Speed and decisive action in making a leniency application are of the essence if significant corporate penalties, individual imprisonment and damages claims are to be avoided or mitigated. 

In the crucial and hectic first few hours of a cartel coming to light, we provide commercial advice on the decision whether to claim leniency or defend the investigation, and reassurance throughout the process.  We advise on preparing for and surviving dawn raids, and provide support in dawn raid situations.

Our recent experience in this area includes:

• representing George L Ballantyne following the OFT's issue of a statement of objections in its investigation into a suspected cartel among Scottish dairies. Our involvement resulted in the OFT concluding that the evidence could no longer sustain a finding of infringement and deciding to close the case.
• advising an international manufacturer on its response to a cartel investigation by the European Commission and subsequent appeal to the European Court of First Instance.