MasterCard sued for £14bn in largest ever British legal claim – The Guardian

‘Credit card group MasterCard is being sued for £14bn, the largest legal claim in British history, in a landmark lawsuit over allegations that it overcharged 46m UK consumers.’

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The Guardian, 8th September 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Merger of electronic toy suppliers subject to UK competition investigation – OUT-LAW.com

Posted September 1st, 2016 in competition, mergers, news, reports by sally

‘The proposed merger of two suppliers of electronic gadgets for children will be the subject of an in-depth competition investigation in the UK.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 31st August 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Heaven or Hell? Brexit Legal Issues Analysed Through ‘Hotel California’ Lyrics – Littleton Chambers

‘This post sets out some of the legal issues arising after the referendum of 23 June 2016, taking a generous liberty with the interpretation of the lyrics of The Eagles’ song “Hotel California”.’

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Littleton Chambers, 12th August 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Force family lawyers to offer fixed fees, consumer panel suggests – Legal Futures

Posted August 24th, 2016 in competition, dentists, family courts, fees, legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘Family law specialists should be required to work under fixed fees, the Legal Services Consumer Panel has suggested as it ramped up its call for regulatory intervention to improve transparency in the market.’

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Legal Futures, 24th August 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Online retailer hit with six-figure fine for participation in online cartel – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 17th, 2016 in competition, electronic commerce, fines, news by sally

‘An online poster and picture frame seller has been handed a six-figure fine by the UK’s main competition authority over its participation in a cartel.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 16th August 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

UK regulator clamps down on undisclosed paid-for social media advertising – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 15th, 2016 in advertising, competition, internet, news by sally

‘A social media marketing company has committed to improving its online practices after a UK regulator took issue with its paid-for advertising.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 12th August 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Regulator seeks reform of UK payments infrastructure – OUT-LAW.com

Posted August 9th, 2016 in banking, competition, news by sally

‘Plans to reform UK payments infrastructure have been outlined by the industry’s regulator after it found that current competition in the market is lacking and serving as a barrier to innovation.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 8th August 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Watchdog demands banking overhaul to save customers money – The Guardian

Posted August 9th, 2016 in banking, competition, consumer protection, news by sally

‘A package of measures intended to help customers save £92 a year by switching their bank accounts has been unveiled by the competition watchdog after a two-year investigation into the sector.’

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The Guardian, 9th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Banking watchdog to announce measures to boost competition – The Guardian

Posted August 8th, 2016 in banking, competition, consumer credit, fees, news, ombudsmen, statistics by sally

‘Overdraft fees and an easier system of moving personal and small business accounts are expected to be at the centre of measures intended to bolster competition in the banking sector.’

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The Guardian, 8th August 2016

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Can several wrongs make a right? Gallaher v CMA in the Court of Appeal – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted July 29th, 2016 in competition, news, penalties, price fixing by sally

‘When a public body makes a mistake in its treatment of one person, can fairness require it to treat other people in the same way – even if that means amplifying the effects of the mistake?’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 27th July 2016

Source: www.competitionbulletin.com

Universities getting better on consumer law issues, but work still to be done, says CMA – OUT-LAW.com

‘Awareness among universities of their responsibilities under consumer protection law is increasing, although some poor practices remain, the UK’s competition watchdog has found.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 26th July 2016

Source: www.out-law.com

Making lawyers publish “average” prices will energise consumers, says panel – Legal Futures

‘The Legal Services Consumer Panel said last week that it was “not blind to the challenges of increased price transparency”, but insisted that making lawyers publish “average” prices could be the catalyst for making consumers ask more questions about cost.’

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Legal Futures, 25th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Keep price comparison sites as they are, say MPs – BBC News

Posted July 22nd, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news by sally

‘MPs on the Energy Committee have written to the new business secretary to demand no change to the current rules on price comparison websites.’

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BBC News, 21st July 2016

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Daniel Tatton-Brown QC on Misuse of Confidential Information and Interim Remedies -Littleton Chambers

‘A rogue employee leaving their employer and taking with him confidential information such as a customer or pricing list can potentially cause significant damage to the ex-employer’s business.’

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Littleton Chambers, 12th July 2016

Source: www.littletonchambers.com

Bar Council response to CMA interim report – The Bar Council

Posted July 11th, 2016 in barristers, competition, legal services, news by sally

‘Responding to today’s [8 July] report on the market for legal services from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), the Bar Council agrees that wholesale reform of the regulatory framework may increase the cost of regulation and jeopardize valuable expertise.’

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The Bar Council, 8th July 2016

Source: www.barcouncil.org.uk

Consumers “generally satisfied” with legal services providers, key survey finds – Legal Futures

Posted July 11th, 2016 in competition, legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘There are high levels of consumer satisfaction with legal services, according to a survey commissioned by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Legal services: removing barriers to competition – official-documents.gov.uk

‘Consultation on proposals to make amendments to the Legal Services Act 2007.’

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official-documents.gov.uk, 7th July 2016

Source: www.official-documents.gov.uk

Consultation on further liberalisation of legal services market – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The government today unveiled plans for a second wave of reforms aimed at opening the legal services market to new businesses.’

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Law Society’s Gazette, 7th July 2016

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Government lays out plans to encourage more ABSs to enter market – Legal Futures

‘The government is today laying out plans to remove restrictions on alternative business structures (ABSs) on the basis that they have proven no more risky than traditional law firms.’

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Legal Futures, 7th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Who regulates? – Competition and regulation in the legal sector – Legal Futures

Posted July 7th, 2016 in competition, consumer protection, conveyancing, legal services, news by sally

‘Regulation is put into place because markets are not perfect. Legal services are infrequent purchases for most people, so the asymmetry of knowledge and power between provider and consumer is especially marked.’

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Legal Futures, 6th July 2016

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk