Ashurst advises Ferriera Valsabbia on successful cartel appeal

The Regional Administrative Tribunal of Lazio said the Italian Competition Authority should have acted faster, rather than waiting 18 months to open the investigation. The appeal was upheld not only in terms of violation of the procedural rules due to the excessive duration of the pre-investigation phase but also for the substantial aspects, since the authority – according to the judge – did not sufficiently prove the alleged exchange of information as well as the anticompetitive nature of the meetings of the companies within the Brescia Chamber of Commerce aimed at monitoring prices applied in the preceding two weeks.

The Ashurst team, based in Milan and Brussels, was led by partner Denis Fosselard supported by counsel Gabriele Accardo and associate Giulia Carnazza.

The other steel companies involved in the appeal were Alfa Acciai S.p.A., Feralpi Siderurgica S.p.A., Ferriere Nord S.p.A.- Fin.Fer S.p.A., Riva Acciaio S.p.A., Industrie Riunite Odolesi S.p.A., ORI Martin Acciaieria e Ferriera S.p.A., Stefana S.p.A..