the Law Society acted anti-competitively by requiring law firms to buy its own training in order to maintain their Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation.’

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Legal Futures, 8th November 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Court “does not have to accept” parties’ agreement not to budget – Litigation Futures

Posted November 8th, 2016 in appeals, budgets, civil procedure rules, competition, costs, news, tribunals by sally

‘A High Court judge has made it clear that the court is not required to go along with parties who agree to dispense with costs management.’

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Litigation Futures, 7th November 2016

Source: www.litigationfutures.com

FCA to investigate banks’ high-cost credit including overdrafts – The Guardian

Posted November 3rd, 2016 in banking, competition, fees, financial regulation, loans, news by sally

‘The City regulator is to launch an investigation into loans that charge high interest rates in a move that will also wade into the controversy over fees on overdrafts. The decision by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to look at overdraft charges comes after the Competitition and Markets Authority stepped back from imposing a limit on these fees after a two-year investigation into high-street banking.’

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The Guardian, 3rd November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Competition watchdog criticised by MPs over bank reform – The Guardian

Posted November 2nd, 2016 in banking, competition, news, reports, select committees by sally

‘The competition watchdog has been accused of complacency and missing an opportunity to overhaul high street banking, including capping overdraft charges, despite a two-year long investigation.’

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The Guardian, 1st November 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Competition watchdog to investigate online betting firms – The Guardian

Posted October 21st, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, fines, gambling, news by sally

‘Online betting companies could face fines and be forced to changed their practices after it was announced they are to be investigated by the competition watchdog over whether they are treating customers fairly.’

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The Guardian, 21st October 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Price comparison sites to be probed by watchdog – BBC News

Posted October 3rd, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘The way price comparison websites work is to be examined by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).’

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BBC News, 29th September 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Watchdog to compare the market for price comparison websites – Daily Telegraph

Posted September 29th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘Price comparison websites will be scrutinised by the competition watchdog as it considers how the tools benefit consumers and competition.’

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Daily Telegraph, 29th September 2016

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Regulatory focus on data access restrictions could impact Uber, retailers, insurers and car manufacturers, says expert – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 27th, 2016 in competition, data protection, EC law, financial regulation, insurance, news, privacy by sally

‘Retailers, insurers, car manufacturers and the fast-growing software company Uber are among the businesses that should take note of the increased regulatory scrutiny being placed on restrictions of access to data.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th September 2016

Source: www.out-look.com

Lawyers need to prepare for “customer service revolution” – Legal Futures

Posted September 22nd, 2016 in competition, law firms, legal profession, news, reports by sally

‘A regulatory agenda that is looking to help consumers shop around for legal advice means that many law firms are running out of time to get to grips with customer service, a report being launched at today’s PI Futures conference has warned.’

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Legal Futures, 22nd September 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk