GCR's Competition Law, Consumer Goods and Retail 2011 conference

Posted by D. Daniel Sokol

GCR's Competition Law, Consumer Goods and Retail 2011 conference

Wednesday 11 May, London

PROGRAMME

Chairman's Introduction

* John Davies, Partner and Global Co-Head of the Antitrust, Competition and Trade practice, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

SESSION ONE - Information Flows in the Industry

Unilateral and reciprocal information flows; challenges of the EC horizontal guidelines; 'hub & spoke' cartels; use of third party data providers

* Andrea Gomes da Silva, Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

* Andrew Groves, Director, Markets and Projects, Office of Fair Trading

* Frank Wijckmans, Partner, Contrast Law

* Andrea Lofaro, Director, RBB Economics

* Susan Hinchliffe, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP

SESSION TWO - The Growth of the Sector Regulation

DG Enterprise proposals on private labels etc; buyer power; codes of conduct; unfair commercial practices code; best practice guidelines

* Susan Hinchliffe, Partner, Arnold & Porter LLP

* Jean Bergevin, Head of Unit, DG Markt, European Commission     

* Alain Galaski, Director General, AIM (European Brands Association)

* Paul Skehan, Director, ERRT (European Retail Round Table)

SESSION THREE - Collaboration and Joint Initiatives between Suppliers and/or Retailers

Joint purchasing; collaboration for environmental and social goals; OFT short form opinions; category management including the two French Competition Authority recommendations; EU horizontal guidelines

* John Davies, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

* Michael Hutchings, Competition Solicitor

* Jackie Holland, Director Policy Unit, Office of Fair Trading

* Etienne Pfister, Deputy General Rapporteur, Autorité de la Concurrence

SESSION FOUR - Consumer Product Mergers

Review of the implications of recent cases; 'references up' to the European Commission; buyer power and private label; merger simulations; the evolution of remedies policy in consumer products cases

* Alex Potter (Panel Chair), Partner, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

* Cristina Caffarra, Vice President, Charles River Associates

* Michael Rowe, Partner, Slaughter and May

* Claes Bengtsson, Deputy Chief Economist, DG Competition, European Commission

Chairman's summing up and close

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