Conflicts of Interest, Ethical Rules and Impartiality in EU Competition Policy

Conflicts of Interest, Ethical Rules

and Impartiality in EU Competition Policy

Fondation universitaire, 24 April 2014

To date, rules on conflicts of interests have only been sparsely discussed in the competition community. Yet, as in other areas of European Union (“EU”) policy, risks of conflicts of interests are neither remote nor uncommon in competition cases. This half day conference thus seeks to shed light on the rules that govern conflicts of interests in EU competition policy, and in particular issues such as revolving doors practices, disqualification procedures, disclosure requirements, whistleblowing, etc.
Impartiality, fairness and procedural safeguards issues that guarantee efficient enforcement will also be discussed.

Speakers include prominent enforcers, practitioners and academics.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMME 13h00-13h15 Registration and coffee

INTRODUCTION

13:15 – 13:45 Conflicts of Interests – Overview of the Legal & Economic Framework Axel GAUTIER, Professor, University of Liege Nicolas PETIT, Professor, University of Liege Norman NEYRINCK, Research University of Liege; Lawyer, Liege Bar

SESSION I – CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS IN EU COMPETITION CASES

Chairman : Lambros PAPADIAS, Head of Unit, EU Ombudsman's Office

13:45 – 14:05 Conflicts of Interests & Ethical Rules before DG Competition Benjamin DESURMONT, Ethics and Compliance Officer - Deputy Head of the Resources, Ethics and Security Unit, EU Commission

13:45 – 14:05 Conflicts of Interests & Ethical Rules before the Legal Service Vittorio DI BUCCI, Director, Legal Service, EU Commission
14:25 – 14:45 Conflicts of Interests & Ethical Rules before the Court of Justice Arnaud BOHLER, Head of the Private Office of the President, General Court, Court of Justice of the EU
14:45 – 15:15 Roundtable Discussion – Q&A session 15:15 – 15:45 Coffee break

SESSION II – OTHER PERSPECTIVES ON CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS

Chairman James KANTER, The New York Times 15:45 – 16:05 Conflicts of Interests & Ethical Rules before the Belgian Competition Authority Joachim MARCHANDISE, Director of Legal Affairs, Belgian Competition, Authority 16:05 – 16:25 A practitioner’s view on Conflicts and Impartiality Alec BURNSIDE, Partner, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
16:25 – 16:45 The OECD perspective and toolkit to manage conflicts of interests Mona CHAMMAS, Competition Division, OECD
16:45 – 17:05 The Perspective of the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law Joyce CHOI, Vice Chair, Cartel & Criminal Practice Committee, ABA Section of Antitrust Law; Associate Linklaters LLP

17:05 – 17:25 Conflicts of Interests in Arbitration Proceedings
Olivier CAPRASSE, Professor at the Universities of Liège and Brussels; Of Counsel
Hanotiaux & van den Berg

17:25 – 18:00 Roundtable Discussion – Q&A session

USEFUL INFORMATION

Venue