EU and regulatory

You may have to deal with national, European and even international level authorities in sectors where the regulatory structure may have European or international (eg WTO or UN) aspects. We have in depth experience the regulation of economic activities in travel and aviation, technology, telecommunications and media, agriculture, food and fisheries, financial services pharmaceuticals and healthcare.

We have worked not only as partners in major City law firms, but also in government including the European Commission, the UK Cabinet Office, the OFT and Oftel: we are therefore well placed to advise trade associations and individual companies on the legal issues likely to arise during lobbying activities.

We can also help you with actions against Member States for government action in breach of EU Treaty provisions – applications for injunctions and damages or judicial review of decisions by public bodies. As we have also both worked for high profile government departments heavily involved in public sector regulatory litigation, we believe our experience will be invaluable in helping you achieve the best possible outcome if your case involves a public body.

We can also represent you in proceedings before the General Court and the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg.

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE

• acting for the UK government in European Court litigation, for example, in relation to its approval process for agrochemicals (in particular for parallel imports) or the interpretation of the definition of ‘natural mineral water’, for labeling and marketing purposes;
• advising a major on-line retailer in the travel sector on regulatory compliance and IATA licensing arrangements across Europe and project managing the legal aspects of their point of sale launches across a number of European countries.
• advising the UK airport slot regulator on the application of the EU regulations on the allocation of airport slots;
• representing a pharmaceutical trade association in an application against its rules on the advertising of medicines