News & Events | Seminar

The Airtours Judgment
Friday 7th June 2002
at 222 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1X 8XF

A breakfast seminar on collective dominance in merger control and abuse cases.

Speakers:
Rupert Anderson QC
Counsel for Airtours in the case

Mike Walker
Charles River Associates

Stephen Kon
Head of EU & Competition Department
SJ Berwin

Simon Holmes
Partner
EU & Competition Department
SJ Berwin

Background
In a shock decision on 22 September 1999, the European Commission blocked Airtours' proposed acquisition of First Choice. The basis was not the dominance of Airtours/First Choice in the market but the so-called "collective dominance" of the three key players, Airtours, Thomsons and Thomas Cook in the UK market.

The Commission's decision was widely criticised and the European Court is due to give its verdict on Airtours' appeal on Thursday, 6 June. This is expected to have important implications, not only for the Commission's policy and powers in merger cases, but also for cases concerning alleged abuses of (collective) dominant positions under Article 82 of the EC Treaty.

We have therefore gathered a panel of expert speakers to consider these implications the following morning.

RSVP
For further information on this seminar please contact Mara McNeil Sinclair on 020 7533 2452 or by email mara.mcneil.sinclair@sjberwin.com