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Angela is a competition law partner based in the Manchester office and head of competition law.

Angela advises clients on all aspects of competition law, including competition law compliance, Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and European Commission investigations into alleged anti-competitive conduct, merger control and market investigations.

Angela has successfully represented household name clients in high profile competition law investigations by the CMA and European Commission in a wide range of markets and sectors including retail and fashion, musical instruments, healthcare, building materials, renewable energy and cleanroom laundries. 

Angela also advises on the National Security & Investment Act regime and its impact on different types of transactions from initial assessment and filing notifications to engagement with and obtaining clearances from the UK Government’s Investment Security Unit. 

Angela advises on the impact of the new digital markets regime led by the CMA’s Digital Markets Unit, based in Manchester. Angela is rated by the Legal 500 as a “next generation partner” for competition law.

  • Angela Gregson leads the team: she has a stellar track record representing clients in CMA and European Commission cases including merger reviews, financial penalty negotiations and resale price maintenance investigations.

    Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition, 2023

  • Angela Gregson provides behavioural advice which is practical, enabling and commercially-minded. In an area of law which can be overly complex, or where it is easy to hedge your bets, Angela does not provide overly academic analysis and does not sit on the fence. Her advice and her style of delivery is perfectly suited to the day-to-day issues that we need to address.

    Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition, 2022

  • We found Angela Gregson to be very knowledgeable and approachable for our issue. She listened to our issues and provided thoughtful and accurate advice.

    Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition, 2022

  • Despite our sector being relatively niche and with very minimal published evidence to support our claim, Angela Gregson took the time to fully understand what is a complex sector and matter within that sector, and this time and effort has been reflected in the correspondence on the matter that she drafted on our behalf. Angela carefully explained each of the options available to us and as the matter progressed, Angela has been both supportive and clear in respect of both the options available to us and their varied likelihood of success.

    Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition 2022

  • Angela Gregson was very responsive and engaged. Provided constructive advice and supported me through the process.

    Legal 500 North West – EU and Competition 2022

  • This is the best result we could have hoped for and is due to a lot of effort by Angela Gregson’s team… (who also gave some solid advice in respect of tactics).

    General Counsel major corporate client, hospitality sector

Key experience

Privately funded ophthalmology services (CMA Case Reference 50782-1) – Represented a consultant investigated party, securing a reduction in financial penalty and limitation of exposure. 

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. Heathrow Airport was ultimately fined £1.6 million in a related case. 

Privately funded ophthalmology services (CMA Case Reference 50782-1) – Represented a consultant investigated party, securing a reduction in financial penalty and limitation of exposure.

  • 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