Our Curious Amalgam

In 2006, various parties came together to form Brazil's Amazon Soy Moratorium in an effort to curb illegal deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. Today, challenges regarding Brazil's Soy Moratorium continue to mount, with passionate advocacy from farmers, environmentalists, government agencies, and international organizations. What might seem a cut-and-dry conflict between free enterprise and environmental conservation becomes more complicated when we delve deeper. With an antitrust cartel investigation in limbo, a pseudo-private agreement to arguably higher deforestation standards than those instituted by the government, and international observers on the scene, including customers and climate activists, the facts surrounding Brazil's Soy Moratorium are ripe for unpacking. Our guest today is antitrust attorney Eduardo Frade, who joins Barry Nigro and Anora Wang to discuss Brazil's Soy Moratorium and the various antitrust and competition questions it raises. With special guest: Eduardo Frade, Partner, Mattos Filho Related Links: General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) decides to adopt preventive measures to suspend the Soy Moratorium Hosted by: Barry Nigro, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

The past few years have been a critical time in the development of data privacy laws and the regulation of AI in the United States. As we look toward 2026, the complexities are only increasing. In this episode, the Antitrust Law Section's Privacy and Information Security (PRIS) Committee joins forces with OCA to focus on the highlights of 2025 and predictions for 2026. Hosts Alicia Downey and Anora Wang talk to PRIS Committee vice chairs Jessica Cohen of Verizon Communications and Alex Brown of Alston & Bird about why the next 12 months could redefine how AI and data privacy are regulated at the federal and state levels. In addition, listeners will hear from Jessica about being a mother of five, and get an update on Walter, a beauty pageant-winning dog, who was just a puppy when Alex was a featured guest on OCA Episode #89 back in 2020. With special guests: Jessica Cohen, Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs, AI, Cybersecurity & Privacy, Verizon Communications and Alexander G. Brown, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP Related Links: Kathleen Benway, Alexander G. Brown, Maki DePalo, Jennifer C. Everett, Graham Gardner & Hyun Jai Oh, "Flurry of FTC Activity Shows Enforcement Emphasis on Youth Protection," 12 PRATT'S PRIVACY &CYBERSECURITY LAW REPORT 8 (LexisNexis A.S. Pratt 2026) Alexander G. Brown & Katherine Doty Hanniford, "First 100 Days – Federal Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation and Enforcement Under the Second Trump Administration," Alston & Bird Advisory (May 8, 2025) Our Curious Amalgam, Episode #89 What's the Deal with Data Portability? Understanding the Competition and Privacy Aspects Surrounding the Movement of Data, November 30, 2020, featuring Alex Brown Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

The UK merger control regime is undergoing procedural and substantive changes. What is happening and what should practicioners know? John Schmidt, solicitor at Arnold & Porter in London, joins Matthew Hall and Jaclyn Phillips to discuss the changes introduced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) and the UK government. Listen to this episode to learn more about new CMA jurisdictional and procedural guidance, a strategic reform of UK merger remedies and institutional changes to phase 2 merger reviews. With special guest: John Schmidt, partner, Arnold & Porter Related Links: Arnold & Porter, UK Merger Review Reform: From Merger Mystery To Remedy Rodeo (17 November 2025) UK CMA, Merger remedies (19 December 2025) UK CMA, Mergers: Guidance on the CMA's jurisdiction and procedure (19 December 2025) UK government press release, Growth placed at the heart of regulators' remit alongside new measures to boost scrutiny and transparency (21 October 2025) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose

Blockchain and cryptocurrency promised to decentralize modern financial markets to take market power away from centralized financial intermediaries. But have they lived up to this promise? Hanna Halaburda, Associate Professor of Technology, Operations, and Statistics at NYU, joins Panos Dimitrellos and Christina Ma, to break down the layers of blockchain and the competitive forces and dynamics in these markets. Listen to this episode to learn more about the intersection of blockchain, crypto and antitrust. With special guest: Hanna Halaburda, Associate Professor of Technology, Operations, and Statistics, NYU Stern Related Links: Hanna Halaburda Articles and Research Hosted by: Christina Ma, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Panos Dimitrellos, Secretariat Economists

Billions have been claimed under the UK competition law opt-out collective actions regime since its introduction in 2015. What issues are faced by class members, class representatives and defendants? Jeremy Robinson, solicitor at Harcus Parker in London, joins Matthew Hall to discuss the regime. Listen to this episode to learn more about how it is structured, funding issues, the first damages award and the UK government's call for evidence on its operation. With special guest: Jeremy Robinson, partner, Harcus Parker Related Links: Harcus Parker, The future of the UK's competition collective actions regime, 15 October 2025 Harcus Parker, The CJC Review of Litigation Funding, 13 June 2025 UK Department for Business & Trade, Opt-out collective actions regime review: call for evidence, 6 August 2025 UK Competition Appeal Tribunal judgment, Kent v Apple, 23 October 2025 Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods

Computational methods are increasingly used by competition law regulators worldwide. But what are these and can companies also take advantage? Todd Davies, PhD candidate in competition law at University College London, joins Matthew Hall and Anora Wang to discuss the issues raised by the use of computational antitrust. Listen to this episode to learn more about the pros and cons of adoption by regulators, new tools available to companies, possible responses by regulators and key takeaways for practitioners and companies. With special guest: Todd Davies, University College London Related Links: Todd Davies, The Dark Side of Computational Antitrust: When AI is Used to Evade the Law, Kluwer Competition Law Blog (October 28, 2025) Thibault Schrepel, Computational Antitrust: An Introduction and Research Agenda (January 15, 2021) Thibault Schrepel and Teodora Groza, Computational Antitrust Worldwide: Fourth Cross-Agency Report (June 18, 2025) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

GenAI is one of the fastest-growing consumer tools in history. But what have we learned about competitive dynamics in the industry? Economists Andrea Asoni and Matteo Foschi join Jaclyn Phillips and Lexi Michaud to discuss what early economic insights can help us understand about the risks and benefits posed by the growth of AI. Listen to this episode to learn more about how the development of AI impacts market development. With special guests:Andrea Asoni, Vice President, Charles River Associates and Matteo Foschi, Vice President, Charles River Associates Related Links: Contested ground: Early competition and market dynamics in generative AI Hosted by: Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose and Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank

As pay transparency laws rapidly expand across U.S. jurisdictions, companies are facing complex intersections between labor law, antitrust compliance, and pay-equity analytics. Where are the high risk areas? Ye Zhang, a labor economist and director at Resolution Economics, joins Anora Wang and Alicia Downey to unpack how state law disclosure mandates interact with competitive dynamics in labor markets, when pay benchmarking can cross antitrust lines, and how firms can design compensation systems that are both transparent and compliant. With special guest: Ye Zhang, Director, Resolution Economics Related Links: U.S. Dep't of Justice & Federal Trade Commission, FTC-DOJ Antitrust Guidelines for Business Activities Affecting Workers (Jan. 2025) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Alicia Downey, Downey Law

Every trial tells a story — but what happens when the storyteller becomes the judge? The honorable Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II speaks with Anora Wang and Jeny Maier on his remarkable journey from public defender to federal judge, lessons on persuasion, fairness, and the fine art of trial craft, and what it really means to keep score in the pursuit of justice. Along the way, we'll talk about competition on the field and in the courtroom, the evolving role of lawyers in upholding trust in the judiciary, and how the legal profession can help protect the judiciary from rising threats. With special guest: Judge Richard Franklin Boulware II, United States District Court for the District of Nevada Related Links: Le et al v. Zuffa, LLC, No. 2:2015cv01045 - Document 839 (D. Nev. 2023) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider

The HSR rules got a major update in February 2025, shaking up the landscape for dealmakers. How have those updated rules played out in practice? In this episode, Zachary Goodwin of Ropes & Gray discusses with Amanda Hamilton and Puja Patel the challenges and lessons learned thus far from navigating the updated rules. With special guest: Zak Goodwin, Partner, Ropes & Gray Hosted by: Amanda Hamilton, NexArc Strategies and Puja Patel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton