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Articles Posted in Department of Justice

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End of an Era: The FTC Proposes Significant Changes to the HSR Form

Authors: Steven Cernak and Luis Blanquez During the last week of June 2023, the Federal Trade Commission proposed making the most drastic changes to the Hart-Scott-Rodino form since the form was created in 1978. According to FTC Chair Lina M. Khan’s statement, joined by Commissioners Rebecca Kelly Slaughter and Alvaro…

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Bona Law Helps Deliver Successful 2023 Spring Meeting for the ABA Antitrust Section

Authors: Steve Cernak, Dylan Carson, Kristen Harris Back in person again, the 71st edition of the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section’s annual Spring Meeting did not disappoint and Bona Law was there for the formal and informal conversations that will help shape antitrust enforcement in the U.S. and abroad.…

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DOJ Announces New Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program Applicable to All Corporate Crimes

Authors: Jon Cieslak and Molly Donovan For the first time, there is a nationwide Voluntary Self-Disclosure Program applicable to any corporate misconduct prosecutable by a US Attorney. As detailed below, companies that make a qualifying Voluntary Self-Disclosure (VSD) are eligible for “resolutions under more favorable terms than if the government…

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Domestic Companies and Their Execs Plead Guilty to Criminal Price-Fixing

Authors: Jon Cieslak & Molly Donovan Two individuals and four of their corporate entities pleaded guilty to an antitrust conspiracy to fix the prices of DVDs and Blu-Rays sold on Amazon’s platform during the 2016-2019 time period. According to the plea agreements, the defendants “engaged in discussions, transmitted across state…

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Bid-Rigging is a Per Se Violation of the Antitrust Laws

Author: Jarod Bona You can buy and sell products or services in many different ways in a particular market. For example, if you want to purchase some whey protein powder, you can walk into a store, go to the protein or smoothie-ingredient section, examine the prices of the different brands,…

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If I Were You…I’d Listen to this Podcast about Government Investigative Subpoenas

Author: Molly Donovan A new episode of the “If I Were You” podcast is here! You can listen to it here. Featuring Bona Law partner Jon Cieslak. This Episode Is About: Investigative Subpoenas Why: In-house lawyers need to know what to do upon receiving an investigative subpoena in an antitrust…

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Antitrust for Kids: Attempted Monopolization and Meatballs

Author:  Molly Donovan Nathan is nine. His grandmother makes excellent meatballs using an age-old family recipe. Together, Nathan and grandma decide to can the meatballs and sell them to their neighbors on the north side of town—just in time for the holidays as a turkey side dish. Things went great…

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Three Strikes But Not Out: Antitrust Enforcers Swing and Miss in Recent Merger Challenges: Illumina/Grail; UnitedHealth/Change Highlights; and U.S. Sugar Corp/Imperial Sugar

Authors: Steven Cernak and Luis Blanquez Hard times for the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and Department of Justice (“DOJ”). In the last few weeks, the Biden Administration has suffered three significant antitrust loses. This is the result of the Government’s determination to try to block mergers that, despite their size,…

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Is it Time for Antitrust Lawyers to Pay Attention to Interlocking Directorates and Section 8 of the Clayton Act?

Authors:  Steven Cernak and Luis Blanquez Section 8 of the Clayton Act prohibits certain interlocking directorates between competing corporations. But while the prohibition has been around since 1914, most antitrust lawyers pay little attention to it, partly because companies can quickly resolve any issues voluntarily. Recent comments by the new…

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Updates to the DOJ’s Leniency Policy and Related FAQs: Some Changes are Good, Some Don’t Go Far Enough

Author: Molly Donovan Yesterday the DOJ’s Antitrust Division announced updates to its Leniency Policy and issued nearly 50 new FAQs, and related responses, regarding its leniency practices. One welcome development is that the new FAQs clarify some the DOJ’s positions concerning ACPERA—the statute designed to limit an amnesty company’s potential…