Since the inception of the Competition Act, Bell Dewar has advised local and multinational clients on a broad range of competition strategy and compliance issues. Our competition department has been involved in seminal cases before the Competition Tribunal, the Competition Appeal Court and the High Court. These include the first ever damages claim for following anti-competitive harm in South African law, and in South Africa's first and most important excessive pricing matter between ArcelorMittal South Africa Limited and Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited.

The team has a proven track record of advising clients in complex and multifaceted transactions in the mining, construction, energy, chemical, automobile components and pharmaceuticals sectors. In respect of competition complaint proceedings, Bell Dewar has experience representing clients in a range of industries including steel, cement, petroleum, grain, rubber, edible oils and airlines.

We work with a number of leading international law firms as their South African representatives in competition matters.

Constant research and development allows our specialised competition department to stay abreast of the latest trends and developments in the law and to offer a full spectrum of innovative solutions and services including:

• Advice and training on all aspects of the Competition Amendment Act 1 of 2009, including the criminal liability and complex monopoly provisions;
• Merger notifications to the Competition Commission of domestic and international transactions which have an economic effect in South Africa;
• Competition litigation including the filing complaints with the Competition Commission and defending firms accused of abuse of dominance and cartel conduct;
• Private enforcement and damages claims;
• Applications under the Corporate Leniency Policy;
• Exemption applications;
• Advising on horizontal and vertical commercial agreements including joint ventures, distribution and licensing arrangements and strategic alliances, and
• Compliance programs and training seminars on all aspects of competition law to assist firms to compete lawfully and more efficiently.

Contact: Stephen Langbridge