Competition and regulatory policy at both European and Irish levels has progressed substantially over the past decade and continues to evolve at a rapid pace.  In order to ensure compliance with all applicable rules a clear understanding of the complex and often-changing legal background is required, as well as an appreciation for the wider economic and political agenda from which it flows. Such awareness is particularly critical given the tendency to associate legal compliance with a decreased ability to implement flexible and creative solutions to problems faced and opportunities encountered, which is particularly the case for undertakings possessing market power. 

 

At Beauchamps we take the opposite view due to our core belief that competition law’s primary goal is to encourage innovation of all types, whether it be the creation of more advanced products or improvements in distribution or management, which can often best be achieved through strategic investments or cooperation. By placing a premium on innovation, we offer solutions that, far from placing a straitjacket upon our clients’ abilities to use their imagination and creativity, instead provide a customised and flexible framework in which goals can be achieved while keeping regulatory risk at a manageable level. Our combination of sectoral-specific experience and entrepreneurial spirit enables not only expert assessments, but can often offer alternative solutions that will accomplish the same goal while significantly reducing the risk that competition laws will be infringed. Rather than advising our clients to adapt their practices to fit within a one size fits all pre-determined model, we are instead committed to offering custom-tailored ideas designed to take into account real-world needs and goals, and to provide substantial value in the process.

 

In this regard Beauchamps has a highly respected practice in competition and EU law and advises state bodies and businesses in relation to their European and domestic requirements.  Our experience across all aspects of competition law, including merger control, public procurement law, cartel and dominance issues, competition compliance, audits and litigation, state aid rules, and sectoral regulation, gives our clients a comprehensive and effective resource from which to draw.

 

Beauchamps has extensive experience of anti-trust proceedings, advising clients on cartel and dominance cases, specifically on the impact of competition rules on agreements and commercial activities and the interaction between Irish and EC law.  We provide advice, analysis and representation in relation to joint ventures, agency and distribution and commercial agreements and transactions. 

We also advise on regulated sectors (transport, energy, and telecommunication, etc) and have wide experience of EU and national competition and regulatory regimes in a wide range of industry sectors.

 

Our focus is on delivering prompt, strategic and practical solutions to our clients in this challenging practice area. We appreciate and recognise the commercial realities of our clients’ businesses and are committed to applying our expertise to achieve commercial success for our clients.

 

• Competition law (contentious and non-contentious)
• Sectoral regulation
• Merger control
• Cartel & dominance cases
• Market investigations (including “dawn-raids”)
• Mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures
• Business regulation
• Freedom of movement
• State aid compliance

 
 E-mail

 

Gary Rice	g.rice@beauchamps.ie
Head of Competition & Regulated Markets