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Dawn Raids

Governments and regulators like the UK Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) now have more investigation powers than ever, including powers to search company premises and private homes and to seize documents and data, in what are known as dawn raids.

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As well as providing on-the-ground dawn raid cover, our team can offer the full range of preparatory support, including reviewing your current levels of readiness for a raid, building your readiness toolkit, conducting training and running mock raids.

Our team has extensive experience in navigating clients through regulatory investigations and dawn raids across multiple jurisdictions.  Our unrivalled expertise in working both for and against regulators means that we have a deep understanding of the powers and procedures that apply and we know how the regulators 'tick'. Clients choose us because our experience reassures them and, in the event of a raid, brings peace of mind and sensible, practical planning to protect your interests, manage your reputation and mitigate business risk.

Why choose our lawyers?

Our award-winning competition and regulatory team can help you to prepare for a dawn raid, as well as provide vital support in the event you experience a real raid.

Dawn raids are used by a wide range of authorities to investigate potential breaches of the law, including suspected infringements of competition law. In the UK, competition dawn raids may be carried out by the Competition & Markets Authority or a sectoral regulator with concurrent powers. They have the power to enter a firm's premises (and in some cases private homes) and seize or make copies of documents and collect electronic data. There are equivalent or similar powers held by the European Commission and other national competition authorities.

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Since Covid-19 restrictions eased, dawn raids in the UK and EU have increased sharply, as authorities clear the backlog from the pandemic and become more sophisticated in their approach, using data, AI, analytics, mobile devices and the cloud to identify relevant evidence in a raid.

Although they might not necessarily take place at dawn, a dawn raid by its very nature should be a surprise. No-one can predict if or when it could happen to you, but we can help you to minimise the risks, prepare for it and be on hand to respond, as well as work with you on any proceedings that may arise from it.

Most organisations are unprepared and unaware of what to do when raided. A dawn raid can be an intense and difficult experience and cause significant business disruption.  It may also signal the start of protracted proceedings, potentially leading to fines, damages actions and individual penalties. Taking precautionary and preparatory steps to ensure the interests of your business and your staff are protected is therefore critical.

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