New Judgment: R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 – UKSC Blog

‘This appeal concerns a matter of statutory interpretation in the context of litigation funding. Litigation funding involves the agreement of a third party (with no prior connection to the litigation) to finance all or part of the legal costs of certain litigation, in return for a percentage of any damages recovered should the funded litigant be successful. In particular, this appeal concerns whether each of the agreements to provide this funding, known as litigation funding agreements (“LFAs”), constitute a “damages-based agreement” (“DBA”), a term given a specific definition by statute. In order to be lawful and enforceable a DBA has to satisfy certain conditions. The LFAs have been entered into without satisfying those conditions, so the question whether they constitute DBAs is critical for their enforceability.’

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UKSC Blog, 26th July 2023

Source: ukscblog.com

‘Quickie’ divorces and will writing to be investigated – BBC News

Posted July 25th, 2023 in competition, divorce, legal services, news, wills by sally

‘Firms offering “quickie” divorces and will writing are to be investigated by the UK’s competition watchdog.’

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BBC News, 18th July 2023

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Dip in proportion of consumers shopping around for legal services – Legal Futures

Posted July 11th, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, legal services, news, statistics by sally

‘The proportion of consumers who shop around for lawyers has fallen for the first time in 12 years, but the use of unbundling is on the rise, according to new figures.’

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Legal Futures, 11th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

BSB chief: Many practices at the Bar have “outlived their usefulness” – Legal Futures

‘There are many working practices at the Bar “which may have outlived their usefulness and no longer work in the interests of consumers”, the director general of the Bar Standards Board (BSB) said yesterday.’

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Legal Futures, 4th July 2023

Source: www.legalfutures.co.uk

Regulator criticises two supermarket giants over unlawful anti-competitive land agreements – Local Government Lawyer

Posted June 15th, 2023 in agreements, competition, markets, news by sally

‘The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has secured agreements from Sainsbury’s and Asda to stop using unlawful anti-competitive land agreements that prevent competitors from establishing stores near to their own supermarkets.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 14th June 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

Watchdog rules rail infrastructure deal could leave passengers worse off – The Independent

Posted June 8th, 2023 in competition, mergers, news, railways by tracey

‘The UK’s competition watchdog has provisionally ruled that Hitachi’s 1.7 billion euro (£1.36 billion) proposed purchase of Thales’s rail infrastructure could drive up prices and reduce service quality for passengers. The findings could lead to the merger being blocked.’

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The Independent, 8th June 2023

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill: UK tech sector competition rules – OUT-LAW.com

Posted June 1st, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, markets, news by sally

‘Large technology companies will face added regulatory and compliance issues in the UK once new legislation aimed at promoting competition in digital markets is enacted and implemented.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 30th May 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Enhancing consumer rights – the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – Mills & Reeve

Posted May 31st, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, dispute resolution, news by sally

‘This briefing is part of a series that is taking a closer look at the government’s draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) which was introduced into Parliament on 25 April 2023. This is an important and far-reaching Bill which will see wide ranging reforms to competition and consumer protection laws.’

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Mills & Reeve, 30th May 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

Microsoft appeals against UK watchdog’s veto of Activision Blizzard takeover – The Guardian

Posted May 25th, 2023 in appeals, competition, internet, news, takeovers, veto by tracey

‘Microsoft has filed an appeal against the UK competition watchdog’s decision to block its $69bn (£56bn) acquisition of the Call of Duty creator Activision Blizzard.’

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The Guardian, 24th May 2023

Source: www.theguardian.com

Research Briefing: Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill 2022-23: Consumer provisions – House of Commons Library

Posted May 19th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, parliament by tracey

‘This briefing considers the consumer provisions of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill [Bill 294, 2022-23]. Second reading of the Bill in the House of Commons is scheduled for 17 May 2023.’

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House of Commons Library , 17th May 2023

Source: commonslibrary.parliament.uk

Regulating Big Tech in the UK – Competition Bulletin

‘Following hot(ish) on the heels of the EU’s Digital Markets Act, the UK’s Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (“the Bill”) was published on 25 April 2023. It seeks to do three things: (1) to establish a new ex-ante regulatory regime for digital markets, conferring powers on the CMA, via its Digital Markets Unit, to impose conduct requirements and make “pro-competitive interventions” (“PCIs”) in relation to designated firms, and to impose hefty penalties for failure to comply; (2) to reform the existing competition law system, notably relating to merger controls, market inquiries and enforcement; and (3) to enhance consumer rights and enforcement. This post focusses on the first of these.’

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Competition Bulletin, 17th May 2023

Source: competitionbulletin.com

A ‘watershed moment’ for the digital sector – the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – Mills & Reeve

Posted May 11th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, electronic commerce, news by sally

‘This briefing is part of a series that will take a closer look at the government’s draft Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill (the “Bill”) which was introduced into Parliament on 25 April 2023. This is an important and far-reaching Bill which will see wide ranging reforms to competition and consumer protection laws.’

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Mills & Reeve, 10th May 2023

Source: www.mills-reeve.com

CMA launches initial review of artificial intelligence models – Competition and Markets Authority

Posted May 4th, 2023 in artificial intelligence, competition, consumer protection, news by tracey

‘The CMA is opening an initial review of competition and consumer protection considerations in the development and use of AI foundation models.’

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Competition and Markets Authority, 4th May 2023

Source: www.gov.uk

UK government publishes Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 26th, 2023 in bills, competition, consumer protection, news, ombudsmen by sally

‘The UK government has published its long-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Bill, designed to boost competition and crack down on unfair business practices.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 25th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Cloud customers should consider options following Ofcom report – OUT-LAW.com

Posted April 25th, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, internet, news, reports by sally

‘The 220-page report published in accordance with Ofcom’s market study powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 highlighted practices which the regulator considers potentially hinder and restrict competition; in particular a customer’s ability to switch provider and adopt a multi-cloud architecture. It is proposing to refer the market for an in-depth investigation by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).’

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OUT-LAW.com, 24th April 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Crucial hearing in Mastercard litigation begins – Law Society’s Gazette

‘The Competition Appeal Tribunal is set to hear arguments today on a complex EU law issue worth billions of pounds in proceedings against credit card providers, Mastercard and Visa.’

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Law Society's Gazette, 24th April 2023

Source: www.lawgazette.co.uk

Subsidy Control reviews: proportionality with a light touch – Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers

Posted April 20th, 2023 in chambers articles, competition, news, proportionality, state aids by sally

‘As erstwhile State aid lawyers will know, under the UK’s new subsidy control regime, interested parties can challenge subsidy decisions in the CAT, which will apply the same principles applied by the High Court in a judicial review. But what standard of review will the CAT adopt when examining a substantive subsidy decision? The recent decision of the Divisional Court in the Bulb case suggests that the answer is proportionality (rather than rationality) – but that the proportionality review may be so light touch as not to add much to the traditional ground.’

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Competition Bulletin from Blackstone Chambers, 19th April 2023

Source: competitionbulletin.com

High Court lifts automatic suspension in procurement dispute over provision of audio-visual equipment to courts and tribunals – Local Government Lawyer

Posted March 14th, 2023 in competition, contracts, courts, limitations, news, public procurement, tenders by sally

‘The Secretary of State for Justice (SoSJ) has successfully applied to the High Court for the lifting of the automatic suspension in a procurement challenge to the outcome of a mini-competition for a call-off contract relating to the provision of digital and audiovisual (‘AV’) equipment for use by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.’

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Local Government Lawyer, 13th March 2023

Source: www.localgovernmentlawyer.co.uk

UK competition court halts class action claim against Meta – OUT-LAW.com

‘The UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) has paused the progress of a class action against Facebook’s parent company, Meta, amid concerns over the validity of the methodology used to calculate potential damages.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 1st March 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com

Updated consumer law guidance for higher education providers welcomed – OUT-LAW.com

Posted February 21st, 2023 in competition, consumer protection, education, news, universities by tracey

‘Updated guidance for higher education (HE) providers announced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) will help the sector ensure that their practices are compliant, according to one legal expert.’

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OUT-LAW.com, 20th February 2023

Source: www.pinsentmasons.com