Google hires numerous law firms to fight EU fines
Google is surrounding itself with some of the top law firms in Europe in the wake of its record-breaking €2.4 billion ‘illegal’ anti-trust ruling fine and the threat of more penalities on the horizon.
Google is taking no chances and has hired at least five law firms, according to some reports. It is understood that Allen & Overy, Cleary Gottlieb, Slaughter and May, Garrigues and White & Case are all in the new Google armory. Google was fined a record €2.42 billion by the European Commission after it ruled the company had abused its power by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results.
Record-breaking case
Global Legal Post recently reported how the fine represented the regulator’s largest ever against a company accused of distorting the market. In addition Google must cease its anti-competitive practices within 90 days or face a further penalty and forced to make payments of 5 per cent of its parent company Alphabet’s average daily worldwide earnings – or some $14 million every day.
Precedent
Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s Competition Commissioner also pointed out that the decision could now set a precedent as to how she handles related complaints about the prominence Google gives to its own maps, flight price results and local business listings within its search tools.
‘Disagree with the conclusions’
However a Google statement in response to the ruling said: ‘We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today. We will review the Commission’s decision in detail as we consider an appeal, and we look forward to continuing to make our case.’
Source: Global Legal Post – Google hires numerous law firms to fight EU fines
