In August 2020, the Federal Antimonopoly Service of Russia recognised six companies engaged in wholesale sales of orthopaedic products as participants in a price collusion (violation of Article 11(1)(1) of the Law on Protection of Competition) aimed at establishing and maintaining a certain level of prices for orthopaedic products, which was manifested in control over the counterparties' compliance with retail prices.
Antitrust Advisory team represented Ottobock, an international manufacturer of prosthetic and orthopaedic products. Antitrust Advisory lawyers defended the client's position in the case, proving that Ottobock was not a participant in a cartel to maintain retail prices and had objective, economic reasons, related to the model and specifics of its business, for recommending retail prices for its products. The FAS of Russia dropped the charges against the company and dismissed the case against it.