Ioannis Kokkoris is a principal case officer/economic advisor at the Office of Fair Trading, a visiting Professor at Bocconi University, a visiting lecturer at City University Law School, London, and a visiting Fellow at Durham University. He is also an international consultant on competition policy for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal is Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, where he specialises in insolvency and financial law. He is also a member of the editorial or advisory boards of several related journals and a member of various national and international institutions and associations specialising in comparative commercial and insolvency law.

'… extremely timely … raises interesting questions about how flexible competition enforcement should be in view of the difficulties faced by companies in the global downturn. … I welcome Dr Kokkoris' and Dr Olivares-Caminal's contribution to this discussion …' Philip Lowe, Director General, DG Competition, European Commission

• 1. Introduction: overview of the book; 2. Introduction to competition law: EU, UK and US; 3. Financial crises: roots and implications; 4. Failing firm defence: EU and US; 5. Efficiency defence: EU and US; 6. Crisis cartels; 5. State aids; 6. Competition enforcement in periods of crises; 7. Conclusion.

Ioannis Kokkoris is a principal case officer/economic advisor at the Office of Fair Trading, a visiting Professor at Bocconi University, a visiting lecturer at City University Law School, London, and a visiting Fellow at Durham University. He is also an international consultant on competition policy for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal is Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, where he specialises in insolvency and financial law. He is also a member of the editorial or advisory boards of several related journals and a member of various national and international institutions and associations specialising in comparative commercial and insolvency law.

'… extremely timely … raises interesting questions about how flexible competition enforcement should be in view of the difficulties faced by companies in the global downturn. … I welcome Dr Kokkoris' and Dr Olivares-Caminal's contribution to this discussion …' Philip Lowe, Director General, DG Competition, European Commission

• 1. Introduction: overview of the book; 2. Introduction to competition law: EU, UK and US; 3. Financial crises: roots and implications; 4. Failing firm defence: EU and US; 5. Efficiency defence: EU and US; 6. Crisis cartels; 5. State aids; 6. Competition enforcement in periods of crises; 7. Conclusion.

Ioannis Kokkoris is a principal case officer/economic advisor at the Office of Fair Trading, a visiting Professor at Bocconi University, a visiting lecturer at City University Law School, London, and a visiting Fellow at Durham University. He is also an international consultant on competition policy for the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe. Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal is Assistant Professor at the University of Warwick, where he specialises in insolvency and financial law. He is also a member of the editorial or advisory boards of several related journals and a member of various national and international institutions and associations specialising in comparative commercial and insolvency law.

'… extremely timely … raises interesting questions about how flexible competition enforcement should be in view of the difficulties faced by companies in the global downturn. … I welcome Dr Kokkoris' and Dr Olivares-Caminal's contribution to this discussion …' Philip Lowe, Director General, DG Competition, European Commission

• 1. Introduction: overview of the book; 2. Introduction to competition law: EU, UK and US; 3. Financial crises: roots and implications; 4. Failing firm defence: EU and US; 5. Efficiency defence: EU and US; 6. Crisis cartels; 5. State aids; 6. Competition enforcement in periods of crises; 7. Conclusion.