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Private Competition Litigation in the EU
This document discusses EU antitrust damages actions and recent case law on this topic. It notes that while Articles 101 and 102 of the TFEU enable private enforcement of EU competition law, most victims of EU antitrust infringements do not obtain compensation. A new EU directive is expected to be adopted in November 2014 to provide a framework for damages actions. The directive aims to increase private antitrust litigation in Europe, where currently only 25% of EC antitrust decisions result in follow-on civil damages claims. Recent relevant case law from the ECJ and national courts is also mentioned.
Private Competition Litigation in the EU
- 1. www.mcguirewoods.com Click to editMaster title style www.mcguirewoods.com Private Litigation, Brussels, 13 October 2014 Matthew Hall Partner, Solicitor (England and Wales) McGuireWoods LLP, Brussels mhall@mcguirewoods.com be.linkedin.com/in/matthewhalllawyer +32 2 629 4234
- 2. McGuireWoods | 2 CONFIDENTIAL U.S.Antitrust Class Actions A perfect storm against defendants… • The evolution of U.S. class certification standards • Ruling on class certification is the issue • Accounting for a settlement
- 3. McGuireWoods | 3 CONFIDENTIAL EUAntitrust Damages Actions
- 4. McGuireWoods | 4 CONFIDENTIAL EUAntitrust Damages Actions • Public enforcement v. private enforcement • Direct effect of Articles 101 and 102 TFEU → private enforcement • Courage and Crehan (ECJ; 2001) = compensation for harm • Manfredi (ECJ; 2006) = actual loss, loss of profit, plus interest Also using national competition rules
- 5. McGuireWoods | 5 CONFIDENTIAL EUAntitrust Damages Actions It’s national courts and (mainly) national law and procedure… • Evidence/disclosure • Collective redress • Quantification including passing-on • Causation • Limitation periods • Liability • Contribution claims • Indirect purchasers • Etc. “to date most victims of infringements of the EU competition rules in practice do not obtain compensation for the harm suffered”
- 6. McGuireWoods | 6 CONFIDENTIAL EUAntitrust Damages Actions • Formal adoption of Directive expected late November 2014 • Applicable probably from 2016 in most countries • A framework to build on • Huge change for some countries • Huge potential for growth in litigation: “only 25% of EC antitrust decisions over 2008-2012 followed by civil actions for damages”
- 7. McGuireWoods | 7 CONFIDENTIAL EUAntitrust Damages Actions
- 8. McGuireWoods | 8 CONFIDENTIAL RecentCase Law • Kone (ECJ; 2014) • EnBW (ECJ; 2014) • Donau Chemie (ECJ; 2013) • Cardiff Bus (UK CAT; 2012) • Albion Water (UK CAT; 2013) • Ebro (Supreme Court of Spain, 2013)
- 9. McGuireWoods | 9 CONFIDENTIAL Thankyou Matthew Hall Partner, Solicitor (England and Wales) McGuireWoods LLP, Brussels mhall@mcguirewoods.com be.linkedin.com/in/matthewhalllawyer +32 2 629 4234