Alex Stratakis is a partner at Van Bael & Bellis, based in London, and with almost 15 years of experience in all aspects of competition law, Alex’s practice covers predominantly UK but also EU, Greek and Cypriot competition law, focusing on complex merger control, distribution, dominance and State aid. Alex has successfully represented a number of clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority, the European Commission and various (non-UK) national competition authorities across the globe, as well as before the European and national courts. Alex has also represented companies in navigating the requirements of the UK’s Foreign Direct Investment screening regime. His practice covers a wide range of sectors, including life sciences (originators and medical device manufacturers), aviation, automotive, energy & mining, industrials, chemicals, luxury goods, telecoms, media, transport and infrastructure. Prior to joining Van Bael & Bellis, Alex was Of Counsel in the London office of Baker & McKenzie, and previously an associate at Van Bael & Bellis.
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On 13 July 2023, the ECJ ruled that a prohibition decision under the national FDI control regime by the Hungarian Ministry of Innovation and Technology of Xella Magyarország Építőanyagipari Kft’s (“Xella”) acquisition of Janes És Társa (“Janes”) constitutes an unjustified restriction of (...)
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On 23 March 2023, the UK Competition and Markets Authority published its annual plan for 2023 to 2024 (“Annual Plan”). The Annual Plan outlines the CMA’s areas of focus for the next 12 months (starting 1 April 2023) and, taking on a new approach in this year’s plan, also maps out the (...)
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On 16 November 2022, the UK Secretary of State responsible for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (“BEIS”) effectively blocked another transaction in the semiconductor industry under the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the “NSI Act”). Nexperia, ultimately owned by Wingtech (...)
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Long awaited developments over the summer provided some appreciable clarity on the refreshed UK distribution regime (following the UK’s withdrawal from the EU). In particular, pursuant to a consultation process that ran almost in parallel to the equivalent EU process, and also adopting the (...)
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Introduction On 29 March 2022, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) announced that – following an in-depth, Phase 2 investigation – it had prohibited the proposed merger between Cargotec and Konecranes. The CMA noted that it was not satisfied with the remedies package proposed by (...)
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Following the UK Competition and Markets Authority’s (“CMA”) recommendation to the UK Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (“BEIS”) in November 2021 (see VBB on Competition Law, Volume 2021 No. 11), on 21 February 2022, BEIS published its draft Vertical Agreements Block (...)
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On 20 December 2021, the UK government published an open letter to businesses providing more clarity on its upcoming national security and investment regime. The new legal framework, which the UK government calls “the biggest shake-up in 20 years of the UK’s system for screening investments”, (...)
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At the start of November, the UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) issued a Recommendation to the Secretary of State with respect to the terms of a new UK-specific Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (“VABEO”) that would apply as of 1 June 2022. The VABEO would replace the (...)
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Introduction On 17 June 2021, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) published an eagerly anticipated consultation document outlining its proposed recommendations to the Secretary of State (i.e., the relevant government minister) on the future of the retained vertical agreements (...)
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On 21 May 2021, the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (“CAT”) unanimously dismissed an appeal by aviation technology and software supplier Sabre against the decision of the UK Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) to block its acquisition of travel industry software innovator Farelogix. (...)
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Many businesses are increasingly facing severe business disruption and/or liquidity problems as the COVID-19 outbreak spreads. Supply chains are disrupted, workforces quarantined and customer demand is falling. In response, governments across the EU (and the UK) are pledging to do whatever it (...)
