Cartels may be as old as “Adam Smith’s smoke-filled room,” but in today’s world, they’re employing sophisticated tools like algorithms and AI. Enforcers continue to target price-fixing, bid-rigging and other potential antitrust violations. Skadden attorneys Bill Batchelor (partner, Brussels and London) and James Fredricks (partner, Washington, D.C.) highlight what’s changed 一 and what hasn’t 一 when it comes to cartel enforcement. They compare and contrast prosecutorial priorities and methods...

In the United States, United Kingdom and the European Union, sports leagues — from soccer to golf to ice skating — are testing the boundaries of antitrust and competition laws. Skadden attorneys Bill Batchelor (partner, Brussels and London), Karen Lent (partner, New York) and Vikram Pandit (associate, Brussels) consider the intersection of sports and competition law on both sides of the Atlantic. Courts in all these jurisdictions are grappling with high-stakes questions concerning conspiracy,...

In this episode of the "Fierce Competition" podcast, Skadden attorneys Tara Reinhart (partner, Washington, D.C.), Annie Villanueva Jeffers (partner, New York and Palo Alto) and Justine Haimi (counsel, New York) explore the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC’s) landmark ban on noncompete agreements. They discuss the FTC's rationale for the rule, as well as potential implications of the ban for businesses and enforcement challenges it may face. Tara, Annie and Justine point out the likelihood of a...

Illumina announced in December that it would divest GRAIL, the result of a merger challenge with many twists and turns both in the United States and in Europe.  In this episode of the “Fierce Competition“ podcast, Skadden attorneys Julia York (partner, Washington, D.C.), Ingrid Vandenborre (partner, Brussels) and Michael Sheerin (counsel, New York) talk about the three-year Illumina-GRAIL saga. In particular, they focus on three key areas of the Fifth Circuit's ruling that appear most likely...

Until recent years, there was barely a single collective claim in Europe, but now, things have changed. This episode of the “Fierce Competition” podcast features Skadden partners Bill Batchelor, Bruce Macaulay and Matt Martino, who explore class action lawsuits in the U.K. and U.S., focusing on the evolving role of the Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT), a new collective actions tribunal in the U.K., which is currently handling 48 live proceedings, involving a range of unique...

This episode of the “Fierce Competition” podcast features Skadden antitrust/competition partners Ken Schwartz (New York), Tara Reinhart (Washington, D.C.) and Aurora Luoma (London), who dig into the complexities behind increased antitrust scrutiny for private equity transactions. They shed light on the regulatory focus on market roll-ups, delve into recent litigation and unpack potential political motivations behind the new merger guidelines.  The Skadden team provides a guide for private...

Around the world, regulators are rapidly evolving their approaches to merger control. The landscape has become increasingly complex and fragmented. Transactions that were once straightforward now take much longer and are more likely to be challenged.  Responding to a perception that their old tools were not working as well as perhaps they should, regulators have introduced a wave of new thresholds and regimes, and also are exploring novel theories of harm and demanding larger volumes of...

From Skadden, Fierce Competition is a podcast for corporate counsel of multinational organizations who face the challenges of navigating antitrust policy and enforcement around the world. This is not another U.S. or Eurocentric antitrust podcast. We’re covering global antitrust issues, impacting the most complex industries. In today's fast-paced global economy, staying informed about antitrust developments is more crucial than ever. From digital antitrust, to the uncertainty of enforcement,...