Competition

Dr Estelle Ivanova & Dr Ian Blackshaw champion the importance of fair competition in the sports sector

The Court of Appeal has held user damages are recoverable in a competition claim, in Meta Platforms Inc and other companies v Gormsen [2026] EWCA Civ 993

Damages-based agreements (DBAs), also known as contingency fees, could be allowed for opt-out collective actions in the Competition Appeal Tribunal

Harry Hatwell reports on the enforcement action awaiting companies indulging in nudge, sludge & other aggressive sales practices

Blur drummer turned solicitor David Rowntree has lost his claim on behalf of 160,000 musicians regarding the distribution of £200m ‘black box’ or unidentified royalties to producers but not songwriters

The Court of Appeal has held the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) was wrong to set aside a Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) decision on unfair pricing of phenytoin, an epilepsy drug

Litigation funder Innsworth Capital has lost its case over its share of the £200m settlement in former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks’ lengthy opt-out collective action against Mastercard

Dr Ian Blackshaw on why the 2026 Men’s World Cup is attracting attention well before kick-off

FIFA’s 2026 Men's World Cup is already mired in controversy, with complaints over ‘excessive prices’ and opaque ticketing. Writing in NLJ this week, Professor Dr Ian Blackshaw of Valloni Attorneys warns that governing bodies may face scrutiny under EU competition law, with allegations of a ‘dominant—if not monopolistic—position’ in ticket sales

The government is considering wholesale reform of consumer class actions—the ‘opt-out’ collective claims certified by the Competition Appeals Tribunal (CAT)