The first International Competition Law Conference, under the guidance and support of Competition Appellate Tribunal, on important topics covering all aspects of Indian and Foreign Competition Laws is being organized in New Delhi. The Competition Law is a growing discipline and the deliberation would influence the field of policy making and business. Keeping the same in view and in line with the objectives of the Competition Law Bar Association of educating members of the Bar, we decided to support the cause and more over celebrate the 1st anniversary of the Competition Appellate Tribunal.
This is the first time that conference is being organized jointly with Competition Appellate Tribunal, which reinforces that the Bench and Bar are the two sides of the same coin. It is the broadmindedness of Dr. Justice Arijit Pasayat who has encouraged us to hold the Conference.
It is heartening that the conference is being inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister for Corporate Affairs Mr. Salman Khurshid and it is presided over by Mr. Goolam E. Vahanvati (Attorney General of India). Mr. R. Bandyopadhyay (Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs) and Mr. Amarjit Chopra (President, Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) have kindly agreed to deliver address at the inaugural session of the conference.
Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Mr. S. H. Kapadia has most generously agreed to deliver address at the valedictory session. The valedictory session shall be presided over by Hon’ble Minister of Law and Justice Mr. Veerappa Moily. The special address is being delivered by, Hon’ble Mr. Gopal Subramanium (Solicitor General of India and Chairman, Bar Council of India). Mr. Vinayak S. Khanvalkar (President, Institute of Company Secretaries of India) has kindly accepted the invitation to address the distinguished gathering at the valedictory session. We firmly believe that addresses by such luminaries will go a long way in improving the system of delivery of justice and awareness about the competition laws in India.
The conference will be discussing important subjects in the four technical sessions. The first session of “Cartels: Issues and Challenges” is chaired by Chairman of Competition Commission of India, Mr. Dhanendra Kumar. The second session of “SMP and Dominant Position” is chaired by Mr. Ian Forrester, QC, Partner, White & Case LLP Belgium. The third Session “Mergers & Acquisitions: Issues and Challenges” is being chaired by Mr. Rahul Sarin and Ms. Pravin Tripathi, Members, Competition Appellate Tribunal. Mr. Dushyant Dave, Senior Advocate, a well known practitioner in the area of Competition Law, has conveyed his pleasure to chair the fourth session titled “Decoding Competition Law”.
Some of the most distinguished practioners of Competition Law (both from private practice and Competition Commission) will join us at the conference and will speak on various topics. We hope that the deliberations would broaden our horizon and make us rethink, review and revise our ideas on this crucial subject. We hope that the participants will go back having indepth knowledge of Competition Law, which has been the objective of this Conference.
Also, we take this opportunity to thank our sponsors, donors, knowledge partners and publishing partner for having supporting us in organizing this Conference. I would also like to thank the foreign and Indian speakers and delegates, who have come from far off places and have contributed to this Conference with their enriching papers/ discussions.
Last but not the least, I must thank the members of the Executive Committee and the team involved in organizing this Conference for their unstinted support and effort.
O.P. Dua, Senior Advocate
President – Competition Law Bar Association, New Delhi
