Angela Gregson

Expertise Angela Advises Experience Highlights Career History Testimonials

Partner

Competition Law

+44 (0) 7500 948 930

Expertise

Angela represents corporate clients in behavioural competition law / antitrust investigations (including cartels and resale price maintenance investigations), market investigations, merger control notifications and reviews, and competition damages actions. In addition, Angela has extensive experience advising household name retailer and supplier brands on competition law compliance e.g. on distribution issues, ecommerce, pricing and managing information flows in vertically integrated businesses, particularly in relation to the fashion, household goods, groceries and technology sectors.

Angela has 14 years’ experience in practicing competition law  with a track record in achieving successful outcomes for clients in difficult competition law investigations, including securing early case closure for a household name client in the hospitality sector before it was publicly named, case closure on no grounds for action after the issue of statement of objections in the case and securing a substantial 90% discount on financial penalty in a market sharing investigation due to the legal arguments made.

Angela also advises clients on leniency applications to secure immunity or discount on financial penalty through the CMA and European Commission leniency programmes. Angela also regularly advises clients on UK and EU merger control and has obtained multi-jurisdictional merger clearances, including clearances on a number of high-profile deals.

In addition to competition law, Angela advises on:

  • Digital Markets Regulation, including the UK’s new Digital Markets regime, led by the CMA out of its Manchester office.
  • Mandatory and voluntary filings under the UK’s National Security and Investments regime
  • Consumer Rights regulation and enforcement

Angela regularly works with clients to develop and deliver effective and engaging competition compliance training programmes.

Angela Advises

  • Household name retailers
  • Large supplier brands, including household goods, fashion, sportswear, musical equipment and technology brands
  • Hotel chains
  • Construction materials suppliers
  • Specialist service suppliers
  • Professional Associations

Sector Focus includes:

  • Fashion
  • Groceries
  • Household Goods
  • Technology
  • Renewable energy

Experience Highlights

  • Privately funded opthalmology services (CMA Case Reference 50782-1) – Represented a consultant investigated party, securing a reduction in financial penalty through settlement.
  • Conduct in the transport sector (facilities at airports) (CMA Case Reference 50523) – Represented a household name in the hospitality sector and secured early case closure on its behalf, before it was publicly identified. The case continued into other investigated parties and Heathrow Airport Limited (and parent company Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited) went on to be fined £1.6 million.
  • Guitars: anti-competitive practices (CMA Case Reference 50565-3) – Advised a leading retailer in a CMA resale price maintenance case, which resulted in the supplier Fender Guitars being fined £4.5m (but not the retailer concerned).
  • Advised a leading men’s fashion brand on an audit and leniency application, as well as compliantly restructuring their distribution network.
  • Cleanroom Laundry services and products (Case reference: 50283) – Advised Micronclean Limited (formerly Fenland Laundries Limited) in a case involving allegations of market sharing. Successful in securing a substantial 90% discount on financial penalty.
  • Advised a major supermarket on its “read-across” damages claim against various MasterCard entities in relation to MasterCard’s imposition of UK domestic multilateral interchange fees under the MasterCard Scheme
  • Sports Bras RPM investigation (CMA Case reference: CE/9610-12) – Represented sports bras supplier, DB Apparel, in a case involving allegations of resale price maintenance. Successful in securing case closure due to “no grounds for action” following the issue of Statement of Objections in the case.
  • European Commission Container liner (European Commission Case Reference AT.39850) – Advised a container liner shipping company in one of very few “price signalling” cartel investigations. Ultimate case closure through commitments.
  • European Commission Maritime Car Carriers (European Commission Case Reference AT.40009) – Advised K Line during the early stages – helping to secure the largest leniency reduction in the “leniency race” following unannounced inspections.
  • Idexx Abuse of Dominance investigation – (CMA Case reference: CE/9322/10) – Advised IDEXX Laboratories in an abuse of dominance investigation. Ultimately securing case closure due to “no grounds for action”.
  • Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited / Building Solutions (National) Limited merger inquiry (ME/6861-19) – Acted for SIG plc in its anticipated sale of Building Solutions (National) Limited to Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited.
  • Proposed Acquisition of Cimandis Limited by Bidvest Foodservice International Limited (Case M1145J)
  • Advised Glencore on its acquisition of two Vale businesses
  • Advised Samsung Construction and Technology Engineering on its joint venture with the Korea Development Bank to develop photovoltaic power plants in Italy – merger notification and clearance from European Commission

Career History

Previous Law firms

  • Setfords, Senior Consultant (2023 – 2024)
  • Shoosmiths, Senior Associate – Principal Associate (2015 – 2022)
  • Mischon de Reya, Associate (2014 – 2015)
  • Reed Smith, Associate (2011-2014)
  • Berwin Leighton Paisner, Trainee Solicitor – Associate (2008-2011)

Memberships

  •  Law Society of England and Wales
  • Global Referral Network

 Education

  • College of Law (Legal Practice Course)
  • University of Sheffield (LLB)

Other

  • Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition : 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Rising Star in Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition 2023

Expertise

Back to top

Angela represents corporate clients in behavioural competition law / antitrust investigations (including cartels and resale price maintenance investigations), market investigations, merger control notifications and reviews, and competition damages actions. In addition, Angela has extensive experience advising household name retailer and supplier brands on competition law compliance e.g. on distribution issues, ecommerce, pricing and managing information flows in vertically integrated businesses, particularly in relation to the fashion, household goods, groceries and technology sectors.

Angela has 14 years’ experience in practicing competition law  with a track record in achieving successful outcomes for clients in difficult competition law investigations, including securing early case closure for a household name client in the hospitality sector before it was publicly named, case closure on no grounds for action after the issue of statement of objections in the case and securing a substantial 90% discount on financial penalty in a market sharing investigation due to the legal arguments made.

Angela also advises clients on leniency applications to secure immunity or discount on financial penalty through the CMA and European Commission leniency programmes. Angela also regularly advises clients on UK and EU merger control and has obtained multi-jurisdictional merger clearances, including clearances on a number of high-profile deals.

In addition to competition law, Angela advises on:

  • Digital Markets Regulation, including the UK’s new Digital Markets regime, led by the CMA out of its Manchester office.
  • Mandatory and voluntary filings under the UK’s National Security and Investments regime
  • Consumer Rights regulation and enforcement

Angela regularly works with clients to develop and deliver effective and engaging competition compliance training programmes.

Angela Advises

Back to top
  • Household name retailers
  • Large supplier brands, including household goods, fashion, sportswear, musical equipment and technology brands
  • Hotel chains
  • Construction materials suppliers
  • Specialist service suppliers
  • Professional Associations

Sector Focus includes:

  • Fashion
  • Groceries
  • Household Goods
  • Technology
  • Renewable energy

Experience Highlights

Back to top
  • Privately funded opthalmology services (CMA Case Reference 50782-1) – Represented a consultant investigated party, securing a reduction in financial penalty through settlement.
  • Conduct in the transport sector (facilities at airports) (CMA Case Reference 50523) – Represented a household name in the hospitality sector and secured early case closure on its behalf, before it was publicly identified. The case continued into other investigated parties and Heathrow Airport Limited (and parent company Heathrow Airport Holdings Limited) went on to be fined £1.6 million.
  • Guitars: anti-competitive practices (CMA Case Reference 50565-3) – Advised a leading retailer in a CMA resale price maintenance case, which resulted in the supplier Fender Guitars being fined £4.5m (but not the retailer concerned).
  • Advised a leading men’s fashion brand on an audit and leniency application, as well as compliantly restructuring their distribution network.
  • Cleanroom Laundry services and products (Case reference: 50283) – Advised Micronclean Limited (formerly Fenland Laundries Limited) in a case involving allegations of market sharing. Successful in securing a substantial 90% discount on financial penalty.
  • Advised a major supermarket on its “read-across” damages claim against various MasterCard entities in relation to MasterCard’s imposition of UK domestic multilateral interchange fees under the MasterCard Scheme
  • Sports Bras RPM investigation (CMA Case reference: CE/9610-12) – Represented sports bras supplier, DB Apparel, in a case involving allegations of resale price maintenance. Successful in securing case closure due to “no grounds for action” following the issue of Statement of Objections in the case.
  • European Commission Container liner (European Commission Case Reference AT.39850) – Advised a container liner shipping company in one of very few “price signalling” cartel investigations. Ultimate case closure through commitments.
  • European Commission Maritime Car Carriers (European Commission Case Reference AT.40009) – Advised K Line during the early stages – helping to secure the largest leniency reduction in the “leniency race” following unannounced inspections.
  • Idexx Abuse of Dominance investigation – (CMA Case reference: CE/9322/10) – Advised IDEXX Laboratories in an abuse of dominance investigation. Ultimately securing case closure due to “no grounds for action”.
  • Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited / Building Solutions (National) Limited merger inquiry (ME/6861-19) – Acted for SIG plc in its anticipated sale of Building Solutions (National) Limited to Kingspan Holdings (Panels) Limited.
  • Proposed Acquisition of Cimandis Limited by Bidvest Foodservice International Limited (Case M1145J)
  • Advised Glencore on its acquisition of two Vale businesses
  • Advised Samsung Construction and Technology Engineering on its joint venture with the Korea Development Bank to develop photovoltaic power plants in Italy – merger notification and clearance from European Commission

Career History

Back to top

Previous Law firms

  • Setfords, Senior Consultant (2023 – 2024)
  • Shoosmiths, Senior Associate – Principal Associate (2015 – 2022)
  • Mischon de Reya, Associate (2014 – 2015)
  • Reed Smith, Associate (2011-2014)
  • Berwin Leighton Paisner, Trainee Solicitor – Associate (2008-2011)

Memberships

  •  Law Society of England and Wales
  • Global Referral Network

 Education

  • College of Law (Legal Practice Course)
  • University of Sheffield (LLB)

Other

  • Recommended Lawyer in Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition : 2019, 2022, 2023
  • Rising Star in Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition 2023
Testimonials

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