Competition

February 21, 2025
Competition Group Of The Year: Cohen Milstein

The competition team at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC helped secure settlements worth hundreds of millions of dollars last year for groups of home sellers, mixed martial arts fighters, poultry plant workers and others, earning a spot among the 2024 Law360 Competition Groups of the Year.
February 21, 2025
Latham Promotes 19 Counsel To Partner In US, Europe & Asia

Less than three months after electing two dozen associates to the partnership, Latham & Watkins LLP said it has elevated 19 counsel from 14 offices around the world to partner, effective March 1.
February 21, 2025
Stellantis Loses €770M Auto Parts Cartel Claim

The Competition Appeal Tribunal dismissed on Friday a €770 million ($805 million) claim brought by Peugeot and other car manufacturers after they failed to show how a European car safety parts cartel caused them to pay higher prices.
February 21, 2025
Tesco Follows Rivals With Salmon Farmer Competition Claim

Tesco Stores Ltd. has brought a competition claim in London against a group of salmon producers that are also embroiled in a £675 million ($854 million) cartel claim from several other retailers in the U.K.
February 21, 2025
Mastercard Wins Green Light For £200M Swipe Fee Settlement

The Competition Appeal Tribunal said Friday it would approve a £200 million ($250 million) settlement between Mastercard and Walter Merricks to end litigation over credit card fees, despite "some concerns about how the matter was dealt with" in the lead-up to the deal being reached.
February 21, 2025
4 Banks To Pay £100M To Settle UK Bond Trading Probe

Four banks including HSBC and Morgan Stanley will pay more than £100 million ($126 million) in fines for their involvement in a cartel that shared sensitive information on trading in government bonds, the U.K. antitrust authority said on Friday.
February 20, 2025
DOJ Says Job Protections For ALJs Are Unconstitutional

The U.S. Department of Justice announced Thursday that it no longer backs long-standing job protections for administrative law judges, saying it has determined that the "multiple layers of removal restrictions" shielding ALJs are unconstitutional because they violate the separation of powers doctrine.
February 20, 2025
Generic-Drug Group Rallies Behind Appeal In Entresto Fight

A generic-drug industry group is weighing in on the Federal Circuit's move last month to revive a patent tied to Entresto, Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp's blockbuster heart drug, warning that "the pharmaceutical industry is watching this case closely."
February 20, 2025
3rd Circ. Rejects Appeal In Dog Magnet Design Spat

The Third Circuit on Thursday rejected an appeal in a case in which two businesses accused each other of stealing designs for pet-themed car magnets, saying that, because there is no final judgment in the case, one of the companies can't challenge the lower court's refusal to issue a final judgment.
February 20, 2025
DOJ Keeps Focus In Agri Stats Case Off Specific Data

A Minnesota federal magistrate judge refused Wednesday to force the U.S. Department of Justice to provide Agri Stats a line-by-line recitation of particular problematic data fields in the company's protein industry reports, finding the agency's explanations about how those reports can facilitate price-fixing are "adequately responsive."
February 20, 2025
Amazon Says FTC 'Stonewalled' Discovery In Antitrust Case

The Federal Trade Commission is relying on "boilerplate objections and untenable hyper-technicalities" to delay discovery in its antitrust suit against Amazon, the e-commerce giant said in a new motion in Seattle federal court, seeking to force the agency to hand over information about its case.
February 20, 2025
Schwab Antitrust Settlement With Investors Gets Initial OK

A Texas federal judge has granted the first green light to a settlement calling for Charles Schwab Corp. to implement an antitrust compliance program designed by an independent consultant, resolving a class of retail investors' claims they had to pay increased transaction costs for trades following the Schwab-TD Ameritrade merger in 2020.
February 20, 2025
NCAA Wins First Round In Latest Fight Over Athlete Eligibility

A University of Georgia baseball player's request for a temporary restraining order to allow him to play immediately this season was denied by a Georgia federal judge, after the NCAA argued that its eligibility policies should not be overridden without a "more fulsome" hearing.
February 20, 2025
Drug Buyers Get OK On $275M Sandoz Antitrust Settlement

Swiss drugmaker Sandoz and its subsidiaries will pay consumers, insurers and other "end payer plaintiffs" $275 million to settle class action claims that it conspired with other companies to fix the price of certain generic drugs, under a deal that got preliminary approval from a Pennsylvania federal court Wednesday.
February 20, 2025
Tenn. Player Says NCAA Waiver Denial Ends College Career

A college baseball player said he is being "irreparably harmed" by a Tennessee federal judge's decision denying his early request to override NCAA eligibility rules so he can play for the University of Tennessee for the Spring 2025 season, arguing that if the ruling is not reversed, his "collegiate baseball career will be over."
February 20, 2025
No Deal In Sight For DOJ's Case Against Amex GBT Merger

The Justice Department and American Express Global Business Travel appear unlikely to settle a government challenge to the planned $570 million purchase of CWT, according to a New York federal court filing that came just a day after the transaction got a boost from U.K. authorities.
February 20, 2025
FCPA Shake-Up May Open Bribery Loophole

New guidelines in the works for Foreign Corrupt Practices Act enforcement under President Donald Trump's administration could dramatically alter how American companies do business overseas while potentially opening the door for foreign bribery when it arguably advances U.S. interests, and the looming changes are creating an unsettled environment for attorneys who practice in the space, experts say.
February 20, 2025
Competition Group Of The Year: Cravath

Cravath Swaine & Moore LLP scored a trailblazing antitrust verdict for Epic Games when a California federal jury decided Google's Play Store illegally dominated the Android app market, making Cravath one of the 2024 Law360 Competition Groups of the Year.
February 20, 2025
Ex-Heritage Pharma CEO Disciplined Over Price-Fixing Case

The New Jersey Supreme Court has retroactively suspended the former chief executive of Heritage Pharmaceuticals Inc. from the state bar for three years over his role in a price-fixing conspiracy.
February 20, 2025
Sen. Warren Wants DOJ To Probe Disney-FuboTV Deal

Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling on the U.S. Department of Justice to "closely scrutinize" Disney's acquisition of a majority stake in the live television streamer Fubo, saying the deal raises serious antitrust concerns and could allow Disney to inflate prices.
February 20, 2025
Musk's X Seeks Cash At $44B Valuation, Plus More Rumors

Elon Musk is seeking to raise money for his social media platform X at a $44 billion valuation — the same price he paid to buy the site in 2022 — while BP is considering selling its Castrol lubricants unit for $10 billion and KKR could inject $5 billion into ailing British utility Thames Water. Here, Law360 breaks down the notable deal rumors from the past week.
February 20, 2025
Conflicts Should Block Mastercard Settlement, Innsworth Says

Litigation-funder Innsworth told the Competition Appeal Tribunal on Thursday that the negotiating process behind a £200 million ($250 million) settlement to end a mass claim against Mastercard has created conflicts of interest which mean the deal should be refused.
February 19, 2025
PVC Pipe Giant Atkore Discloses DOJ Grand Jury Probe

Atkore Inc.'s antitrust woes have grown from civil price-fixing litigation targeting the company's PVC pipe manufacturing, according to a new investor filing disclosing a U.S. Department of Justice criminal investigation.
February 19, 2025
FTC 'Independence' When Dissent Can 'Get You Fired'

The independence of agencies meant to run separately from the executive branch is on the chopping block and observers say that while the Federal Trade Commission already aligns itself with the White House to a large degree, unrestricted presidential power over commissioners could reshape the FTC in important ways.
February 19, 2025
Judge Won't Halt PBM Case Over Attack On FTC Independence

A Missouri federal judge refused to temporarily block the Federal Trade Commission's in-house case accusing pharmacy benefits managers of artificially inflating insulin prices through unfair rebate schemes, rejecting the PBMs' claims that the Trump administration's attempt to eliminate safeguards protecting FTC members from at-will presidential removal favors their attempt to stop the case.

Expert Analysis

3 Factors Affecting Retail M&A Deals In 2025

Retailers considering mergers and acquisitions this year face an evolving antitrust environment, including a new administration under President-elect Donald Trump, revised merger guidelines and a precedent set last year by a canceled $8.5 billion handbag merger, say attorneys at DLA Piper.
FTC Picks Augur Pro-Business Bent For Much Of Economy

President-elect Donald Trump's choice of two top Federal Trade Commission officials suggests a business-friendly climate for a significant portion of the U.S. economy, with noteworthy exceptions of continued scrutiny of healthcare and Big Tech companies, excluding artificial intelligence, say attorneys at BCLP.
Top 10 Legal Issues This Year For Transportation Industry GCs

General counsel must carefully consider numerous legal and policy challenges facing the automotive and transportation industry in the year to come, especially while navigating new technologies, regulations and global markets, says Francesco Liberatore at Squire Patton.
Exploring Venue Strategy For Trump-Era Regulatory Litigation

Litigation will likely play a prominent role in shaping policy outcomes during the second Trump administration, and stakeholders have several tools at their disposal to steer regulatory litigation toward more favorable venues, say attorneys at Covington.
What 2024's Noncompete Turmoil Means For Banks In 2025

A look back at the most significant legal challenges to the enforceability of various restrictive covenants like noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements in 2024 can help financial institutions address the use of these critical tools this year, say attorneys at Maynard Nexsen.
Searching For Insight On Requested Google Chrome Remedy

The potential for Google to divest its Chrome browser — a remedy requested by the Justice Department following a D.C. federal court’s finding the company is a monopolist — has drawn both criticism and endorsement, but legal precedent likely supports the former, say attorneys at Ballard Spahr.
Opinion

3 New Year's Resolutions For Antitrust Agencies To Consider

James Fredricks at Skadden rings in 2025 with his wish list for the federal antitrust agencies, starting with a provision for a presumptive safe harbor for information sharing.
FTC Focus: A Changing Of The Guard

While rigorous antitrust enforcement is unlikely to slow down at the Federal Trade Commission, the focus will undoubtedly change, including when it comes to Big Tech, as Andrew Ferguson prepares to take the reins from Chair Lina Khan, say attorneys at Proskauer.
Series

Playing Esports Makes Me A Better Lawyer

Competing in a global esports tournament at Wimbledon last year not only fulfilled my childhood dream, but also sharpened skills that are essential to my day job, including strategic thinking, confidence and networking, says AJ Schuyler at Jackson Lewis.
An Associate's Guide To Career Development In 2025

As the new year begins, associates at all levels should consider establishing career metrics, fostering key relationships and employing other specific strategies to help move through the complexities of the legal profession with confidence and emerge as trailblazers, say EJ Stern and Amanda George at Fractional Law Firm.
5 Antitrust Issues For In-House Counsel In 2025

Attorneys at Squire Patton evaluate the top areas where U.S. antitrust policy is likely to change in the next 12 months, including major challenges to the Federal Trade Commission's authority that could reshape enforcement.
Reviewing 2024's Crucial Patent Law Developments

As 2024 draws to a close, significant rulings and policies aimed at modernizing long-standing legal practices or addressing emerging challenges have reached patent law, says Michael Ellenberger at Rothwell Figg.
Series

Fixing Up Cars Makes Me A Better Lawyer

From problem-solving to patience and adaptability to organization, the skills developed working under the hood of a car directly translate to being a more effective lawyer, says Christopher Mdeway at Kaufman Dolowich.
2024 Has Been A Momentous Year For ESG

Significant developments in the environmental, social and governance landscape this year include new legislation, evolving global frameworks, continued litigation and enforcement actions, and a U.S. Supreme Court decision that has already affected how lower courts have viewed some ESG challenges, say attorneys at Katten.
Making The Pitch To Grow Your Company's Legal Team

In a compressed economy, convincing the C-suite to invest in additional legal talent can be a herculean task, but a convincing pitch — supported by metrics and cost analyses — may help in-house counsel justify the growth of their team, say Elizabeth Smith and Roger Garceau at Major Lindsey.