CCCS-SAL Conference 2021: Transcending Boundaries - Competition Law in a Digital Era

CCCS once again partnered with the Singapore Academy of Law (“SAL”) for the triennial flagship event that highlights key developments and emerging trends in competition law and policy in Singapore. This fifth edition went digital for the first time, and was presented as a series of five webinars in March 2021. Click here ↗ (opens in new tab) to view the brochure.

Session 1: Competition Law and Digital Platforms

This webinar brought together expert speakers to discuss the business strategies of digital platforms driving the development of their product ecosystems, as well as explore the roles and responsibilities of digital platforms as “gatekeepers”. The speakers also examined the benefits and competition concerns arising from the ability of digital platforms to collect large amount of data from their users’ activities, and the competition law implications of utilising algorithms. The session was moderated by Ms Ng Ee Kia, Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Business & Economics Division), CCCS. The speakers were:

• Emeritus Professor Richard Whish QC

• Mr Sangeet Choudary, Founder, Platformation Labs

• Mr Christopher Y. Chan, EVP (Legal and Government Affairs), Lazada Group

• Ms Kala Anandarajah, Partner (Competition & Antitrust and Trade Practice), Rajah & Tann Singapore LLP

• Mr Warwick Davis, Economist, Frontier Economics

Session 2: Harnessing and Protecting Data – Intersection with Competition and Consumer Protection

This webinar explored the different ways in which digital-economy companies may harness data to compete and serve consumers better. The speakers also discussed how such uses of data may create certain tensions with antitrust and consumer data protection, and how the authorities may equip themselves with data tools to deal with data issues in the marketplace. The session was moderated by Mr Herbert Fung, Senior Director (Business & Economics Division), Chief Data Officer, CCCS. The speakers were:

• Mr Leong Zee Kin, Assistant Chief Executive (Data Innovation and Protection Group), Infocomm Media Development Authority; Deputy Commissioner, Personal Data Protection Commission, Singapore

• Mr Lim Chong Kin, Managing Director (Corporate & Finance), Co-Head (Competition Law & Regulatory Practice), Head (Telecommunications, Media & Technology), Drew & Napier LLC

• Mr Stefan Hunt, Chief Data and Technology Insight Officer, Competition and Markets Authority, United Kingdom

• Mr Lam Chee Kin, Legal, Compliance & Secretariat, Managing Director & Head, DBS Bank Ltd

Session 3: Mergers Assessment and Remedies in the Digital Economy

This webinar examined issues arising from the assessment of mergers in the digitalisation era, e.g. calculation of market shares, killer acquisitions, acquisition of data and network effects and the use of remedies such as commitments to address concerns that could arise. The session was moderated by Ms Winnie Ching, Director (Legal & Enforcement Division), CCCS. The speakers were:

• Professor Massimo Motta, Research Professor, ICREA-Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Barcelona Graduate School of Economics

• Mr Johannes Benjamin R. Bernabe, Commissioner, Philippine Competition Commission

• Dr Adrian Majumdar, Partner, RBB Economics

• Mr Daren Shiau, Partner (Competition & Antitrust, Corporate & Commercial), Allen and Gledhill LLP

Session 4: Market Definition in a ‘Borderless’ Economy

This webinar examined the extent to which various factors may impact the definition of the geographical market, including the locations of suppliers, customers, product delivery, service performance, invoice, and procurement decision. The speakers also discussed geographic issues in international transportation, digital platforms, and international services. The session was moderated by Dr Tan Hi Lin, Senior Director (Policy & Markets Division), CCCS. The speakers were:

• Mr Poh Lip Hang, Competition Economist (Antitrust and Competition Practice Group), Baker McKenzie Wong & Leow

• Mr Daniel Beard QC, Barrister, Monckton Chambers

• Mr Richard York, Principal Economist (Legal and Economic Division), Australian Competition and Consumer Commission

• Ms Ameera Ashraf, Head (Antitrust & Competition Practice), WongPartnership LLP

Session 5: The Rise of the Digital Economy: Navigating Competition and Consumer Protection Law Compliance and Enforcement Challenges

This webinar provided an update on the latest competition and consumer protection law developments in Singapore and the world in light of the digital economy and the COVID-19 pandemic, and how businesses and practitioners can safely navigate through these challenges. The speakers also discussed the future of international cooperation to address competition and consumer protection issues. The session was moderated by Mr Teo Wee Guan, Senior Director (International, Communications & Planning Division), CCCS and Mr Jack Teng, Director (Consumer Protection Division), CCCS. The speakers were:

• Dr Sebastian Krujatz, Director (Legal & Regulatory), Temasek

• Mr Mohamad Rizuan, Partner (Corporate Practice Group, Competition and Antitrust Law), Dentons Rodyk

• Mr Looi Teck Kheong, Head (Competition, Consumer Protection and Intellectual Property Rights Division), ASEAN Secretariat

• Mr Chia Kim Huat, Regional Head (Corporate and Transactional Practice), Rajah and Tann Singapore & Chairman, SCCCI Research and Publications Committee

• Ms Antonia Horrocks, General Manager Competition and Consumer, New Zealand Commerce Commission