Dr Rachael Kent vs. Apple Inc. And Apple Distribution International Ltd

This article was produced in partnership with Hausfeld and can also be found on the Hausfeld website.

Two AlixPartners experts gave evidence in the landmark case for the U.K.'s collective proceedings regime. Derek Holt and Louis Dudney's evidence ultimately aided the Tribunal to find that Apple had breached Chapter II of the U.K. Competition Act 1998 (the "1998 Act") and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (the "TFEU") by charging excessive and unfair prices through its App Store.

Overview

On 23 October 2025, the Competition Appeal Tribunal unanimously ruled in favour of Dr Rachael Kent, who led the collective proceedings case on behalf of approximately 36 million iPhone and iPad users in the U.K. against Apple for its App Store practices. The case centred on allegations that Apple abused its dominant position, infringing Chapter II of the Competition Act 1998 (the "1998 Act") and Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU (the