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On November 2, 2021, the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to block the planned $2.175 billion merger between powerhouse publishing companies Penguin Random House, LLC and Simon & Schuster, Inc.
V&E Antitrust Update
On October 13, 2021, the American Bar Association’s Section of Public Contract Law held its annual public procurement symposium to discuss important issues related to federal, state, and local government contracting.
On October 6, 2021, Jonathan Kanter, President Biden’s pick to lead the U.S. Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Antitrust Division (the “Division”) testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing.
On September 10, the newly-formed White House Competition Council (the “Council” or “Competition Council”) held its inaugural meeting, bringing together eight cabinet members and the leaders of seven independent agencies, to discuss the actions they are taking “to help lower prices for American families by boosting competition” in the U.S. economy, and to “plan the group’s priorities over the coming months.”
For many federal government contractors, their skilled and experienced workforce may be their most valuable asset. A recent “ice breaker” settlement of a class action lawsuit, however, demonstrates the wrong way to protect that asset.
V&E Antitrust Update
On August 10, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit (the “Second Circuit”) once again drew on principles of international comity to dismiss antitrust price-fixing claims against Chinese vitamin C manufacturers.
On July 26, 2021, Aon PLC (“Aon”) and Willis Towers Watson PLC (“WTW”) announced the termination of a $30 billion proposed merger, citing an “impasse” with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”).
On July 20, 2021, President Biden nominated Jonathan Kanter, founder of the Kanter Law Group, to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice (“DOJ”).
On July 9, 2021, the Biden Administration issued an “Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy” (“EO”) that seeks to “promote the interests of American workers, businesses, and consumers.”
The Department of Justice’s (“DOJ”) Procurement Collusion Strike Force (“PCSF”) chalked up several more prosecutions soon after we reported its first-ever international resolution — a guilty plea from Belgium-based G4S Secure Solutions NV (“G4S”) on June 25, 2021.
On June 15, 2021, President Biden appointed Lina M. Khan as Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) following her Senate confirmation earlier that day.