The Development: The European Commission ("EC") recently released two long-awaited legislative proposals, the Digital Services Act ("DSA") and Digital Markets Act ("DMA"), that would significantly increase the EC's regulatory...more
The Development: The EU General Court annulled the European Commission's decision in the Apple case, holding that the Commission did not prove that the Irish tax rulings in question gave rise to a selective advantage under EU...more
7/21/2020
/ Apple ,
BEPS ,
Corporate Taxes ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Fiat ,
Government Investigations ,
Member State ,
OECD ,
Popular ,
Starbucks ,
State Aid ,
Transfer Pricing ,
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
One effect of the COVID-19 pandemic has been to accelerate the implementation of new or stricter controls on inward-bound foreign direct investment activity ("FDI"), particularly in the European Union. For example, in March...more
The European Commission recently issued COVID-19-related guidance, ahead of the entry into force of the new EU FDI screening mechanism in October 2020. Several member states have been tightening their national FDI regimes as...more
The new guidance encourages EU Member States to make full use of existing, and adopt new, investment screening mechanisms. Investments in the health care sector and related industries are likely to face increased scrutiny and...more
In March 2019, the UK Competition and Markets Authority ("CMA") issued its first fine on a company for concealing relevant evidence during a dawn raid, fining Fender Musical Instruments Europe Limited £25,000. This is the...more
The Background: The automotive industry has achieved a number of technological advances aimed at developing connected cars, automated vehicles, and ultimately autonomous driving. These innovations are expected to pose a...more
8/31/2018
/ Automotive Industry ,
Connected Cars ,
Driverless Cars ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
FRAND ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Internet of Things ,
IP License ,
Patents ,
Popular ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Safety Standards ,
Telecommunications
The UK's Competition Appeal Tribunal (the "CAT") has overturned a finding of abuse of dominance against Pfizer Inc. and Flynn Pharma Ltd. The ruling followed appeals by those companies against a 2016 Competition & Markets...more
The Situation: A recent study examining common corporate shareholdings in the United States argues that the holding of even minority stakes in rival companies by institutional investors affects competition. The European...more
3/9/2018
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Competition ,
Competition Authorities ,
Corporate Counsel ,
EU ,
EU Merger Directive ,
European Commission ,
European Merger Control Regulation ,
Institutional Investors ,
Private Equity Firms ,
Shareholders ,
UK
The Background: The European Commission has opened an in-depth investigation into a specific provision of the UK-controlled foreign company rules.
The Issue: The Commission will investigate whether the UK's so-called Group...more
12/13/2017
/ Anti Tax Avoidance Directive (ATAD) ,
BEPS ,
Controlled Foreign Corporations ,
Economic and Financial Affairs Council (ECOFIN) ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
European Court of Justice (ECJ) ,
Foreign Subsidiaries ,
International Tax Issues ,
Multinationals ,
Parent Corporation ,
State Aid ,
UK
In April 2017, the European Commission ("Commission") published a tender offer seeking an assessment of the EU market for loan syndication and possible implications under EU competition rules. The successful candidate will...more
5/22/2017
/ Anti-Competitive ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Banks ,
Borrowers ,
Comment Period ,
Competition Authorities ,
Enforcement Actions ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
France ,
Germany ,
Government Studies ,
Infringement ,
Loans ,
Netherlands ,
Notice and Comment ,
OECD ,
Poland ,
Spain ,
Syndicated Loans ,
UK
The European Commission has introduced a new tool to encourage individuals to disclose anticompetitive conduct on an anonymous basis. Individuals are invited to supply inside knowledge to help the Commission uncover cartels...more