Antitrust laws affect almost every company that does business in the United States, regulating relations with their markets, competitors, suppliers and customers. These laws are serious. Violations trigger serious consequences.
Duane Morris' corporate antitrust practice can help companies with essential guidance on antitrust counseling, M&A transactions and merger clearance, and antitrust training and audits.
Antitrust Counseling
Antitrust law's reach extends to most companies doing business in the United States, even those in so-called "exempt" industries, which are almost always governed by competition law through some agency regulation. Inadvertently violating antitrust law carries great risks from government or private action. Like many other areas of law, it is prudent to understand the law so you can plan your business operations to minimize risk.
Lawyers at Duane Morris regularly advise companies on all antitrust market-conduct issues, including:
- pricing
- price discrimination
- product distribution
- dealer terminations
- standard setting
- trade association activity
- relationships with competitors
- refusals to deal
- information exchanges
Our attorneys work with clients' in-house lawyers and executives to create an economical program that fits the business' needs.
M&A Transactions and Merger Clearance
Duane Morris attorneys have counseled companies of all sizes, including Fortune 100 companies, on domestic and international merger clearance issues.
We have cleared extraordinarily complex and disputed mergers before the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), well as in the European Union, and have supervised both U.S. and international antitrust clearances in 75 countries. We also provide integration planning and guidance. Our antitrust attorneys have worked in all sorts of industries, such as biotech; insurance; Internet; recorded music; and energy, including oil, gas, LNG, pipeline, coal, electric generation and electric transmission.
Planning the antitrust aspects of a merger starts as soon as the parties consider the project. Duane Morris lawyers can offer essential preliminary advice to get the deal started on the right path.
Antitrust Training and Audits
It is vital for businesses to have an antitrust policy, ensure that executives and employees are trained in antitrust compliance and periodically check that the policy and training are producing the right results. Our lawyers are experienced with helping companies set up an antitrust policy, and they can also provide essential training through in-house seminars for your legal staff and employees.
Of course, the best corporate antitrust policy is of no use if businesses do not comply with it. We help clients manage periodic audits to make sure employees respect and observe the antitrust policy.
Antitrust Litigation and Other Services
In addition, Duane Morris has litigators experienced in contentious antitrust matters, ranging from claims of price-fixing and attempted monopolization to grand jury investigations and class actions. The firm also has superior bench strength in intellectual property, bankruptcy, healthcare, employment law and many other disciplines.
For More Information
For more information on Antitrust Clearance and Compliance, please contact Sean P. McConnell or any of the group members referenced in the Attorney Listing.