Professional legal advice and support in the field of competition law
Vych & Partners is a leading law firm in Prague specializing in competition law. We provide comprehensive legal services in the field of competition law and help companies prevent the risks of violating competition rules, set up correct business processes and effectively defend their interests in the event of a dispute or administrative proceedings before the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) or the European Commission.
Top experts
Our lawyers have extensive experience and understand competition law issues.
Complex services
We provide complete legal advice, from analyses to representation before the Office for the Protection of Trade Marks.
Individual approach
We handle each case with the utmost care and adapt to the client's needs.
Our competition legal services
Cartel agreements and prohibited arrangements between competitors
Upcoming legal analysis of business relationships from the point of view of the risk of cartel agreements (price agreements, market sharing, production restrictions, etc.)
We represent clients in administrative proceedings conducted by the Office for the Protection of Competition or the European Commission.
We provide legal advice within the framework of leniency program (leniency program).
We prepare internal regulations for clients and provide employee training in the field of competition rules.
Abuse of dominant position
We perform assessment of the client's position in the relevant market and we prepare legal risk analyses.
We represent clients in proceedings concerning suspected abuse of dominance (e.g. predatory pricing, refusal of supplies, etc.)
Control of mergers and acquisitions
We assess whether the merger is subject to notification obligation and we represent clients in merger approval proceedings.
We prepare notification documentation for the Czech Competition Authority or the European Commission.
We provide advice on structuring transactions with regard to competition law.
- You can find more about mergers and acquisitions in the section M&A (mergers and acquisitions).
Unfair competition and protection of the entrepreneur's good reputation
We represent clients in civil disputes arising from unfair competition (misleading advertising, misleading labeling of goods and services, creating a risk of confusion, parasitizing on the reputation of a company, product or services of another competitor, bribery, disparagement, comparative advertising, if not permitted as permissible and violation of trade secrets, intrusive harassment).
We provide legal advice on setting up marketing and advertising strategies.
We collect for clients compensation for damages in connection with unfair competition.
Representation in proceedings before the Office for the Protection of Competition
- We represent clients before the Office for the Protection of Competition, the European Commission, administrative courts and civil courts.
Head of Competition Law Team
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is competition law and why is it important for my company?
Competition law protects the observance of a level playing field on the market and prevents abuse of dominant position or cartels. Violation of competition rules can lead to high fines from the Office for Competition and Consumer Protection or the European Commission - often in the order of millions of crowns.
How do I know that my business agreement does not violate antitrust rules?
Agreements between competitors (e.g. on prices or market sharing) are particularly risky. We offer conducting a legal audit (Ie. compliance review), which will verify whether your contractual arrangements comply with competition law.
What should I do if I am contacted by the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS)?
Before providing any information or documents to the Office, we recommend that you contact a legal representative immediately.A lawyer will help you prepare your answers and protect your procedural rights during the investigation. This step can save you a lot of time and, most importantly, money.
What is a leniency program and how can it help?
The leniency program allows competitors who participated in a cartel to obtain a reduction or complete remission of the fine in exchange for voluntary notification of a violation of competition law and cooperation with the Office for the Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Do small businesses also have to worry about violating competition law?
Yes, even smaller companies can be affected if they participate in cartels or otherwise restrict competition. Authorities set fines based on severity, not just the size of the company.
Can a violation of competition law be criminal?
Yes. In some cases (e.g. cartel agreements) liability may also be criminal – for individuals who acted on behalf of the company. Therefore, prevention is essential.
How can a law firm help with compliance with competition law?
We provide legal audits, training for management and employees, creation of internal compliance programs and representation in proceedings before the Office for the Protection of Competition and the European Commission.
