FROM THE CATCHMENT AREA TO THE RELEVANT MARKET. A MODEL OF GEOGRAPHIC MARKET DEFINITION BASED ON CRITICAL LOSS ANALYSIS

The LCN and Inisght discuss the approaches adopted by competition authorities throughout the EEA to define local geographic markets in mergers involving grocery retailers, and identify some systematic flaws in these approaches. We argue that one simple rule for the definition of local geographic markets can be developed based on critical loss analysis, and that this rule is consistent with economic theory on market definition.

The Lear Competition Notes is available  here
Read more on our Insight here

Support study for DG Comp for the revision of the Railway Guidelines

Lear, together with E.CA Economics, Sheppard Mullin and University of East Anglia, has been appointed by the European Commission to carry out a study to assist in the revision the Community guidelines on State aid for railway undertakings. The study will provide the Commission with the relevant information to update the Guidelines, to ensure that they are apt to promote the full liberalization of the rail sector and well-aligned with the regulatory developments that ensure a level-playing field in the internal market. Read more

LEAR COMPETITION FESTIVAL ROME 21-23 SEPTEMBER 2022 – REGISTRATION IS OPEN!

We are pleased to announce the second edition of the LCF, this year as an in-person event.

LCF22 offers an opportunity to discuss recent trends in competition law and economics, and to network with key players in the field. Participants will take part to a 3-day international event involving law firms, international organisations, leading scholars, and practitioners, senior representatives of competition authorities, companies’ executives and more!

Find out the latest news at www.learcompetitionfestival.com

Join us and take advantage of our early bird offer!

New project for the support of the Antimonopoly Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Lear has been appointed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Antimonopoly Committee (“AC”), the competition authority of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The aim of the project is to provide training to the staff of the AC focusing on the main economic and legal concepts and practices within competition law enforcement as well as the quantitative and econometric methods in competition analysis. Read more

PAOLO’S ARTICLE ON “THE VIRTUE OF AN IMPERFECT COMPETITION LAW” FOR CPI ANTITRUST CHRONICLE

This article discusses the goals that an “imperfect competition law” can and should pursue, taking into account the inevitable tension among social values.

Read it here

PAOLO SPEAKS AT THE IV ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF AAI

The Association Antitrust Italiana will organize the IV Annual Conference on the main developments in European and Italian Competition Law.
The event will run over two days starting on 20 October 2021.
Paolo Buccirossi together with economists, legal practitioners, and enforcers will have a talk in the session on PRIVATE ENFORCEMENT: TRENDS AND CHALLENGES AFTER THE DECREE ON DAMAGES’.

More info on the programme here https://bit.ly/3auLPOh

TAR annuls ICA’s decision and rules in favor of Wind Tre

The Administrative Tribunal of Lazio (TAR) has annulled the decision by the Italian Competition Authority (ICA) whereby telecommunications operators had been found to have breached competition law.The allegation was that operators had coordinated their strategy following the Government’s and regulator’s decision to impose a monthly billing cycle for telecommunications services, and had all agreed to comply with the new requirement by keeping their prices unchanged and refraining from granting discounts which would have spurred customer mobility. Read more

Vodafone wins against Eutelia

Vodafone won its appeal against Eutelia in an action for damages. The case concerns an alleged margin squeeze in the market for fixed-to-mobile voice call termination services. The alleged abuse had been investigated by the Italian Competition Authority in 2007 and was closed with a commitment decision. Eutelia, a fixed operator, had sued Vodafone and asked for compensation for the damages allegedly suffered. Read more

When State aid overlaps with market based mechanisms: an example from energy markets

The Lear Competition Note (LCN) discusses the existing literature on the interaction between State aid intervention that incentivizes the investment in decarbonisation technologies and the market-based mechanism relying on the European Union Emission Trading System (ETS). Now in its fourth phase, the EU ETS is often considered the most effective policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Lear Competition Note is available here
Read more on our engagments here 

THE ITALIAN COMPETITION AUTHORITY CLOSES THE INVESTIGATION AGAINST COBAT AND COBAT RIPA

Lear, together with GOP, has assisted the consortium active in the sector of spent lead-acid batteries and accumulators, in its defensive strategy against the allegation of exclusionary practices and has contributed to the submission of commitments to address the competition concerns identified by the Authority. The ICA has closed the investigation without imposing sanctions.

Found out more here  
Read more on our engagement here