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Antitrust law - also called competition law - aims to protect fair competition and prevent practices that harm consumers, suppliers and other businesses. In Trollhättan, as elsewhere in Sweden, competition rules come from a combination of Swedish national law and European Union law. The most relevant Swedish authority is the Swedish Competition Authority - Konkurrensverket - which investigates suspected infringements, supervises merger control at the national level and can take cases to court. For larger cross-border matters the European Commission may be involved. Local industries in Trollhättan - including manufacturing, suppliers to the automotive sector and municipal services - may encounter antitrust issues in procurement, supplier agreements, mergers and market conduct.
Competition law is complex and can have significant financial and operational consequences. You should consider consulting a lawyer when any of the following situations arise:
- You receive a dawn raid, search notice or formal investigation from Konkurrensverket or another authority.
- You are involved in or suspect a cartel, price-fixing, market allocation or bid-rigging, whether as a target, participant or whistleblower.
- You plan a merger, acquisition or joint venture that could affect market competition and may require notification to Konkurrensverket or the European Commission.
- You need to draft or review distribution, agency, resale or exclusivity agreements that could raise vertical restraints issues.
- Your company faces claims for damages from competitors, suppliers, customers or municipalities claiming harm from anti-competitive conduct.
- You want to apply for leniency or a settlement to reduce fines or cooperate with an investigation.
- You want to implement or audit a competition compliance program or train staff on competition rules.
- You are bidding for public procurement contracts and want to avoid engaging in conduct that might be viewed as collusion.
Key legal sources and features that are particularly relevant in Trollhättan include:
- Swedish Competition Act - Konkurrenslagen. This statute implements EU rules and sets out national rules on restrictive agreements, abuse of dominant position, merger control thresholds at the national level and enforcement powers for Konkurrensverket.
- EU competition rules - principally Articles 101 and 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union. These apply directly across Sweden for agreements or conduct that affect trade between EU Member States.
- Enforcement authorities. Konkurrensverket is the main national enforcer. For significant cross-border mergers or cartels affecting multiple Member States, the European Commission may take the lead. Specialized courts - including the Patent and Market Court for complex competition disputes - hear competition cases and appeals.
- Merger control. Transactions that meet specific turnover thresholds must be notified either to Konkurrensverket or to the European Commission. Clearance may be required before closing in some cases.
- Civil claims. Businesses and consumers can bring private enforcement claims for damages or injunctive relief in the national courts. Settlements reached with authorities do not remove private civil liability unless explicitly addressed.
- Public procurement rules. Municipal and regional purchasing must comply with public procurement legislation and competition principles. Collusion in procurement processes can trigger both administrative and criminal consequences.
Immediately preserve documents and evidence and notify senior management. Designate a company contact to deal with investigators. Contact an experienced competition lawyer without delay - lawyers can advise on rights during the search, privilege issues and help manage disclosure. Do not delete or alter documents and avoid making statements without legal advice.
Yes. Even agreements between small or local businesses can breach competition rules if they involve price-fixing, market sharing, output restrictions or bid-rigging. The fact that parties are small or local is not a safe harbor; impact on competition and intent are key considerations.
Possibly. Notification obligations depend on turnover thresholds and whether the transaction could affect competition. Many local deals do not meet national or EU thresholds, but transactions that significantly reduce competition in a local market or involve dominant players may draw scrutiny. Consult a lawyer early to assess notification needs and timing.
Leniency programs allow a company or individual who was part of a cartel to report the conduct to the competition authority and receive reduced fines or immunity if they are the first to provide sufficiently detailed evidence. Both the European Commission and Konkurrensverket operate leniency schemes. A lawyer experienced with leniency applications is essential because timing, content and confidentiality are critical.
Companies are typically the primary targets for administrative fines and sanctions, but individuals can face consequences in certain circumstances - for example fines or employment consequences. In cases involving fraudulent conduct or criminal offences connected to competition law there may be additional penalties. Seek legal advice tailored to your situation.
Investigation duration varies with complexity. Simple inquiries might be resolved in months, while major cartel probes, merger reviews or cases involving appeals can take years. Timely cooperation, clear legal strategy and experienced representation can help manage the process and timing.
Yes. Victims of anti-competitive conduct can bring civil claims for damages and injunctive relief in Swedish courts. Proving harm, quantifying loss and establishing causation can be complex, so specialist legal and economic expertise is typically required.
Municipal authorities and public procurement processes are significant because collusion in procurement is a common source of antitrust enforcement. Suppliers and municipalities must comply with procurement rules and competition law. If you suspect collusion in a public tender, you can raise the issue with Konkurrensverket and seek legal guidance.
Implement a formal competition compliance program that includes clear policies, staff training for managers and sales teams, contract review procedures, secure document retention and reporting channels for suspected breaches. Regular audits and outside legal reviews help identify and mitigate risk.
Administrative enforcement actions are handled by Konkurrensverket and may be brought before specialized courts for adjudication. Complex competition disputes are often heard by the Patent and Market Court or higher appellate courts. Cross-border EU matters can involve the European Commission and, ultimately, the Court of Justice of the EU for points of EU law.
When seeking further information or help, the following bodies and organizations are key resources in Sweden and the EU:
- Konkurrensverket - the Swedish Competition Authority - for guidance on investigations, merger control and enforcement.
- Swedish government publications and texts of the Swedish Competition Act - for the national statutory framework.
- Patent and Market Court - specialized court handling complex competition disputes.
- European Commission - Directorate-General for Competition - for EU-level enforcement, guidelines and leniency policy.
- Upphandlingsmyndigheten - the Swedish Public Procurement Agency - for rules and guidance on public procurement.
- Swedish Bar Association - for finding qualified competition law lawyers and checking credentials.
- Local business organizations - such as the Trollhättan chamber of commerce or Region Västra Götaland business support - for local context and contacts.
- Academic and professional publications on competition law - for in-depth analysis and case law.
If you suspect an antitrust issue or are contacted by an authority, follow these practical steps:
- Preserve evidence. Stop routine deletion policies and preserve emails, contracts, competitive bids and related documents.
- Isolate the problem. Identify which departments and employees may be involved and limit access to sensitive materials.
- Contact a specialised competition lawyer. Seek a lawyer with experience in dawn raids, leniency applications, merger control and litigation. Ask about initial consultation fees, likely strategy and estimated costs.
- Consider whether to notify or cooperate with authorities. Do not make unilateral admissions. Your lawyer will advise on the risks and benefits of cooperation or a leniency application.
- Implement or strengthen compliance measures. Even while addressing a specific issue, start or update training, policies and internal reporting channels to reduce future risk.
- Prepare for civil exposure. If there is a risk of damages claims, assemble financial and market evidence and engage forensic economists if needed.
- Keep communications controlled. Coordinate any external communication, including to employees, customers and the media, with your legal team.
If you need help finding a lawyer in Trollhättan, look for firms or practitioners who handle national and EU competition matters, ask for references and recent case experience, and confirm language capabilities for any cross-border aspects. Early legal advice improves outcomes and helps protect your business interests.
