Non-Compete Clauses, Contractual Disputes and Splitting Atoms

 (by Bruce Lyons) The European Commission is investigating non-compete clauses in the collapsing civil nuclear technology joint venture between France’s Areva and Germany’s Siemens.  This announcement made earlier this month turns out to have a considerable back-story, including another squabble between President Sarkozy and Chancellor Merkel.  But is the key issue competition? Or international politics? Or tactics in contract renegotiation?

Does a High Profile Cartel Investigation Reduce Bid-Rigging?

(by Andreas Stephan) The OFT have published survey research suggesting greater awareness of competition laws in the construction industry following enforcement, but not the sea change we would hope to observe in an industry recently subject to significant cartel fines.