In November 2017 KG’s competition team defended the Company before the Athens Administrative Court of Appeal, in an appeal filed by the Union of the Athens & Suburbs Cigarette Wholesalers representing 120 members against HCC’s decision 612/2015 accepting commitments offered by BAT involving the amendment of certain terms in its distribution agreement with its appointed Athens & suburbs distributors and rejecting the Union’s complaint against the company for violation of article 101 & and 102 of TFEU and its Greek equivalents. 

The complaint involved alleged horizontal concerted practices of BAT together with its competitor tobacco manufacturing & trading companies during the restructuring (downsizing) of its distribution network, abuse of a sole or (alternatively) collective dominant position and anticompetitive vertical restraints in the company’s agreements with distributors.