NCAA vs. Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma: A Win for Antitrust Law and College Football Fans
U.S. antitrust regulators, particularly the Federal Trade Commission, have been stepping up scrutiny of private equity investments in healthcare. On March 5, the FTC, along with the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S....more
The Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice possess both overlapping and distinct authority to challenge anti-competitive practices under federal law. The FTC enforces, without limitation, the FTC Act and the...more
For most litigated mergers, the preliminary injunction hearing is decisive: if the FTC or DOJ obtains a preliminary injunction, parties frequently abandon the deal before the case is fully litigated on the merits, and...more
In a prior post, we discussed the Federal Trade Commission’s (“FTC”) lawsuit against U.S. Anesthesia Partners (“USAP”) and the private equity firm Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe (“Welsh Carson”). Most recently, the U.S....more
The FTC’s enforcement efforts against private equity hit a significant roadblock on May 13 when a federal judge granted Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe’s (Welsh Carson) motion to dismiss the agency’s complaint against the...more
The identification, investigation and removal of persons who serve as directors or officers of two competing companies (i.e., “horizontal interlocks”) is a significant component of the Biden Administration’s antitrust...more
The FTC released its final rule banning noncompetes last week. The lengthy (570-page) rulemaking provides ample fodder for legal minds to mull over for the near future, but for readers in the healthcare industry, we can...more
Past long-standing chair of Proskauer’s Health Care Department, Ed Kornreich is a recognized authority on the legal, regulatory and business issues related to health care… Past long-standing chair of Proskauer’s Health Care...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently announced the launch of “an easily accessible online portal for the public to report health care...more
On March 5, 2024, the Biden administration announced the launch of a “strike force” aimed at cracking down on unfair and illegal pricing practices. The strike force is one in a series of three new actions announced by...more
Private equity is squarely in the cross hairs of regulators; the Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently announced the launch of a...more
In a December 2023 statement, the White House detailed its intention to encourage antitrust enforcers to scrutinize anticompetitive acquisitions and anticompetitive practices in health care. Specifically, the statement...more
A new year means resolutions which are often centered around self-improvement measures like weight loss, exercise plans, and other health improvement measures. Companies can also benefit from resolutions. Increasing antitrust...more
The FTC filed a lawsuit against U.S. Anesthesia Partners, Inc. (USAP), and private equity company Welsh, Carson, Anderson & Stowe XI, L.P. and affiliated entities (collectively, Welsh Carson), alleging that they violated the...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on Sept. 21, 2023, sued a private equity firm in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas over an alleged decade-long "roll-up" strategy to consolidate anesthesiology...more
Since the beginning of Chair Khan’s tenure at the Federal Trade Commission (and in line with President Biden’s aim to curb rising health care costs), the current FTC has committed to bring enforcement actions against health...more
On September 21, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a groundbreaking complaint in federal court against PE fund Welsh Carson and its portfolio company, U.S. Anesthesia Partners (USAP), making good on its promise...more
The FTC is focusing its attention on the listing of pharmaceutical patents in the FDA’s Orange Book. Patent listing may be the subject of FTC inquiry even absent infringement litigation enforcing the relevant patents....more
Since the announcement of a proposed merger between Microsoft and Activision Blizzard, Inc. (“Activision”) in February 2022, enforcement agencies worldwide have adopted a spectrum of positions in response. The EU Commission...more
On August 16, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced an agreement with natural gas producer EQT Corporation (EQT) and private equity firm Quantum Energy Partners (Quantum) to resolve concerns stemming from alleged...more
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) recent multipronged challenge to EQT Corporation’s acquisition from the Quantum Energy Partners private equity investment group “marks the FTC’s first case in 40 years that enforces...more
On August 16, 2023, the Federal Trade Commission took action to resolve its antitrust concerns associated with a proposed transaction between EQT Corporation (EQT) and private equity firm QEP Partners, LP (Quantum) pursuant...more
For the first time in 40 years, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has taken action to enforce Section 8 of the Clayton Act, which prohibits so-called interlocking directorates. In the same action, the FTC mounted its first...more
Last Thursday, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) took the step of filing suit in federal court asserting that parties to a hospital acquisition who had obtained a Certificate of Public Advantage (“COPA”) from their state...more
Regulatory scrutiny and class action litigation relating to the consumer financial services (CFS) industry have typically focused on issues of disclosure, customer privacy, and fees charged to consumers. CFS lawyers are...more