If you’re suspected of being involved in a cartel or illegal price fixing, our lawyers have the legal expertise you need.
This is a very complex area of law. If you’re suspected of price fixing or being part of a cartel, it could cause serious damage to your reputation. The investigation and court proceedings that follow are highly complicated. It’s important that you’re represented by a legal team who understands business operations and can meticulously analyse business records.
It’s also vital that you have a solid defence and are prepared to be interviewed under caution. Our solicitors will be there to sit with you and advise you during police interviews, and help you to assemble a solid defence.
Legal 500, the largest independent survey of the UK legal market, recommend us in their Crime Fraud and Licencing sector for Yorkshire and Humber. We’ve handled countless cases of this nature and have the expertise and experience to represent you effectively.
What Is A Cartel?
A cartel is when businesses conspire to illegally subvert competition laws. Cartels stop markets from functioning normally. This may mean businesses agree not to compete in each other’s markets.
Cartels can also involve distributing commercially sensitive information and dividing markets between certain companies. This is illegal.
What Is Price Fixing?
Price fixing is an illegal practice. It happens when competing companies try to set market prices at a specific rate. This rate is false and might mean that prices are raised, lowered, or frozen at specific points.
Price fixing is illegal because it's considered anti-consumer and anti-competitive. So, it’s harder for other companies to enter the market and customers usually have to pay higher prices.
What Are The Penalties For Cartels And Illegal Price Fixing?
Anti-competitive practices are regulated, enforced, and investigated by several authorities:
- The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- The Serious Fraud Office (SFO)
- The Office of Fair Trading (OFT).
The penalties vary depending on whether it’s a company or an individual who’s been accused. Whichever it is, the penalties can be severe.
For individuals responsible, the penalties are:
- An unlimited fine
- Director disqualification for up to 15 years
- Up to 5 years imprisonment.
For a company and its directors, the penalties are:
- A fine of up to 10% of the company’s total turnover
- Seizure of assets
- Being required to pay all legal costs.
How Do We Help?
Our cartels and illegal price fixing lawyers can help you at all stages of an investigation:
- Explaining the process and what’s likely to happen
- Representing you at the police station
- Advising you during interviews under caution
- Representing you during any criminal court proceedings, if needed
- Advising you on the legitimacy of any claims against your company
- Advising and representing you in the event of interim penalties, such as restraining orders or injunctions.
Who Do We Help?
We work with both individuals and companies accused of taking part in anti-competitive practices.
We’ll be here to represent you every step of the way and advise you on the best course of action.
Why Choose Us?
We regularly deal with cases brought by the CMA and the SFO. This has given us a wealth of experience and knowledge into how these institutions work. Our in-depth knowledge of the law around fair market practices means we can offer expert advice.
We’re named in Legal 500’s Crime Fraud and Licencing sector for Yorkshire and the Humber: “Irwin Mitchell have worked on many of the major fraud, financial services, cartel and money laundering cases and done so to an exceptionally high standard. They have an astounding ability to work through large volumes of material and prepare working schedules which make their cases accessible. They are very hard working and their criminal trial preparation more closely resembles what one would expect from a highly funded civil case.”
Cartels and illegal price fixing cases can often have international elements. We've worked in jurisdictions all over the world. This has given us a sound knowledge of international law. We’ve also got excellent connections with lawyers worldwide, who can handle any international aspects of your case.
We can also help you to ensure your business complies with all necessary regulations. We’ll advise you on how to prevent any further investigations or prosecutions.
Aside from our legal expertise, we’re very understanding. We know the impact of investigations and potential prosecutions. Your personal and professional reputations are at stake and this can take its toll on your mental health. That’s why we’ll take the time to understand your situation and address any and all concerns you have.
Knowing how damaging an allegation can be for your future prospects, we'll work to limit lengthy investigations. We’ll also act with complete discretion and efficiency, doing all we can to minimise the impact the case has on your daily life.
Contact Us
If you’ve been accused of being part of a cartel or price fixing, call us today on 0114 2947983.
You can also contact us online and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
