Kevin Coates

Kevin Coates advises clients on critical antitrust matters drawing on his extensive public sector experience in the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission ("DG COMP"), most recently as Head of a Cartel Unit.

Firm/Organization: Covington & Burling LLP

Blogs: Covington Competition, Global Policy Watch, Inside Tech Media

Latest Articles

Covington Competition

Vestager outlines portfolio plans in European Parliament confirmation hearing

By Johan Ysewyn, Miranda Cole, Peter Camesasca, Kevin Coates & Barbara Monti

October 15, 2019

After her confirmation hearing in front of the European Parliament on Tuesday 8 October, Magrethe Vestager looks certain to remain as Competition Commissioner for a second term and to combine that with a broader responsibility for digital policy development. Both the second term and the combination of the competition portfolio with a policy brief are unprecedented in recent decades. Several key points, including the way in which she intends to manage digital matters and a…

Covington Competition

Margrethe Vestager re-appointed as Competition Commissioner and given a broader digital mandate

By Johan Ysewyn, Miranda Cole, Peter Camesasca, Kevin Coates & Jérôme de Ponsay

September 11, 2019

On 10 September 2019, Margrethe Vestager was proposed as the European Commissioner for Competition, a post which she has held since November 2014. The appointment is still subject to the confirmation of the European Parliament. Vestager has also been given the role of Executive Vice President, with the mandate of making “Europe Fit for the Digital Age”. In her Mission Letter to Vestager, incoming European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she wanted Vestager…

Covington Competition

“No Deal” Brexit and the UK State Aid Regime (Part 2)

By Siobhan L.M. Kahmann, Kevin Coates & Jonathan Benjamin

February 22, 2019

On 21 January 2019, the UK government published its draft statutory instrument on State aid, outlining the changes to the UK State aid regime in the event of a no deal Brexit. Its publication comes at critical moment for the UK as it considers the potential options for leaving the European Union: (i) leave with a deal; (ii) leave without a deal; or (iii) postpone the date of leaving. The State Aid (EU Exit) Regulations 2019…

Covington Competition

Deal or No Deal Brexit? The Lowdown for Competition Law (Part 1)

By Siobhan L.M. Kahmann, Kevin Coates & Jonathan Benjamin

February 22, 2019

Potentially significant changes are just around the corner for the UK competition system, as the country prepares to take the final step of exiting the European Union. In this regard, the UK has three potential options: (i) leave with a deal; (ii) leave without a deal; or (iii) postpone the date of leaving. Should the UK leave the EU with a deal, then its departure shall be governed by the Withdrawal Act ( “WA”), which…

Global Policy Watch

“Four-to-three” mergers no longer taboo? The Commission unconditionally approves the acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL

By Kevin Coates, Geoffrey Kalantari & Jonathan Benjamin

December 24, 2018

In November 2018, following an in-depth Phase 2 investigation, the European Commission (“Commission”) unconditionally approved the acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL, respectively the fourth and third largest players in the Dutch retail mobile telecoms market. The merged entity remains the third largest player in this market after KPN and VodafoneZiggo. This transaction is the first “four-to-three” telecom merger approved without remedies under Commissioner Vestager’s term, following earlier Commission decisions on four-to-three mergers in (i) H3G/Wind…

Covington Competition

“Four-to-three” mergers no longer taboo? The Commission unconditionally approves the acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL

By Kevin Coates, Geoffrey Kalantari & Jonathan Benjamin

December 20, 2018

Covington Competition

UK Government and CMA research whether online customers are targeted through personalised pricing

By Kevin Coates & Spyridon Goulielmos

December 10, 2018

On 4 November 2018, the UK government and the Competition and Markets Authority (“CMA”) issued a press release confirming that they will examine the practices of retailers that target online consumers and charge them different prices for the same product through personalised pricing. Their research will cover a range of products sold online “such as holidays, cars and household goods”. The announcement is unsurprisingly silent as to whether legislative changes or changes to the CMA’s…

Covington Competition

The UK Government Issues ‘No-deal’ Competition and Merger Guidance

By Kevin Coates, Siobhan L.M. Kahmann & Jonathan Benjamin

September 17, 2018

The UK Government published its highly-anticipated technical guidance on merger review and anti-competitive activity on 13 September 2018 which will apply in the case of a ‘no-deal’ Brexit (the ‘Guidance’). Although brief, it provides market players with some form of practical advice and insights on what to expect, how cases are likely to be divided between the EU and UK regimes, how UK competition law will develop, and suggests in what ways post-Brexit competition damages…

Covington Competition

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority gives guidance on future priorities, FinTech and Brexit

By Sophie Bertin, Kevin Coates & Siobhan L.M. Kahmann

September 10, 2018

The Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) has published its third Annual Competition Report which focusses on its proposals for promoting competition and innovation, particularly with respect to the impact of FinTech on UK financial services. It also addresses the FCA’s ongoing role in supporting the UK Government prepare for Brexit, and uphold an orderly transition as part of the withdrawal process – avoiding any cliff edges – for UK financial markets.…

Covington Competition

UK government publishes “no-deal” state aid notice

By Kevin Coates & Daniel Muheme

August 29, 2018

On 23 August 2018, the UK government published a notice, committing the UK to a continued application of state aid rules even in the event of no deal being agreed with the EU on the UK’s withdrawal. The notice explains how EU state aid rules would be transposed into UK domestic legislation. The Competition and Markets Authority will take the role of enforcement and supervision for the whole UK and the rules will…

Kevin Coates

Vestager outlines portfolio plans in European Parliament confirmation hearing

Margrethe Vestager re-appointed as Competition Commissioner and given a broader digital mandate

“No Deal” Brexit and the UK State Aid Regime (Part 2)

Deal or No Deal Brexit? The Lowdown for Competition Law (Part 1)

“Four-to-three” mergers no longer taboo? The Commission unconditionally approves the acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL

“Four-to-three” mergers no longer taboo? The Commission unconditionally approves the acquisition of Tele2 NL by T-Mobile NL

UK Government and CMA research whether online customers are targeted through personalised pricing

The UK Government Issues ‘No-deal’ Competition and Merger Guidance

UK’s Financial Conduct Authority gives guidance on future priorities, FinTech and Brexit

UK government publishes “no-deal” state aid notice

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