Overview

What is subsidy control? It’s the rulebook for public authorities when offering financial help to businesses and organisations. It’s about ensuring any support given is fair.

Public authorities now have to follow a new set of rules under the Subsidy Control Act which shifts from the old EU regulations and the post-Brexit interim regime.  You need to figure out how to minimise subsidies, set clear objectives, explore alternative tools, and spot any red flags that could affect competition and trade.  And we can help you.

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Our take

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When failure to comply with the Subsidy Control Act can lead to legal headaches and the need to claw back funds, this can have direct financial implications for clients. A detailed appreciation of the precise legal position is essential, coupled with a practical and commercial approach, to enable you to understand best how the subsidy might impact both local and international competition. 

Your team

Your subsidy control team

Whether you’re giving or receiving subsidies, you can rely on our expert guidance. By partnering with all sides of the market - public sector organisations, third sector entities, charities, and businesses -  our team brings with it that broad commercial angle as well as decades of experience of the subsidy control/State Aid . With us by your side, you’ll cut through the complexities and find a clear, focused path forward in any scenario.

Here’s how we can help you:

  • Guiding and assessing the feasibility of a “no subsidy” approach
  • Evaluating exemptions or simplified methods for small subsidies
  • Analysing subsidies against the Act’s principles, including evidence identification and framing
  • Seeking Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) advice for larger subsidies and handling potential challenges.
In need of a subsidy control lawyer? Look no further.
At Womble Bond Dickinson we have an exceptional team of talented lawyers and business professionals who can offer guidance and find the solutions right for your business. We have both broad and niche expertise across all our UK and US offices
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How we've made a difference

The proof's in our experience

How we’ve made a difference

  • A borough council on round two of levelling-up funding, ensuring subsidy control compliance for regeneration projects worth over £20m
  • A combined authority, advising on Subsidy Control Act 2022 for zero emission buses and EV charging infrastructure grants
  • A county council, advising on navigating complex issues around the purchase of a property at above market value
  • A borough council on handling subsidy control for a combined heat and power network project worth £80m
  • A combined authority on state aid for redeveloping an industrial site, liaising with the Department for Business, Energy,& Industrial Strategy (BEIS) for compliance.
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