Practice Areas

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Sectoral Regulation

Our team advises on all areas of sectoral and utilities regulation including, telecommunications, broadcasting, energy, transport, post & other utilities.

The continuing liberalisation of regulated industries over a range of sectors in Ireland and across Europe presents opportunities and challenges for business, often involving complex legal issues of regulatory, competition and administrative law.

We advise on all aspects of sectoral and utilities regulation, including:

Telecommunications – licensing and reporting obligations; significant market power; enforcement of regulatory obligations
Broadcasting (including the Audio Visual Media Services Directive) – licensing conditions, approvals for change of control and State aid in the broadcasting sector
Energy – gas and electricity licensing; regulatory aspects of commercial transactions
Transport – ticketing systems; bus licensing; road haulage
Postal Services
Other Utilities

Cormac Little SC

Partner

Claire Waterson

Partner

Sheila Tormey

Partner

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Experience

Our experience includes advising / acting for:

ComReg (the Irish Communications Regulator) in relation to a number of regulatory matters, including representing ComReg in High Court proceedings designed to enforce Eircom’s compliance with obligations as an operator with significant market power and Eircom’s cross appeal, and advising ComReg regarding a regulatory appeal by Vodafone in respect of mobile termination rates.
Aughinish Alumina in relation to challenging European Commission Decisions finding a hydrocarbon tax exemption to be unlawful State aid. We represented Aughinish in an application before the General Court and before the Court of Justice of the EU in subsequent appeals.
Railway Procurement Agency on the EU and Irish competition and public procurement aspects of the establishment of the Leap Card, an integrated ticketing system for transport in Dublin.
Private clients on licensing and notification requirements for the provision of electronic communications services in Ireland and on related compliance issues.
A private client on the regulatory and merger control aspects of the acquisition of an energy business.

Areas of Expertise

We advise on all aspects of sectoral and utilities regulation, including:

Telecommunications – licensing and reporting obligations; significant market power; enforcement of regulatory obligations
Broadcasting (including the Audio-Visual Media Services Directive) – licensing conditions, approvals for change of control and State aid in the broadcasting sector
Energy – gas and electricity licensing; regulatory aspects of commercial transactions
Transport – ticketing systems; bus licensing; road haulage
Postal Services
Other Utilities

Related Areas

Competition & Regulation

Environment & Planning