On December 29, 2022, President Biden signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 (the Act), which changes the fee structure for transactions that are notified under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust...more
1/9/2023
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
China ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Filing Fees ,
Foreign Subsidies ,
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ,
Mergers ,
Pre-Merger Filing Requirements ,
Russia ,
Size of Transaction Test ,
Threshold Requirements
On June 3, 2022, Department of Justice Antitrust Division Deputy Assistant General Richard A. Powers reiterated the Division’s intent to bring more cases to trial and touted the Division’s record number of open...more
The last week has seen crucial developments at the European Commission (EC) and U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the antitrust review of the $7.1 billion proposed acquisition by Illumina (the leading supplier of...more
9/12/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) ,
Competition ,
EU ,
European Commission ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Jurisdiction ,
Member State ,
Mergers ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
UK ,
UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) ,
Vertical Agreement ,
Vertical Mergers
Since March 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) has challenged three proposed acquisitions based on vertical competitive concerns. The parties in two of those transactions - Nvidia/Arm and Lockheed...more
On January 21, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced revised thresholds for merger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Effective February 23, 2022, the lowest size-of-transaction filing threshold...more
1/27/2022
/ Acquisitions ,
Civil Monetary Penalty ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Filing Fees ,
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ,
Mergers ,
Pre-Merger Filing Requirements ,
Premerger Notifications ,
Size of Persons Test ,
Size of Transaction Test ,
Threshold Requirements
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC or Commission) has announced a new policy to dramatically expand its use of prior approval orders in merger transactions. On October 25, the FTC issued a policy statement (Statement) under...more
On 22 September 2021, the EU’s second-highest court, the General Court, confirmed the European Commission’s 2018 decision (Case T-425/18—Altice Europe v. Commission) imposing an EUR 124 million fine on Altice Europe NV...more
In an August 3 blog post, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a change to the FTC’s merger review process with potentially far-reaching effects. Emphasizing the agency’s constrained capacity resulting from a “tidal...more
8/17/2021
/ Antitrust Division ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Biden Administration ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ,
Mergers ,
Premerger Notifications ,
Strategic Enforcement Plan ,
Threshold Requirements ,
Warning Letters
On July 9, 2021, the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order on “Promoting Competition in the American Economy.” The Order is notable in its breadth and commitment to a coordinated federal government approach to...more
On Thursday, July 1, the Federal Trade Commission held its first meeting under Chair Lina M. Khan and first open business meeting in over twenty years. The Commission considered four items during the nearly two hour long...more
7/13/2021
/ Administrative Procedure ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Antitrust Violations ,
Enforcement Authority ,
Enforcement Priorities ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
FTC Act ,
Labeling ,
Made in the USA ,
Magnuson-Moss Act ,
Public Comment ,
Unfair or Deceptive Trade Practices
“Quo vadis, amerikanisches Kartellrecht?” Nach dem Überraschungssieg von Präsident Trump im November 2016 stellte sich diese Frage nicht nur in amerikanischen Kartellrechtskreisen. Zehn Monate später steht eine eindeutige...more
On February 2, 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced revised thresholds for merger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Effective March 4, 2021, the lowest size-of-transaction filing threshold...more
It has long been recognized that patent pools can create licensing efficiencies by establishing “onestop shops” for patents owned by multiple rights owners. There is also broad consensus that patentee collaboration in patent...more
1/26/2021
/ Antitrust Provisions ,
Big Data ,
Connected Cars ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Intellectual Property Protection ,
Internet of Things ,
IP License ,
Patent Ownership ,
Patent Pools ,
Patents ,
Standard Essential Patents ,
Universities
In recent years, both Republican and Democratic-led antitrust agencies have pursued aggressive merger enforcement programs, litigating many cases and settling many more. However, “populist” and other progressive critics have...more
On September 3, 2020, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ) updated its 2004 Merger Remedies Manual (see here). The updated Manual clarifies important aspects of the DOJ’s merger remedy practice about which there...more
The first half of 2020 was a busy time for antitrust in the United States. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) implemented expedited procedures for reviewing collaborations during the...more
8/27/2020
/ Antitrust Investigations ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Corporate Counsel ,
Criminal Prosecution ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Popular ,
Technology Sector ,
Vertical Mergers
Few lawyers would question the need to keep their clients apprised of negotiations with enforcers, particularly where merger approval hinges in the balance. A recent federal district court ruling, however, serves as a...more
Businesses around the world are actively working to address the global COVID-19 pandemic, including through novel types of collaborations. In the United States, federal and state agencies, including the Department of Justice...more
On January 28, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced revised thresholds for merger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act. Parties to transactions that close on or after February 27, 2020 are subject...more
2/6/2020
/ Acquisitions ,
Antitrust Provisions ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Hart-Scott-Rodino Act ,
Mergers ,
Premerger Notifications ,
Section 8 ,
Size of Persons Test ,
Size of Transaction Test ,
The Clayton Act ,
Threshold Requirements
The US House of Representatives recently passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act, H.R. 1595 (the Act), which, if it becomes law, would have far-reaching implications for financial institutions considering...more
10/7/2019
/ Cannabidiol (CBD) oil ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Criminal Proceeds ,
Depository Institutions ,
Dispensaries ,
Farm Bill ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Financial Transactions ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Money Laundering ,
Pending Legislation ,
SAFE Act ,
Safe Harbors
Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ) has captured headlines for its aggressive public stance regarding merger enforcement. Actions attracting attention...more
10/8/2018
/ Antitrust Division ,
Antitrust Investigations ,
AT&T ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Enforcement Authority ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Merger Agreements ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
Trump Administration ,
Vertical Mergers
A month ago, we covered recent European competition law developments on pre-merger information sharing and “gun jumping” among merging parties. In a timely reminder that the same questions also are relevant in the United...more
The Senate Commerce Committee held a hearing on Wednesday on the nominees to serve on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The nominees are Joseph Simons (Chairman Designate), Christine Wilson, Noah Phillips and Rohit Chopra....more
EU and US laws prohibit merging companies from implementing reportable transactions until their deal is cleared or the statutory waiting period has expired. Violations of this principle are colloquially known as “gun-jumping”...more
2/15/2018
/ Antitrust Violations ,
Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
EU ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Gun-Jumping ,
Merger Controls ,
Mergers ,
New Guidance ,
Sherman Act ,
Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU)
The Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") announced revised thresholds for merger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino ("HSR") Act. Once effective, the lowest size-of-transaction filing threshold (also known as the "$50...more