The EU Court of Justice clarifies jurisdiction in tortious claims and claims relating to acts of branches, which arise from competition infringements (Flylal-Lithuanian Airlines)

On 5 July 2018, the CJEU handed down a judgment in response to a request for a preliminary ruling from the Lithuanian Court of Appeal in which it provided welcome clarifications of the interpretation of Articles 5(3) and 5(5) of Regulation No 44/2001 (Brussels I Regulation). These articles concern special jurisdiction in matters relating to tort or to acts of branches. Although these Articles have now been replaced by Articles 7(2) and 7(5) of Regulation No 1215/2012, the wording is identical, and so the CJEU’s interpretation continues to be applicable. Background The main proceedings concerned a damages claim by AB flyLAL-Lithuanian Airlines against Starptautiskā lidosta “Rīga” VAS (Riga Airport) and Air Baltic Corporation AS that arose out of (i) an allegedly anticompetitive