The UK Digital Markets Competition Regulation Forum 2025 - 3rd Annual

Registration
08:50

Chairpersons’ Opening Remarks
09:20

CMA Keynote: The Digital Markets Regime
09:30

Assessing the State of the First SMS Investigations
10:00

• Unpacking the Provisional Decisions in Search and Mobile Eco-Systems
• The consultation on the final decisions
• What can we expect with the final designations
• Are SMS investigations a paper tiger?

Discussing Procedural Challenges in Early SMS Investigations
10:40

• What has come out of the first 9 months of the regime
• Assessing processes of the DMU’s first SMS investigations
• Areas with growing pains in the early investigations

Networking & Refreshment Break
11:20

Regulator Panel: Inter-Agency Cooperation in Digital Markets in Practice
11:40

• The role for different regulators in the implementation of the regime
• The role of alternative regulatory tools going forward
• What is there to learn from the DMA and other Sectoral Regulators?

Exploring the Interplay Between the CMA’s New Consumer Enforcement Powers and Digital Markets
12:30

• Consumer protection challenges in the digital market
• Online choice architecture: developments in consumer enforcement for online platforms
• When is consumer law a better tool than competition law or conduct requirements
• Scope for consumer powers to bite on a much broader range of firms than SMS

Networking & Lunch Break
13:10

In-House Perspective on Early DMCCA Implementation
14:10

• Engagement in the consultation and regulatory process as 3^rd parties and potential SMS designates
• Challenges faced and lessons learned from the DMA regime and how to improve upon it in the DMCC
• Assessing provisional Designations and Codes of Conduct
• The extent to which DMA compliance is being looked at in the DMCC regime

Examining Recent Developments in Tech Merger Control
15:10

• New and e­­­­­­­­­­­merging merger reforms under the DMCC
• Theories of Harm in the Digital Market
• Determining market dominance in the AI sector
• How the SMS Regime may or may not change the approach to remedies

Networking & Refreshment Break
15:50

Where does the DMCC Leave Prioritisation of Wider Public Enforcement?
16:10

• What tool will the CMA use for its agenda outside of SMS investigations
• Other areas / digital cases the CMA might prioritise
• The potential for further CA98 enforcement against big tech

Assessing the Role of the CAT and Courts in the SMS Regime
16:50

• Potential for Appeal of SMS designations
• What this means for the already booming competition collective actions regime
• Scope of Individual actions in the new landscape
• What we can learn from private enforcement in Europe of the Digital Market in Europe and its implications for the UK

Chairpersons’ Summation and Close of Conference
17:30