Italy Competition Law

Commercial transactions today have become increasingly international and may have an impact across a number of countries. They regularly touch on not only Italian rules and regulations, but those of the European Union and other jurisdictions. Our Italian lawyers work closely together with our colleagues in Orrick’s European and U.S. offices.

Orrick lawyers provide their clients with legal assistance in relation to the Italian Code for Consumers' Protection (set forth by Legislative Decree n. 206/2005 which has been amended by the Legislative Decree n. 146/2007 pursuant to the European Directive 2005/29/CE) on unfair business practices and on the relevant prohibitions. Furthermore, our assistance on this matter is linked with the Class Action regulation that has recently been introduced in our legal system. All the above mentioned matters are supervised by the Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM - Autorità Garante per la Concorrenza e il Mercato).

Our services in the antitrust and competition area include:

• Concentrations: drafting communications for the combinations resulting from M&A activities in Italy and Europe
• Enforcement of EC and national competition law: defending companies in cases of abuse of dominant position and setting up of cartels
• Legal advice and assistance on competition law: legal issues regarding joint-ventures, vertical restraints, state aids, legal assistance to companies operating in restricted markets, etc.
• unfair commercial practices.