As it enters its third decade, the International Competition Network is still a black box for those on the outside. Townley, Guidi and Tavares open this box and present us with an insightful analysis of what goes on inside this transnational network of competition agencies. Through an interdisciplinary perspective and incorporating an original survey of the ICN members, the authors demonstrate that despite the soft law nature of its recommendations and consensus
requirements, a group of advanced industrial economies have been able to exercise a powerful influence in the organization, promoting competition rules that benefit their jurisdictions, and their multinational corporations and law firms. A must-read for anyone interested in the international dimensions
of competition policy, and questions of power and legitimacy within transnational regulatory networks.
Christopher Townley has been an academic in the Law School at King's College London since 2007. Before that he was a Principal Case Officer in the Office of Fair Trading (a UK competition authority) and a solicitor at Clifford Chance LLP (a law firm). Since joining King's, Christopher has provided teaching and/ or advice to several bodies, including the Superintendence of Industry and Commerce (Columbia), the Egyptian Competition Authority, The National Broadcasting
and Telecommunications Commission (Thailand), The NHS (UK), the Office of Fair Trading (UK), Ofcom (UK), The Pakistan Competition Commission, UNCTAD, and the World Bank.
Mattia Guidi is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Department of Social, Political and Cognitive Sciences of the University of Siena. His research interests include the economic governance of the European Union, international and comparative political economy, and public opinion (in particular in relation to populist attitudes). He has published in international journals like International Organization, Socio-Economic Review, Regulation & Governance, Governance, European Union
Politics. His monograph "Competition policy enforcement in EU member states" (2016) is published by Palgrave MacMillan in the European Administrative Governance series.
Mariana Tavares is Counsel at Cruz Vilaça Advogados. She served as a law clerk (référendaire) at the Court of Justice of the European Union and was a United Nations International Consultant for competition matters. She held several senior positions at the Portuguese Competition Authority and has been closely involved with the development of European and international competition law and policy. Mariana Tavares served as chair of several Working Groups of the European Competition
Network and the International Competition Network and she also participated actively in the work of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre, OECD and UNCTAD. She holds a Ph.D. from King's College London.