Antitrust and Competition Overview

The investigation and prosecution of cartels is a top priority for Ireland’s competition law enforcement agency, the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission.

Suspected perpetrators of serious competition law crimes may be arrested, detained in custody for up to 24 hours and questioned. The Irish police, private investigators and covert surveillance tactics are all part of the CCPC’s investigation armoury. A major first in Irish criminal prosecution was the adoption, in 2001, of a Cartel Immunity Programme jointly with Ireland’s public prosecutor, the DPP.

Our work

Our antitrust team, led by partner Laura Treacy, has advised on and successfully defended numerous criminal and civil competition law investigations and enforcement cases, including negotiating precedent-setting CCPC & DPP immunity agreements. We have unparalleled experience in advising on potential criminal liability, and application of Ireland’s cartel immunity programme.

We are unique among Dublin practices in offering integrated contentious advice specific to competition and regulatory law, with litigation partners Rosaleen Byrne and Catherine Derrig integrated into our competition practice.