Competition Law & The Digital Markets, Competition & Consumer Act - Latest News

Introduction

On 24 May 2024, the much-awaited Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Act finally received Royal Assent and became law. The Act is expected to be passed to come into force in successive stages.

This flagship piece of legislation introduces a new groundbreaking regime for the regulation of digital markets designed to curb the anti-competitive behaviour of ‘Big Tech’ and provide fast and effective remedies to those aggrieved by digital platform’s offending conduct including private actions for damages. In addition, the Act implements the first major competition law reforms since Brexit. In a radical set of measures the Government updates the UK competition law regime thereby improving effectiveness and speeding up enforcement so as to maintain and improve public confidence in competition regulation.

The Act’s widespread reforms change the CMA’s market study and market inquiry regime, merger control thresholds and procedure and introduce stronger Competition Act 1998 enforcement together with greater powers being invested in the Competition Appeal Tribunal.

What You Will Learn

This live and interactive course will cover the following:

• Brief background and rationale for the reforms
• Details of the new pro-competitive regime for the regulation of digital markets
• Reforms to CMA market study and inquiry regime
• Updating and broadening the UK merger control thresholds and procedures
• New merger prohibition on foreign government ownership of newspapers
• Stronger Competition Act enforcement including increasing penalties on companies and directors as well as new investigative powers
• Greater powers for the Competition Appeal Tribunal
• More effective international cooperation with other regulators such as DG Comp and the DoJ/FTC
• Likely timetable for implementation

Recording of live sessions: Soon after the Learn Live session has taken place you will be able to go back and access the recording - should you wish to revisit the material discussed.