Knowledge

Leyre Prieto, Partner and Head of European and Competition Law at TELLES, and Joana Whyte, associate in the same practice area, co-authored the Portugal chapter of the “Market Review: Cartels 2025”, recently published by Global Competition Review (GCR).

Their article, entitled “Portugal: Competition Authority clamps down on bid-rigging and no-poach agreements”, provides a comprehensive overview of the activity of the Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC), with a particular focus on horizontal anti-competitive practices such as cartels, no-poach agreements, and bid-rigging, as well as the legal mechanisms available under Portuguese law.

The TELLES lawyers, both recognised experts in European and Competition Law, highlight that “The Competition Authority (PCA) has been focusing on different types of offences, in particular those related to anti-competitive practices, including abuse of a dominant position, cartels, and horizontal anti-competitive agreements. No sector has been given special attention; however, the transport and energy sectors are highlighted in the Authority's priorities for 2025”.

Leyre Prieto and Joana Whyte also identify recent trends in competition enforcement in Portugal, stating that: “the AdC has been particulary agressive in tackling cartels, focusing on bid-rigging, anticompetitive practices in the labour market and by business associations. Cases such as the fines imposed on security services companies for bid-rigging and on professional football clubs and multinational technology consulting firms for no-pach agreements show the AdC’s commitment to broadening its enforcement scope beyond traditional cartel conduct”.

The GCR Market Review: Cartels 2025 presents in-depth analysis of how competition authorities across multiple jurisdictions are tackling anti-competitive practices, serving as a key reference for legal professionals and businesses operating in this area.

This publication reinforces the international recognition of TELLES’ European and Competition team and its close monitoring of legal and regulatory developments in this complex and evolving field.

Click here to read the full article.