Our Curious Amalgam

The "dawn raid" is one of the rare moments of high drama in the work of many competition lawyers. How can you be prepared when that early-morning phone call or text from a client comes? Ashley Latham, an antitrust and government investigations litigator with Linklaters LLP, joins Matthew Hall and Matt Reynolds for a discussion of current "dawn raid" trends in the U.S. and the European Union. Tune in to learn more about what questions to ask, what issues to raise, and what you can do to help clients prepare for when authorities come knocking. With special guest: Ashley Latham, Managing Associate, Linklaters LLP Related Links: https://competition-policy.ec.europa.eu/about/news/commission-fines-international-flavors-fragrances-eu159-million-deleting-whatsapp-messages-during-2024-06-24_en https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex:62023TJ0263 Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP and Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP

The U.S. Department of Justice has made it clear that some agreements among competing employers regarding workers’ salaries or other terms of compensation--so-called “wage-fixing agreements”--may be subject to criminal prosecution. What kind of conduct falls within the scope of wage-fixing? In this episode, hosts Alicia Downey and Blair Matthews talk to Crowell & Moring partner and former senior DOJ prosecutor Ken Dintzer about the latest developments on the wage-fixing front, including the first criminal conviction for wage-fixing won at trial. Listen and learn what business enterprises and their counsel need to know about how to avoid wage-fixing violations in merger due diligence and integration planning, trade association activities, and salary survey participation. With special guest: Kenneth Dintzer, Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Blair West Matthews, Cleary Gottlieb

What happens when antitrust law meets high fashion? In this episode, experienced fashion and luxury industry counsel Andowah Newton, joins Jeny Maier and Puja Patel to unpack recent antitrust cases in the luxury and fashion industries. From the FTC’s challenge to Tapestry’s acquisition of Capri, to no-poach allegations involving Saks and major fashion houses, to tying claims against Hermès and its coveted Birkin bag, we explore how competition law is colliding with market definition, exclusivity, branding, and status. Listen in for insights on how antitrust enforcers—and the courts—are approaching consolidation, labor practices, and sales tactics in an industry where scarcity sells. With special guest: Andowah Newton Hosted by: Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP and Puja Patel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

The UK's consumer protection regime changed early in 2025. How will behavioural economics be used by the UK Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) in applying the rules? Stefan Hunt, partner at Keystone Strategy in London, joins Matthew Reynolds and Matthew Hall to discuss previous consumer protection cases investigated by the CMA and the new regime under the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024. Listen to this episode to learn more about the application of behavioural economics to consumer protection enforcement and how companies should prepare. With special guest: Stefan Hunt, Partner, Keystone Strategy Related Links: Keystone, "The UK’s New Consumer Enforcement Regime: What evidence and analysis will be used by the CMA and how firms can respond" Keystone, "The Value of Behavioural Economics in Competition Litigation – Reflections Following Le Patourel vs BT", 10 April 2025 UK CMA speech, "The CMA's approach to the new consumer enforcement regime", 30 April 2025 UK CMA guidance, "The CMA’s approach to consumer protection", April 2025 UK CMA guidance, "Unfair commercial practices: Guidance on the protection from unfair trading provisions in the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024", April 2025 Hosted by: Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP and Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP

State legislatures around United States have passed or are on track to pass legislation that requires parties to submit notice to the state attorney general or other state authority when certain transactions result in a material change in ownership. Why are states passing these laws and how are they affecting regulatory review of transactions? Axinn partner Lisl Dunlop joins hosts Alicia Downey and Rubin Waranch to discuss the expansion of state "mini-HSR laws" in detail. Listen to this episode to learn more about the ins and outs of the notice requirements and their interaction with the U.S. federal merger control regime. With special guest: Lisl Dunlop, Partner, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP Related Links: Uniform Law Commission, Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Rubin Waranch, Cooley LLP

While on site at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, the Our Curious Amalgam team recorded interviews with senior competition agency enforcers from all over the world, including Paraguay and Costa Rica. In the first segment of this episode, Alicia Downey interviews Commissioner Eduardo Barros of Paraguay's National Competition Commission (CONACOM). Following that, Matthew Reynolds speaks with Viviana Blanco Barboza, the president of the Costa Rica Commission for the Promotion of Competition (COPROCOM). Listen to this episode to hear what’s been happening in their respective agencies and what makes them happy outside of competition law. With special guests: Eduardo Barros, Commissioner, Comisión Nacional de la Competencia (CONACOM) and Viviana Blanco Barboza, President, Comisión para Promover la Competencia (COPROCOM) Related Links: National Competition Commission of Paraguay Commission for the Promotion of Competition of Costa Rica Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP

While on site at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, the Our Curious Amalgam team recorded interviews with senior competition agency enforcers from all over the world. In the first segment of this episode, Anora Wang speaks with Ellie Siu, Senior Legal Counsel of the Competition Commission of Hong Kong. Next Matthew Hall interviews Michael Aguinaldo, the Chairperson of the Philippine Competition Commission. And finally, Anora Wang checks in with Commissioner Reiko Aoki of the Japan Fair Trade Commission. You’ll hear what’s been happening in their respective agencies as well as a little bit about what makes them happy outside of competition law. With special guests: Ellie Siu, Senior Legal Counsel, Hong Kong Competition Commission, Michael Aguinaldo, Chairperson, Philippine Competition Commission, and Reiko Aoki, Commissioner, Japan Fair Trade Commission Related Links: Hong Kong Competition Commission Philippine Competition Commission Japan Fair Trade Commission Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC, Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, and Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP

Merger control and antitrust enforcement continues to develop rapidly in Africa. What is happening in the key jurisdictions of Egypt, South Africa, Nigeria and COMESA? John Oxenham, lawyer at Primerio, and Nicolas Bremer, lawyer at Bremer, join Matthew Hall to discuss developments. Listen to this episode to learn more about the status of African antitrust and merger control enforcement generally and these jurisdictions specifically. With special guests: John Oxenham, partner, Primerio and Nicolas Bremer, partner, Bremer Related Links: COMESA Competition Commission website ECOWAS Regional Competition Authority website Egyptian Competition Authority website The Competition Commission website (South Africa) Federal Competition & Consumer Protection Commission website (Nigeria) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP

While on site at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, the Our Curious Amalgam team recorded interviews with senior competition agency enforcers from all over the world, including Germany and Portugal. In the first segment of this episode, James Hunsberger interviews Andreas Mundt, the President of Germany's Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) and Chair of the Steering Group of the International Competition Network (ICN). Next, Jeny Maier's speaks with Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, the President of the Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC). Listen to this episode to hear what’s been happening in their respective agencies and what makes them happy outside of competition law. With special guests: Andreas Mundt, President, Bundeskartellamt and Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, President, Autoridade da Concorrência Related Links: Federal Cartel Office of Germany (Bundeskartellamt) International Competition Network Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC, James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP, and Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP

While on site at the 2025 Spring Meeting of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, the Our Curious Amalgam team recorded interviews with senior competition agency enforcers from all over the world, including Italy and Greece. In the first segment of this episode, Jaclyn Phillips interviews Saverio Valentino, Board Member of the Italian Competition Authority. Following that is the conversation between Panos Dimitrellos and Hara Nikolopoulou, Vice President of the Hellenic Competition Commission. Listen to this episode to hear what’s been happening in their respective agencies, and what makes them happy outside of competition law. With special guests: Saverio Valentino, Board Member, Italian Competition Authority and Hara Nikolopoulou, Vice President, Hellenic Competition Commission Related Links: Italian Competition Authority Hellenic Competition Commission Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC, Jaclyn Phillips, White & Case LLP, and Panos Dimitrellos, Secretariat Economists LLC