Antitrust practitioners, enforcers and industry professionals came together in Washington, D.C. for the 64th installment of the ABA Section of Antitrust Law’s annual Spring Meeting. The Spring Meeting provides a look at the year that was and predictions for the year to come. Proskauer was again on the scene to provide the key learnings and takeaways for every antitrust advisor and business to add to their tool kit.
Apropos of the current climate of antitrust enforcement, during the first day of events the DOJ announced that it brought suit to block the merger between Halliburton and Baker Hughes. In her keynote speech shortly after the announcement, Attorney General Loretta Lynch challenged the merger, and commented that the DOJ stands ready to see cases through to trial, and will remain vigilant in protecting competition. The theme of the keynote speech was echoed by comments throughout the week from other DOJ colleagues and their Federal Trade Commission counterparts highlighting the agencies’ willingness to challenge conduct and transactions viewed by the agencies as anticompetitive. To read more, please see our recent client alert.