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Baker McKenzie introduces global Antitrust Dawn Raid App

Sibahle Malinga
By Sibahle Malinga, ITWeb senior news journalist.
Johannesburg, 13 Apr 2017
Nick Altini, Partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice.
Nick Altini, Partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice.

Law firm Baker McKenzie has introduced a global version of its Dawn Raid App, aimed at providing clients experiencing a raid with step-by-step guidance on their rights and obligations, as well as instant access to Baker McKenzie antitrust lawyers.

According to Baker Mckenzie, the mobile app is a platform that provides practical legal assistance for organisations and individuals on handling unannounced inspections by law enforcement agencies, the Competition Commission, and other organisations that may raid a company's premises. Available across 44 countries, the app covers both local administrative and criminal laws, answering a range of practical questions on a country by country basis under local law such as "Can inspectors demand passwords to allow IT access?" or "Can employees leave the building with their laptops?"

It has camera accessibility features, allowing users to take and send photos of the dawn raid warrant and other key documents so Baker McKenzie can provide immediate legal support.

Nick Altini, partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice, Baker McKenzie's Johannesburg, says: "The advent of dawn raids in African countries, outside of SA, together with the regularity of raids in SA makes it imperative that businesses have procedures in place in the event of a raid on their premises. While there is no substitute for having received training on how to deal with a raid and having a procedure in place, this app will take businesses through the procedure to follow during this disruptive process, including facilitating instant access to our legal team. In addition, for multinationals who might be experiencing raids in several countries simultaneously, the app will help co-ordinate the process by providing the different legal information and guidance in various jurisdictions."

Head of the Competition Group of Baker McKenzie's London office Samantha Mobley says, "It is stressful when government officials turn up without warning and demand access to people and information. Our global Antitrust Dawn Raid App is designed to provide instant practical and comprehensive information to ensure that employees know what do in a calm and professional manner so as to protect the company's rights as much as possible. It allows our clients to navigate the complexities of potentially simultaneous dawn raids in an organised and systematic way".

"Since the implementation of the South African Competition Act, 1998, the South African Competition Commission has conducted numerous dawn raids across several South African industries, including businesses in the cement, furniture removal, gas and recruitment sectors.

"Dawn raids by the commission have been a consistent feature of the enforcement landscape in SA with several raids occurring each year, the latest round taking place last month when fresh produce market agents were searched on suspicion of price fixing. Dawn raids have also been carried out in Egypt, Kenya, Namibia and Zambia in recent times. We can expect an increase in the frequency of these events in these and other African countries" says Vani Chetty, partner and head of the Antitrust and Competition Practice at Baker McKenzie in Johannesburg.

Baker McKenzie's Global Antitrust Dawn Raid App was launched in Asia Pacific late in 2016. Due to its success the decision was made to roll it out globally, adds the company. The app is available on iOS and Android platforms.

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