Covington’s four-part video series offers snapshot briefings on key emerging trends in UK Competition Law. In part three, James Marshall and Sophie Albrighton discuss digital markets, one of the key areas of focus of competition authorities around the world today, including in the UK. They are joined by guest speaker Martin Hansen, Of Counsel in
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Sophie Albrighton
Sophie advises clients on all areas of global competition law, including merger control, compliance, investigations, and abuse of dominance.
Sophie’s experience covers industry sectors including technology, media, energy and infrastructure, life sciences, sports and travel.
Sophie regularly guides clients through complex merger control regimes, with particular experience of merger control in the UK, European Union, and jurisdictions in Asia and South America. She also has a broad range of experience in behavioral competition work and strategic compliance issues, and is noted by the Legal 500 for her experience advising clients subject to investigations by various competition regulators, including the Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission.
Sophie co-authors the UK chapter of the loose-leaf European Cartel Digest.
She is qualified in England & Wales and Ireland.
What you need to know about the CMA’s consultation on the Retained Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Regulation
The Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) is consulting on its proposed recommendation to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to replace the retained Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Regulation (“retained VABER”) with a new UK Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (“VABEO”).
The retained VABER is the European Commission Regulation No 330/2010, which was incorporated into UK law when the UK left the EU. The retained VABER currently provides a safe harbour for a wide range of vertical agreements, subject to certain thresholds being met. It expires on 31 May 2022 and is under review for replacement by the European Commission. Following Brexit, businesses will not benefit from any replacement to the VABER at EU level in relation to their UK activities. The CMA has therefore consulted with businesses, industry associations and professional advisers to consider whether a UK-specific equivalent is required. Following this initial consultation process, the CMA recommends introducing a UK-specific equivalent VABEO from 1 June 2022.
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Emerging Trends in UK Competition Law Vlog Series – Part II: Enforcement and Litigation
Covington’s four-part video series offers snapshot briefings on key emerging trends in UK Competition Law. In part two, James Marshall and Sophie Albrighton focus on current trends in enforcement and litigation. They are joined by guest speaker Louise Freeman, co-chair of Covington’s Commercial Litigation and European Dispute Resolution Practice Groups, who has extensive experience…
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Emerging Trends in UK Competition Law Vlog Series – Part I: Merger Control
Covington’s four-part video series offers snapshot briefings on key emerging trends in UK Competition Law. In the first part, James Marshall and Sophie Albrighton focus on current trends in merger control. They are joined by guest speaker Louise Nash, Corporate Partner in Covington’s London office with over 20 years’ experience of global acquisitions, divestitures…
Continue Reading Emerging Trends in UK Competition Law Vlog Series – Part I: Merger Control
Proposals published for radical overhaul of UK competition regime following Brexit
On 16 February, John Penrose MP published his long-awaited report into the UK’s competition regime. Penrose was tasked by the UK Government with reviewing how the UK’s competition regime can:
- Play a central role in meeting the challenges of the post COVID-19 economy and in driving recovery. The Government’s Policy Paper stated that “the pandemic is the biggest threat the UK has faced in decades and overcoming it will require all the dynamism and creativity that exists across all sectors and in all regions and nations of the UK“;
- Contribute to the Government’s aim of levelling up across all nations and regions of the UK;
- Increase consumer trust, including by meeting the Conservative Party’s 2019 Manifesto commitment to tackle bad business practices, and ensure the competition regime is strong, swift, flexible and proportionate;
- Support UK disruptors taking risks on new ideas and challenging incumbents; and
- Make best use of data, technology and digital skills which are vital to the modern economy.
Continue Reading Proposals published for radical overhaul of UK competition regime following Brexit