Module manager: Prof Peter Whelan
Email: P.Whelan@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
LAW2426 Competition Law
This module is not approved as a discovery module
Competition laws are adopted in over 100 jurisdictions around the world and affect the day-to-day business of all significant businesses globally. This module is designed to provide a sound understanding of both the substantive and procedural rules of competition law, as well as the underlying basic economic concepts of competition. It focuses on the main principles of competition law and investigates the means by which competition laws tackle such problems as cartels, abuses of monopolies. The module will help to place the UK competition regime within its European and international contexts.
The module explores the main substantive rules of competition law that regulate business behaviour across the world through prohibitions such as cartels, abusive behaviour by monopolies and vertical (contractual) restraints. The module also examines the enforcement mechanisms most commonly used to combat and/or remedy anticompetitive practices.
The main goal of the module is to provide the students with a sound introduction to the key legal rules and underlying economic concepts that make up the substance of UK and EU competition law. The module also aims to provide the students with a good understanding of the implications of the infringement of the relevant competition rules, how these rules are enforced and how breaches of competition law are remedied.
Students will gain:
- a firm understanding of the types of behaviours and market circumstances that invoke competition law and policy;
- a firm knowledge of the substantive rules by which competition laws in the UK and EU respond to these market circumstances;
- an appreciation of the economic theory, practice and analytic tools that underpin and inform competition law and policy;
- an understanding of the strategies and mechanisms of competition law enforcement;
- a command of the language and terminology used in the context of competition law;
- an ability to apply relevant procedural and substantive law to real world situations.
The students will improve their understanding of basic competition law concepts and their ability to apply those rules to various real-world fact patterns.
The syllabus is likely to consist of:
Introduction to Competition Law
Economics of Competition Law and Market Definition
Jurisdiction/Institutions
Article 102
Article 101
Vertical Restraints
Cartel Enforcement
The Criminal Cartel Offence
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| On-line Learning | 5 | 1 | 5 |
| Lecture | 11 | 1 | 11 |
| Seminar | 5 | 1.5 | 7.5 |
| Private study hours | 176.5 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 23.5 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 200 | ||
The online learning element is broken down into 15 minute tasks, there will be 20 x 15 minute tasks overall.
A formative assessment opportunity will be provided.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Essay | 2,500 words | 100 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated
There is no reading list for this module
Last updated: 30/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team