Lawyers, economists, and regulators have continued to weigh in on the extent to which institutional investors’ holdings of minority interests in multiple competitors raise competition issues. Our panelists will discuss whether (and if so, when) such holdings actually raise potential antitrust issues and whether any such issues can be addressed by existing law.

Recent economic research has examined potential killer acquisitions in the U.S., and regulators here and abroad have expressed competition concerns about acquisitions of startups. But innovation is a difficult and uncertain process. This panel explores hot topics, patent thickets, biologics, and the revamped UK CMA approach in a broader discussion of the renaissance of innovation theories of harm.

Antitrust interfaces with both international trade and intellectual property in complex ways. Multinational companies often face challenges that involve all three areas, while law firm practice groups tend to be siloed. This program brings together antitrust and trade experts who will explore these issues, as well as the unfair competition mandate of the International Trade Commission.

It has been said that conflicting expert testimony merely “cancels” each expert out: that experts can lose, but not win, a case. Are these mantras valid? What are the secrets to effective expert testimony? What mixture of “honest broker” and “advocacy” is the right one? Is the expert a “narrator” of facts or a hammer for ultimate issues?

New business models centered on evolving/expanding platforms raise critical questions about inter- and intrafirm relationships. How should regulators and competitors view these firms? Are they necessary ecosystem providers or threats to competitors’ future growth and relevance? Is vertical digital platform integration welfare-enhancing or a means of restricting competition?

During this time of unprecedented divergence between state and federal antitrust enforcers, the panel will examine the legal framework and context for different investigation and enforcement perspectives, recent cases and settlements, and how to navigate investigations, negotiations, or enforcement actions where the procedural posture or relief sought by federal and state enforcers differs.

No-poach agreements remain uncertain territory. This panel will take a practical look at the challenges in assessing risk and counseling clients regarding these agreements, including the applicable standard of review, risks of proof at trial, harm and injury, and prosecutorial discretion.

Antitrust litigation often features a low number of diverse attorneys with speaking roles in courts, as recent articles show. This panel will discuss the challenges and opportunities these groups, women in particular, face in litigation. Hear from a presiding judge, experienced litigators, and in-house counsel to learn how to navigate these issues and help grow the next generation of trial lawyers.

Please join us for an in-depth conversation with leading competition authorities about their enforcement priorities and the transactions, investigations, and cases that are making headlines this year. The Enforcers Roundtable is always a highlight of the Spring Meeting. Don’t miss it!

Investigations have been launched into whether Big Tech firms are violating antitrust laws, and Congress has initiated a bipartisan investigation into competition in digital markets. The panel will examine the range of outcomes that could result from the Big Tech investigations, drawing comparisons to past investigations of companies that were thought to be Too Big to Break Up.

Antitrust enforcers are facing calls for more active merger enforcement, particularly in the tech sector. Is more enforcement necessary? If so, are existing antitrust concepts and tools up to the task? For nascent acquisitions, how can competitive effects be assessed including impact on innovation or ability to disrupt, and what remedies should or could be considered for prior acquisitions?

This exciting, challenging, and humorous game show will examine the application of the Model Rules of Professional Responsibility to ethical questions confronting antitrust and consumer protection lawyers, and will address issues such as conflicts of interest, informed consent, multiple representation, joint defense agreements, preservation of client confidences, and others.

This past year saw an increasing number of jurisdictions around the world opening investigations or taking enforcement actions involving Big Data. Has data become the new oil that drives the global economy? Is Big Data no longer just the province of consumer protection? What role should data play in antitrust analyses of mergers or business conduct? What role should antitrust have in regulating Big Data?

Until recently, global cartel investigations dominated the headlines, and it seemed clear that coordinated international enforcement would be the wave of the future. But with the recent decline in blockbuster investigations, many question whether this trend has played itself out and, if so, what lies in store.

You won’t want to miss this annual session where you will hear directly from the Federal Trade Commission Directors of the Bureau of Competition, Bureau of Consumer Protection, and Bureau of Economics about the latest in antitrust and consumer protection enforcement and policy initiatives.

Antitrust litigation requires litigants to present and courts to engage in fact-specific analysis of the potential benefits and harms of complex business practices. Typically, antitrust courts also must evaluate conflicting economic testimony. The judges on the panel will provide their perspective on how the courts apply the antitrust laws and what advocates can do to more effectively present fact and economic testimony in complex antitrust cases.