Discount Demands and Antitrust Law Germany”s Federal Cartel Office, the Bundeskartellamt, has thrown its weight behind suppliers faced with demands for excessive discounts, and a furniture store chain has had to come to terms with limitations being imposed on its demands by antitrust law. Businesses are not allowed to abuse their market power and put pressure on their suppliers as a means of obtaining undue advantages for themselves. That was the verdict of Germany”s Federal Supreme Court – the Bundesgerichtshof (“BGH” for short) – with respect to so-called “Hochzeitsrabatte” (wedding…

Advantages of Arbitration The courts are not the only venue for settling legal disputes. Arbitration proceedings are a good alternative in many domestic and international cases. Arbitration proceedings have several advantages over judicial proceedings. The former can be conducted more quickly, are less expensive, and are closed to the public. Moreover, the parties are able to choose the arbitrators, provided the latter are free and independent. One benefit of this is that it means real experts who are well acquainted with the subject matter can be chosen. We at the…