Join us for Geradin Partners’ first annual Competition Law and Policy Seminar, co-sponsored with Charles River Associates, bringing together colleagues and friends from across Europe and beyond. Under the theme Competition Policy in Times of Uncertainty, the event will feature lively and topical discussions with leading practitioners, academics, enforcers, and economists. Hosted in the unique setting of the Botanic Sanctuary, the seminar is also a chance to connect, exchange ideas, and enjoy good company in a relaxed environment.
Keynote speaker:
Lord Christopher Bellamy KC,
Former judge at the General Court of the EU
Former President of the Competition Appeal Tribunal
PANEL 1 - Merger Control Under Scrutiny: Key Trends in EU & UK Enforcement
Moderator: Daniel Baker, Partner, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- Nicolas Joncheray, Adjoint au chef de service – Deputy Head of the Merger Unit de l’Autorité de la concurrence
- Nicole Kar, Partner, Paul Weiss, Brussels
- Oliver Latham, Vice-President, Charles River Associates
· Below-Threshold Merger Reviews: Rising legal uncertainty and expanding enforcement.
Competition authorities are increasingly asserting jurisdiction over below-threshold and non-notified transactions through tools such as Article 22 EUMR, national Call-In regimes, and the ECJ’s Towercast judgment.
· Broadened Substantive Assessment: Innovation, labour market effects, and sustainability considerations now play a growing role alongside traditional price-based analysis. The EC is reviewing its merger guidelines to ensure they remain fit for emerging competition concerns.
· Strategic Policy Shifts: The CMA’s adoption of the “4 Ps” (Pace, Predictability, Proportionality, Process) and the EU’s industrial policy focus (e.g. Draghi Report) may mark a shift toward a more growth-oriented and forward-looking approach to merger enforcement.
· Behavioural vs. Structural Remedies: With increasing complexity in digital and dynamic markets, behavioural remedies are gaining prominence. But are they sufficient - or sustainable - alternatives to structural solutions?
PANEL 2 - New Competition Tools (To Have or Not to Have)
Moderator: Tom Smith, Partner, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- Sophie Gappa, Senior Policy Officer, German Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, Berlin
- Pamela Hansson, Partner, Kastell, Stockholm
- Martin Dittmer, Managing partner, Gorrissen Federspiel, Copenhagen
PANEL 3 - Evolving Frontiers of Article 101 Enforcement
Moderator: Stijn Huijts, Partner, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- Jindrich Kloub, Partner, Wilson Sonsini, Brussels
- Jiri Kindl, Partner, Skils, Prague
- Fernando Castillo de la Torre, Principal Legal Advisor, Legal Service, European Commission
- Dominique Wagener, Partner, Commeo, Frankfurt
· The future of dawn raids – fully virtual? A look at how investigative practices are evolving post-COVID, including legal and practical challenges of remote inspections
· Digital cartels and algorithmic collusion: the emerging challenges of detecting and proving collusion in digital markets, including the role of pricing algorithms and the boundaries of liability
· Labour market cartels: growing enforcement interest in wage-fixing and no-poach agreements, with reflections on recent cases and what’s next
· Competition law and sport: the impact of recent judgments and the ongoing tension between competition law and the autonomy of sporting bodies, including both restrictive agreements and potential abuses of dominance (Note: some elements of Article 102 as well as Article 101)
PANEL 4 - Article 102 TFEU – Quo Vadis?
Moderator: Damien Geradin, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- Svend Albaek, Senior Consultant to Charles River Associates, Former Deputy Chief Economist, DG COMP
- Amelia Fletcher, Professor of economics, University of East Anglia
- Vanessa Turner, O’Melveny and Myers
· A review of the major decisions in the EC in the past couple of years
· Article 7 vs. Article 9: is Article 9 increasingly the preferred option?
· The adoption of the DMA and the DMCC in response to some of the criticisms made against enforcement of Article 102 TFEU
· How can we make Article 102 enforcement more efficient? Guidelines and the role of presumptions
PANEL 5 - Private Competition Enforcement – Trends and Tactics
Moderator: Jenny Reeves, Partner, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- Kieron Beal KC, Blackstone Chambers, London
- Machteld de Monchy, Partner, De Brauw, Amsterdam
- Mikael Hervé, Vice President, Charles River Associates
- Chris Williams, Vice President, Bench Walk Advisors
· Key developments in UK and EU damages litigation (both follow-on and standalone)
· Collective Redress: convergence or fragmentation?
- The UK’s CAT regime
- Collective actions under the EU Representative Actions Directive: state of implementation
- Comparative insights: opt-in vs. opt-out, standing, and class definition
· Funding and costs in group claims: common challenges across borders
· Managing cross-border claims: jurisdiction, recognition, and enforcement
PANEL 6 - Competition Law – Geopolitics and Sovereignty
Moderator: Trevor Soames, Geradin Partners
Speakers:
- John Davies, Brunswick, London
- Umberto Gambini, Partner, Forward Global
- Damian Collins OBE
· Can cases be won only on the basis of legal submissions or does one need a holistic approach?
· How does the current geopolitical context impact competition enforcement?
· Has competition law become excessively political? What is the experience in the Member States and beyond?
· What are the new competition tools used to protect EU sovereignty and its industrial base? How do they work?
