Our competition practice is a new addition to the London office. Competition law (usually referred to as antitrust in the US) covers a range of issues, from assisting merging companies with competition filings and clearances, advising companies on distribution agreements and pricing, defending companies from regulatory investigations, advising on compliance policies, preparing complaints to competition authorities and pursuing or defending against competition claims before the courts. It may also involve advising on other issues arising from the European Union treaties, such as the rules governing public subsidies ('state aid'), public procurement, sectoral regulation and interstate trade. The work involves elements of corporate, commercial and litigation practice, with the balance depending on the mix of matters at any one time.

Competition law involves the interaction of law, economics and public policy. As well as being quite academic, in the sense that the legal framework can be complex, it is also highly practical and depends on a close understanding of a client's business and the markets on which it operates.