In recent years, antitrust damage actions have become quite
popular in Italy. Customers are increasingly becoming aware of
their right to compensation stemming from anticompetitive conducts,
especially in connection with the decisions of the Italian
Antitrust Authority (Agcm) and the European Commission (so called
follow-on actions).
The Italian system has become more attractive for claimants -
including foreign claimants - also thanks to the smooth
implementation of EU Directive 2014/104 on the effective redress
for the victims of competition law breaches. Not only has the right
to compensation for harm caused by infringements of competition law
been expressly acknowledged and regulated; in a bid to ensure
consistent application of the new and innovative rules, the number
of courts entrusted with hearing competition law damages claims has
been reduced to just three nationwide.
