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R (Greyhound Board of Great Britain Ltd) v Welsh Ministers [2026] EWHC 670 (Admin) What are the practical implications of this case? The ruling reinforces the constitutional divide between the courts and the legislature. It explains that the scheme and framework of the Government of Wales Act 2006 (GWA 2006) embody that separation of powers, and that any judicial attempt to recognise and enforce a common law obligation on Welsh Ministers to consult prior to introducing legislation in the Senedd would trespass upon that boundary. This is not a departure from established principle; case law has already upheld comparable rules for lawmakers in Scotland and at Westminster. However, this is the first express confirmation of the position for Welsh lawmakers, and the first time this dimension of the GWA 2006 has been analysed in such depth. The court examined earlier
The solution arrived through the United Nations Compensation Commission (UNCC), a quasi‑judicial body handling mass claims, created under UN Security Council Resolution 687. By addressing environmental harm—most notably via its ‘F4’ claim class—the UNCC set a seminal benchmark shaping how international law and contemporary arbitral panels allocate financial responsibility for wartime ecological devastation. With present-day wars in areas such as Eastern Europe and the Middle East bringing dam breaches, strikes on chemical facilities, and the burning of farmland, the UNCC’s legacy endures as an essential reference point for states, global investors, and companies engaged in post‑conflict arbitration. The F4 claims: Quantifying the unquantifiable Prior to the 1990s, mechanisms in international law for war reparations overwhelmingly favoured property loss, foregone earnings, and bodily injury. The natural world was commonly treated as a mute, non-compensable victim of armed hostilities...
Understanding the farming business as a business Many farms still use long-standing structures that arose by habit, not strategy. Sole traders, informal partnerships and outdated partnership deeds are common. While once effective, such setups can cause major issues around succession, tax planning and involving the next generation. A corporate team can take a fresh, business-led view of the farm, asking: Who owns the land and other critical assets? Who manages daily operations? Who carries the risk and who enjoys the return? What is the enduring plan for succession? From this review, the team can confirm whether the current setup is fit for purpose or if an alternative — for example an updated partnership agreement, a company, a limited liability partnership, or a blended model — would better meet the family’s aims. Tax efficiency through joined-up advice Tax sits at the centre of most
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On 30 April 2026, the Commission unveiled draft updated Merger Guidelines and launched a public consultation. The proposal supersedes the 2004 Horizontal and 2008 Non‑ Horizontal Merger Guidelines, constituting the most far‑reaching overhaul of EU merger control guidance in two decades. It reflects a shifted geopolitical and trade landscape, where scale, global competitiveness, innovation, investment, sustainability and resilience are weighed more overtly in merger reviews. Against this setting, the Commission has pursued change. President von der Leyen cast the move in competitiveness terms, saying the Guidelines are intended to better help companies grow, scale and innovate, so they can respond to a fiercely competitive global economy and enhance Europe’s competitiveness, while maintaining the predictability and certainty investors prize in Europe. For dealmakers, the signal is even‑handed: the Commission shows greater receptiveness to robustly evidenced efficiencies from scale and innovation, yet it remains intent on...
Mergers The expected joint enterprise involving Suzano International Holding B. V. won CMA approval...
Foreign Subsidies Regulation JD.com/ CECONOMY referred to phase II under the FSR The Commission has, under Regulation 2022/2560 on foreign subsidies that distort the internal market (the Foreign Subsidies Regulation ( FSR)), referred the proposed acquisition of CECONOMY AG ( CECONOMY) by JD.com, Inc. ( JD.com) ( FS.100253). JD.com, with its registered office in the Cayman Islands, is a holding entity overseeing a group that runs retail operations and an e-commerce marketplace in China, and also delivers logistics and technological solutions. CECONOMY is a German retailer active in physical stores and online channels, specialising in consumer electronics and household appliances......
In this issue: UK mergers UK private actions UK subsidy control EU antitrust EU competition policy EU State aid Daily and weekly news alerts Caselex UK mergers DCMS publishes correspondence regarding the anticipated acquisition of Daily Telegraph; Secretary of State not minded to intervene The Department for Culture, Media & Sport ( DCMS) has released correspondence setting out the Secretary of State’s initial view on Axel Springer’s proposed acquisition of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited. In considering whether to use her intervention powers under the Enterprise Act 2002 ( En A 2002), she assessed the public interest grounds applicable to newspaper mergers in section 58, including the need for accurate presentation of news, freedom of expression, and adequate plurality of viewpoints and media ownership within the UK. She also examined whether the obligation to issue a Foreign State Intervention Notice under En A 2002, s 70A was triggered. Based on the material...
Private actions CAT refuses CPO in salmon cartel collective proceedings The CAT delivered its judgment in Waterside Class Limited v Mowi ASA and others, addressing an application for a collective proceedings order ( CPO) issued by Waterside Class Limited (the PCR) under section 47B of the Competition Act 1998. The claim maintains that a number of salmon producers engaged in a cartel impacting the price of Atlantic salmon, infringing Article 101 TFEU (until 31 December 2020), Article 53 EEA and the Chapter I prohibition. The CAT declined to certify the claim. Background The case concerns the supply of Atlantic salmon in the UK. The PCR contends that, from 2013 to 2019, the proposed defendants colluded to elevate wholesale salmon prices, including through manipulation of the NASDAQ salmon index and the exchange of commercially sensitive information......
Antitrust Commission sends supplementary SO to Meta; indicates intention to impose interim measures in Whats App AI access case The Commission has issued a supplementary statement of objections ( SO) to Meta, outlining its plan to require Meta, under Article 8(1) of Regulation 1/2003, to restore Whats App access for third‑party AI assistants. This additional SO is within the Commission’s interim-measures process and stems from its initial view that the access changes introduced on 4 March 2026 produce effects comparable to the earlier ban on third‑party AI assistants. The Commission believes Meta’s behaviour endangers competition by posing serious and irreparable harm, potentially infringing Article 102 TFEU. Background On 15 October 2025, Meta unveiled updates to the Whats App Business Solution Terms that, as of 15 January 2026, effectively blocked general‑purpose third‑party AI assistants from accessing and engaging with Whats App users......
Background and approach Market Standards has undertaken research to assess the prevailing patterns in UK public M& A. The findings draw on the Market Standards transaction data analysis tool, which enables users to access, analyse and compare distinctive aspects of a wide range of corporate deals. This publication updates our Market Standards Trend Report— Trends in UK public M& A in 2025, where we reviewed firm and possible offers announced during 2025. For this iteration, we examined activity across 1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026 ( Q1 2026). We have also set the results against both the immediately prior quarter (1 October 2025 to 31 December 2025) and the like-for-like period in 2025 (1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025); however, firm conclusions will only be drawn once the full-year 2026 trend report is complete. In total, we assessed 30...
Mergers DCMS publishes correspondence regarding the anticipated acquisition of Daily Telegraph; Secretary of State not minded to intervene The Department for Culture, Media & Sport ( DCMS) has issued correspondence that outlines the Secretary of State’s initial stance on the proposed purchase of Telegraph Media Group Holdings Limited by Axel Springer......
Mergers The Commission approved the purchase conferring joint control of Kelda Holdings Limited to EQT Fund Management S.à r.l., Epsom Investment Pte. Ltd, and Nubia Investment Pte.......
State aid Commission consults Member States on proposal for a Temporary Crisis Framework Commission President Ursula von der Leyen set out steps to lessen the impact of Middle East developments on EU energy prices and EU economies. Joint gas purchasing Demand reduction Structural reforms She also signalled that the Commission will engage with Member States on making State aid rules more flexible to help vulnerable sectors, with a temporary framework planned for adoption in April 2026......
Mergers The CMA has issued its call for comments in relation to the anticipated purchase of Warner Bros. by Paramount Skydance Corporation...
Mergers The CMA has launched a consultation on potential remedies to tackle the provisional competition issues identified during its phase 2 inquiry into ABF/ Hovis—see the case page. NOTE— For all live mergers currently before the CMA, see the UK mergers—ongoing cases tracker Subsidy control The Subsidy Advice Unit has issued its final report, offering advice to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on its proposed changes to the Green Heat Network Fund subsidy scheme—see the final report. NOTE— For all decisions referred to the Subsidy Advice Unit under the Subsidy Control Act 2022, see the UK subsidy control—ongoing cases tracker Upcoming dates For dates of upcoming UK competition developments, see further, the UK Competition calendar......
In this issue: UK Private actions UK Subsidy control New and updated content Daily and weekly news alerts Caselex UK Private actions CAT issues judgment granting CPO to Which? in collective damages action against Apple The Court of Appeal has handed down its judgment in Consumers’ Association (“ Which?”) v Apple Inc, Apple Distribution International Limited, Apple Europe Limited and Apple Retail UK Limited, concerning an application to commence collective proceedings under section 47B of the Competition Act 1998 ( CA 1998). Which?, as the proposed class representative, alleges that Apple abused a dominant position in relation to i OS by prioritising its i Cloud storage service and constraining competition from rival cloud providers, causing consumer overcharges and limiting choice. The claim advances opt-out standalone damages actions under CA 1998, s 47A, pleading abuse of dominance contrary to Article 102 TFEU and the Chapter II prohibition of CA 1998, said to...
Mergers The Commission has been notified of: Salzgitter Mannesmann/ Hüttenwerke Krupp Mannesmann ( M.12296) (simplified merger procedure) Antin/ Groupe Belambra ( M.12384) (simplified merger procedure) Note— For all live merger investigations before the Commission, see EU mergers—ongoing cases tracker Antitrust An appeal has been lodged before the Court of Justice in Case C-276/26 P, Lantmännen and Lantmännen Biorefineries v Commission, contesting the General Court’s judgment in Case T-93/24, which rejected an action to annul the Commission’s Ethanol benchmarks decision ( AT.40054) imposing fines totalling €519m on producers and traders of synthetic rubber Note— For all live antitrust appeals before the Court of Justice, see Court of Justice appeals—ongoing cases tracker State aid The Commission has approved, under the EU State aid rules, an Italian measure worth €211m to support the development of photonic optical transceivers based on graphene by Cam Gra Ph IC, an Italian SME—see Midday...
Mergers The Commission authorised the acquisition that confers Petróleo Brasileiro S. A. joint control of Braskem S. A....
Competition policy Government announces Sir Ian Cheshire as preferred candidate for Ofcom Chair The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology ( DSIT) has named Sir Ian Cheshire as the government’s preferred choice to take over from Lord Michael Grade as Chair of Ofcom, with Lord Grade’s tenure due to conclude in April 2026. The DSIT noted that Sir Ian brings broad experience spanning the public and private spheres, most recently chairing Channel 4......
Subsidy control CAT dismisses Bristol Airport challenge to Welsh Government subsidy for Cardiff Airport The CAT has delivered its judgment in Bristol Airport v Welsh Ministers, determining an application by Bristol Airport Limited ( Bristol Airport) under section 70 of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 ( SCA 2022). The application sought review of the Welsh Government’s decision to award a subsidy package of up to £205.2 million to Cardiff International Airport Limited ( CIAL), and the CAT dismissed Bristol Airport’s challenge... Background On 20 June 2026, Bristol Airport lodged an application pursuant to section 70 SCA 2022 contesting the Welsh Government’s plan to provide £205.2 million to CIAL, to be released in phases over a ten-year period. CIAL had faced persistent financial pressures and a downturn in passenger numbers, and had benefited from several forms of public support since its acquisition by the Welsh...
Mergers The Commission approved Bio Marin Pharmaceutical Inc.'s takeover, conferring exclusive and sole control of Amicus Therapeutics Inc...
Private actions CAT hands down a ruling granting a CPO to Which? in a collective damages claim against Apple. The Court of Appeal delivered judgment in Consumers’ Association (“ Which?”) v Apple Inc, Apple Distribution International Limited, Apple Europe Limited and Apple Retail UK Limited, an application to initiate collective proceedings brought under section 47B of the Competition Act 1998 by Which?......
In this issue: UK mergers UK antitrust UK digital markets UK competition policy UK National Security and Investment Act 2021 EU antitrust EU State aid New and updated content Lex Talk®Competition: a Lexis®Nexis community Daily and weekly news alerts Caselex UK mergers The CMA has published an interim report and interim notice from its phase 2 review of the expected acquisition of Hovis Group Limited by Associated British Foods plc, via ABF Grain Products Limited. Provisionally, the authority has pinpointed competition concerns affecting the supply of bread and some bakery lines in Northern Ireland, while reaching no such concerns for Great Britain. ABF, a London-headquartered, listed international group focused on food, ingredients and retail, operates through five divisions, including grocery and retail. Its UK bakery arm, Allied Bakeries ( AB), produces and supplies branded and...
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When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...
This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...
Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...
I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...
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