Merger Control in Europe and the Americas – Trends and Reforms Ignited by Tech

In response to the digital revolution and the increasing impact technology has on business, Competition Authorities on both sides of the Atlantic are stepping up merger control enforcement. They are revising current policies, advocating for more aggressive use of existing rules to their full potential effect, and calling for new laws and regulations where they see the need. What does this mean for companies engaging in transactions in the digital marketplace and other industries? Is it becoming harder to predict if a deal will be subject to merger control? Are some deals more likely to receive enhanced scrutiny than others? And, what are the broader implications for all sectors when Competition Authorities push the boundaries on traditional theories of harm and remedies, and prohibitions become more commonplace?    

To explore these questions and more, please join King’s College London and Crowell & Moring, for this year’s Fifth Annual EU Competition Law Conference, which will focus on merger control trends and reforms in the EU, the UK and the Americas. This follows a conference which Crowell & Moring organized in December 2021 jointly with the George Washington University Competition Law Centre, which looked at developing merger practice in the US specifically.

This conference will be hosted virtually and is complimentary.

The Conference will be divided into a panel discussion with two segments and a Fireside Chat, as follows:

Segment One: The first panel will focus on the evolving merger control process, including jurisdictional issues and institutional coordination.

Moderators:

• Alison Jones, Professor of Law, King’s College London
• Karel Bourgeois, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP, Brussels

Segment Two: The second panel will discuss trends in merger standards and assessments, including new theories of harm and increased attention for potential competition and innovation.

Moderators:

• Renato Nazzini, Professor of Law, King’s College London
• Peter Broadhurst, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP, London and Brussels

Panelists:

• Youenn Beaudouin, Case Handler, Mergers Case Support & Policy, European Commission
• Krisztian Katona, Vice President of Global Competition and Regulatory Policy, Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)
• Pierre Larouche, Professor of Innovation and Law, Université de Montréal
• Richard Romney, Director of Mergers, Competition and Markets Authority
• Vanessa Turner, Senior Advisor Competition, The European Consumer Organisation (BEUC)

Fireside Chat: The panel discussions will be followed by a concluding Fireside Chat, reflecting on the panel discussions and what it all means for future merger enforcement.

Moderators:

• William E. Kovacic, Global Competition Professor of Law and Policy, and Director, George Washington University Competition Law Center; and Visiting Professor, King's College London
• Andrew I. Gavil, Professor, Howard University School of Law; and Senior Of Counsel at Crowell & Moring LLP
• Jeane A. Thomas, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP, Washington D.C. and Brussels

Participants:

• Jonathan B. Baker, Research Professor of Law, American University’s Washington College of Law
• Andrea Gomes da Silva, Senior Advisor, Brunswick Group; Special Advisor at PLMJ; and Owner, Turl Advisory LDA