Francion has significant experience of competition litigation, including cases involving a cross-over with IP law. She has over 10 years’ experience of acting in FRAND cases for the likes of Samsung, Philips and Panasonic, with a particular focus on the competition law and economic valuation aspects of those cases.

Francion also frequently advises on merger control and interactions with the CMA including investigations, market studies and third party RFIs. She has a particular interest in the new digital markets competition regime (under the DMCC Act) which establishes new powers for the CMA to regulate big tech firms in the UK.

Francion’s practice also involves advising clients on complex agreements and behavioural issues across all sectors. This includes issues arising from the cross-over with IP law for which many of her clients are in high technology sectors including tech and life sciences.

Francion has a background in Mathematics and Competition Economics making her well placed to advise on complex competition law issues.

Some of Francion’s recent experience includes:

• Acting for Panasonic in UK litigation seeking a FRAND licence.
• Acting for Philips in UK litigation seeking a FRAND licence.
• Advising Bestway on its acquisition of the UK pharmacy wholesale and retail business of Lexon, one of the fastest Phase 1 clearance decisions before the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).
• Leading on the competition law defence for a Japanese pharmaceutical company in an arbitration in connection with the development and subsequent commercialisation of a blockbuster monoclonal antibody therapeutic.
• Assisting an animal medicines manufacturer with the CMA’s market investigation into the veterinary sector.
• Working at the CMA (on secondment) to develop the new Vertical Agreements Block Exemption Order (VABEO).

Francion has spent time on secondment at the CMA, Google and at the antitrust teams of two Chinese law firms. She is the resident lawyer for the British Brands Group’s competition law compliance training programme.