header-logo header-logo

Extraterritorial powers for the CMA?

15 March 2024 / Philip Gardner , Abbie Melvin
Issue: 8063 / Categories: Features , International , Competition , Jurisdiction , Fraud
printer mail-detail
163900
Can the CMA compel overseas companies to provide information? Philip Gardner & Abbie Melvin explore the recent case law
  • Covers case law on the Competition and Markets Authority’s powers to compel information from overseas companies under s 26, Competition Act 1998.
  • The Court of Appeal recently held the CMA has authority to compel responses from companies with no territorial connection to the UK.
  • Competition lawyers are waiting to hear if the case will be appealed to the Supreme Court.

In January, the Court of Appeal allowed the Competition and Markets Authority’s (CMA’s) appeal against a decision that had denied it the ability to compel, by way of notice under s 26 of the Competition Act 1998 (CA 1998, ‘the Act’), responses to information requests from companies with no territorial connection to the UK, despite having UK-incorporated subsidiaries, in Competition and Markets Authority v Rex on the application of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft [2024] EWCA Civ 1506.

Given the apparent similarities to the decision in R (on the application of

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
back-to-top-scroll