We have changed, says Uber, in the legal battle to keep London's license

LONDON (Reuters) – Uber [UBER.UL] He acknowledged making mistakes, but said that he had changed during his court appearance on Monday to overturn a decision removing his license in London after being declared unfit to operate a taxi service on his most important European market.

Regulator Transport for London (TfL) shocked the Silicon Valley firm last September by refusing to renew its license, citing breaches in its approach to reporting serious criminal offenses and auditing drivers' backgrounds.

Uber, backed by Goldman Sachs and BlackRock among others and valued at more than $ 70 billion, has faced protests, bans and restrictions around the world as it challenges traditional taxi operators and upset some unions.

Its managing director, Dara Khosrowshahi, who took over the month prior to TfL's decision, is committed to "doing things" in London, and the lawsuit is a test to find out where Uber can demonstrate that he has changed.

While the appeal process is ongoing, Uber can continue to operate in the city.

The firm has launched several new initiatives in London since the loss of its license, including 24/7 phone support and proactive reporting of serious incidents to the city police. He also changed direction.

Uber's attorney, Thomas de la Mare, said the company had accepted the September ruling and that the appeal was to focus on its reforms.

"It is not part of our case to say that it was wrong, we accept that it was right," said Mr. de la Mare at the Westminster Magistrates Court in London. "C & # 39; is this acceptance that has led to profound changes in the way we conduct our business. "

The appeal is to be heard for three days and will hear witnesses, including Laurel Powers-Freeling, chairman of Uber UK, Fred Jones, UK city manager, and Helen Chapman, acting director. TfL licenses.

& # 39; LACK OF UNDERSTANDING & # 39;

Uber UK's managing director, Tom Elvidge, admitted that the company's correspondence with TfL had sometimes been inaccurate, incomplete and inadequate on a series of issues.

He said the inaccuracies in letters sent in 2014 to determine if Uber 's business model was legal in the London regulatory framework stemmed from a "lack of understanding" of Uber, but that new people and new policies would help to avoid a repetition of problems. in the future.

"It was very clear to ULL (Uber London Limited) that a change of structure, a change of leadership and a fundamental change in the way we managed and managed operations were essential," he said. the courtyard.

In May, Uber appointed a new boss for Northern and Eastern Europe, which includes Britain, after his former manager Jo Bertram left last year following the decision to remove Uber from its London license.

After his five year license application was rejected last year, Uber is now looking for an 18 month to prove to the authorities that he has reformed.

Judge Emma Arbuthnot may take weeks to make her decision, which is likely to be the subject of a new call from the losers, which means that the entire legal process could take years.

However, she pointed out that any renewal of the license could be for a shorter period.

"I would have thought, if I had to renew the license, 18 months would be a bit too long," she said.

The stake for the American company is one of its most important foreign markets. Of its 60,000 drivers in Britain, about 45,000 are in London.

Since TfL's September ruling, Uber has also been stripped of its license by the South Shore city of Brighton, in a decision it calls, and the city of North York.

He has, however, obtained new licenses in Sheffield, Cambridge, Nottingham and Leicester.