From the Cochairs
Maribeth Petrizzi and Ronald G. Isaac
Thanks to all who attended the two very fine programs presented by our section in the past few months. On September 24, a packed house at George Washington University Law School was treated to a lively debate between representatives of the Barack Obama and John McCain camps on the antitrust policies of the two candidates. On October 16, consumer law practitioners immersed themselves in a panel discussion at the D.C. Bar Conference Center on the fairness to consumers of mandatory arbitration provisions in consumer credit contracts. Both events were well received by those in attendance.
The coming year promises to be equally exciting. As discussed below, we plan to start 2009 with a luncheon program in January on the divergent antitrust enforcement approaches of federal and state enforcers, particularly concerning monopolization. Speakers will discuss the challenge of counseling clients in the face of inconsistent government approaches. Also in the works is a program on helping consumers through the housing and credit crisis. In February, we will present a program featuring practical information about pitfalls and recent changes in federal merger filing obligations. Please feel free to contact any Steering Committee member with suggestions for programs or activities. We always welcome your participation and ideas and look forward to hearing from you soon!
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Upcoming Section Event
February 23, 2009—Counseling Executives regarding HSR Reporting
Obligations: Common Pitfalls and Recent Changes: Come see a discussion
of merger reporting obligations of individuals, with particular attention
to employee stock ownership, management compensation and options, as well
as the responsibilities of executives in complying with corporate HSR
obligations.
Panelists: Michele Harrington, Hogan & Hartson; John Sipple, Weil, Gotshal & Manges. Moderator: Marian Bruno, FTC Bureau of Competition
Noon to 2 PM; DC Bar Conference Center, 1250 H Street NW, Washington DC (Metro Center, McPherson Square)
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Recap of Recent Section Events
January 28, 2009 – Off-the-Record
"Brown Bag” The divergent antitrust enforcement policies of
the USDOJ, FTC, and state enforcers, and the challenge of counseling clients
about those policies: Speakers at this off-the-record brown bag
discussed the challenge of counseling clients in the face of varying government
enforcement approaches.
The panelists touched on client counseling issues, the divergence between state and federal enforcement in some areas, the relatively aggressive enforcement approaches of some state attorneys general, particularly in monopolization cases, and the coordination that has occurred between the FTC and State AGs.
Panelists: Milton Marquis, Dickstein Shapiro LLP; Stephen D. Houck, Menaker & Herrmann LLP; Meredyth Andrus, Bureau of Competition, FTC. Moderator: Don Resnikoff, Finkelstein Thompson LLP
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September 24, 2008 - Antitrust and the Presidential Campaign: The Section joined with the D.C. Bar's International Law Section and the GW Law School’s Competition Law Center to present this program, a debate between McCain and Obama supporters. The event was well attended, with more than 60 people present at the GW Law School Moot Court Room and others connected by phone.
William Kolasky, a senior partner and former chair of the antitrust and
competition practice at WilmerHale, spoke as the Obama supporter. Mr.
Kolasky served as a deputy assistant Attorney General in the Antitrust
Division of the U.S. Department of Justice during the first two years
of the recent Bush Administration.
James Rill, a member and immediate past co-chair of Howrey LLP's antitrust practice group, spoke as the McCain supporter. Mr. Rill has been practicing antitrust, competition, and merger law for more than 40 years. From 1989 to 1992, he was Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.
Mr. Kolasky cited statistics to support his assertion that the Justice Department's efforts to block mergers and challenge anti-competitive conduct withered during the Bush administration. He expressed concern that John McCain would continue the trend of less government antitrust enforcement.
Mr. Rill responded, according to The Daily Deal newspaper, that,
"It's about the quality, not the quantity of enforcement." The
Deal also quoted him as saying that McCain's record "gives some
assurance that he will be a sound enforcement administrator." Mr.
Rill added that politics only rarely enters the day-to-day world of antitrust
enforcement at DOJ.
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Membership Opportunity
Section membership is not restricted to D.C. Bar members, so whether you are barred in another jurisdiction or simply an antitrust or consumer law enthusiast, we encourage you to join the Antitrust and Consumer Law Section. Non-D.C. Bar members receive major section benefits, including notifications of case law developments and invitations to section events. (Only D.C. Bar members may vote on section matters or hold section office.) To join or request information, contact Leonor Velazquez, Christine Naglieri or Don Resnikoff.
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Steering Committee
The Steering Committee members and their responsibilities are as follows:
Ron Isaac – Cochair
Maribeth Petrizzi – Cochair
Robert Bloch – CLE Coordinator
Don Resnikoff – Newsletter Co-editor, Community Outreach Coordinator, Internet Coordinator
Marian Bruno – Antitrust Law Committee Vice Chair
Sondra Mills – Consumer Law Committee Chair
Mike McNeely – D.C. Practice Manual Coordinator, Newsletter Co-editor
Karin Moore – Financial Officer
Laura Wilkinson – Antitrust Law Committee Chair
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