Competition and Public Procurement

Areas of Specialism

Competition and Public Procurement

Competition Law

The UK has its own well developed system of competition law principally housed in the Competition Act 1998. Brexit will not change the core of the overall competition law landscape and so private damage and interdict actions are still very much live possibilities. Axiom members have advised in various competition cases, including cases involving beer tie agreements, supply of milk, minimum prices, public transport (inter alia).

Public Procurement

The procurement decisions of public authorities must comply with the various public procurement regulations (principally the Public Contracts (Scotland) Regulations, as amended). The Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014, and regulations made thereunder, is a significant element of the Scottish Government's Public Procurement Reform Programme and will become of increasing relevance. Axiom members frequently advise in disputes as to whether public authorities have complied with the rules, advising both companies seeking to be awarded contracts and public authorities themselves. Axiom members have appeared in the leading procurement cases.