UK Competition and Markets Authority

In our earlier blog on recent changes affecting the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), we anticipated more changes to come. The month of March has lived up to our expectations. On 12 March, the CMA launched a “call for evidence” for the review of its approach to merger remedies as well as a “Mergers Charter” for businesses, stating that:

“Both the merger remedies review and the Mergers Charter are part of the CMA’s programme of work to implement the ‘4Ps’ – pace, predictability, proportionality and process – across all its work, helping to drive growth and enhance business and investor confidence.”[1]Continue Reading Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes… Part 2

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By repeating “ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” in his famous song, David Bowie was reportedly trying to mirror the stuttered steps of growth. January 2025 was a month full of changes for the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). As with any changes, it is difficult to predict their effect precisely, only time will tell. Although we do not have a crystal ball, however, our longstanding and in-depth experience in UK competition law gives us unique insights on what to expect and most importantly how to adapt. In this update, we will cover some of these key changes including:   

  • The entry into force of the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) and related updated guidance.
  • An anticipated reform of the UK concurrency regime to extend to consumer protection.
  • The exercise by the CMA of its new DMCCA powers to designate companies with Strategic Market Status (SMS).
  • Last but not least, perhaps the changes that grabbed the headlines the most: the CMA has a new interim Chairperson and the UK government’s “steer” to the CMA’s CEO.

Continue Reading Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes… for the UK Competition and Markets Authority

The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”), Information Commissioner’s Office (“ICO”) and Google have agreed legally binding commitments from Google on the development of its Privacy Sandbox proposals.

These proposals relate to the removal of third-party cookies – to be phased out by 2023 – in the Chrome browser and Chromium browser engine, which will