
Our Curious Amalgam
Our Curious Amalgam explores topics in antitrust, competition, consumer protection, data protection, and privacy law around the world with leading experts in those areas. It is an amalgam because it is a group of diverse topics all in one place. It is curious because it gets the experts and asks them in-depth questions.
Latest episodes

5 snips
Feb 24, 2020 • 34min
#30 How Do I Build It? Practical Tips for Expanding Your Network.
How can you build your network in the complex field of antitrust law? And where do you find the time and energy to do it? Join Karen Wickre, author of Taking the Work Out of Networking: An Introvert’s Guide to Making Connections That Count, as she speaks to Deona Kalala and John Roberti about how to integrate social media into your daily practice. Listen to this program if you want to learn more about using social media and other tools at your disposal to build your brand within our competitive field. Related Links: https://karenwickre.com/ Hosted by: Deona Kalala, Alston & Bird LLP and John Roberti, Allen & Overy LLP

12 snips
Feb 17, 2020 • 36min
#29 What Does a Price Fixer Look Like? Understanding the Profile of Criminal Antitrust Defendants
Anna Pletcher and Heather Nyong’o, both former DOJ antitrust prosecutors, dive into the intriguing world of price-fixing crimes. They discuss the surprising gender dynamics at play, revealing why most defendants are men and sharing insights about the one female price-fixer they prosecuted. The episode explores the psychological and cultural factors driving these individuals and emphasizes how corporate diversity can mitigate unethical behavior. Personal stories add a light-hearted touch, showcasing their unexpected journeys and reflections on youth.

17 snips
Feb 10, 2020 • 32min
#28 Why All is Not Fair? Four Tips for Complying with Established FTC Advertising Principles.
Lesley Fair, a senior attorney at the FTC’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, dives into the legal pitfalls of advertising. She uncovers common traps like 'perception deception' and 'disclosure delusion,' showcasing real examples that highlight misleading claims. The conversation emphasizes the importance of transparency and truthful advertising, especially in health claims. Plus, the hosts indulge in a fun chat about their favorite TV shows, contrasting British and American series for some light-hearted entertainment.

21 snips
Feb 3, 2020 • 35min
#27 Why Does it Matter? The Role of Big Data in Antitrust.
The relationship between Big Data and Antitrust has been a hot topic recently. In this episode, University of Florida Law Professor and White & Case Senior Advisor Daniel Sokol talks with hosts John Roberti and Sergei Zaslavsky about this important subject, combining his genuine expertise, eclectic erudition, and unique panache. Any Big Data podcast can provide an explanation of the four Vs and network effects; this one mixes in Fiddler on the Roof, Woody Allen, Werner Herzog, and Joseph Schumpeter's thesis advisor. Listen to this episode for an engaging conversation that is educational and entertaining in equal measure. Related Links: The Four Vs of Big Data Daniel Sokol and Roisin Comerford, Antitrust and Regulating Big Data Hosted by: John Roberti, Partner, Allen & Overy and Sergei Zaslavsky, Counsel, O'Melveny & Myers

15 snips
Jan 27, 2020 • 29min
#26 What's the Impact? The Role of Economists in Explaining Injury and Impact in Competition Cases.
What is the role of an economist in identifying harm? ABA Antitrust Law Section Economics Co-Chair Dr. Laila Haider talks to Christina Ma and John Roberti about the role of economists in antitrust matters and their particular importance in identifying harm to consumers. Listen in to this episode to learn more about how economists and lawyers work together on cases. There will be no math on the test. Hosted by: Christina Ma, Associate, Wachtell Lipton and John Roberti, Partner, Allen & Overy LLP

8 snips
Jan 21, 2020 • 32min
Breaking News Special: Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines
On January 10, the Federal Trade Commissions and the Department of Justice released Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines. In this Breaking News Special, ABA Antitrust Law Section Mergers Committee Co-Chairs Michael Keeley and Joanna Tsai join hosts John Roberti and Sergei Zaslavsky to share their initial reactions to the Guidelines. Listen to this episode to learn about vertical theories of harm, quasi safe harbors, and EDM (hint - it's not electronic dance music). Related Links: Draft Vertical Merger Guidelines Hosted by: John Roberti, Partner, Allen & Overy and Sergei Zaslavsky, Counsel, O'Melveny & Myers

6 snips
Jan 20, 2020 • 30min
#25 Are You Paying The Right Drug Price? The Role of Antitrust in Prescription Drug Pricing.
Are prescription drug prices too high and can antitrust and competition law be used to regulate the “right” price? NYU professor Harry First and Lauren Rackow will talk to John Roberti and Ricardo Woolery about the recent trend of increasing prescription drug prices, whether the “right” price exists, and whether antitrust and competition law have tools to regulate these prices. Listen to this episode to learn more about how competition experts think about high drug prices and calls for greater antitrust and competition law enforcement to regulate them. Related Links: Harry First, Excessive Drug Pricing as an Antitrust Violation, 82 Antitrust Law Journal 701 (2019) U.S. Dep't of Justice, Competition and Monopoly: Single-Firm Conduct Under Section 2 of the Sherman Act, Chapter 1 (2008) A Brief Overview of the Federal Trade Commission's Investigative, Law Enforcement, and Rulemaking Authority, Section II(2) Overview of Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union Hosted by: John Roberti and Ricardo Woolery

19 snips
Jan 13, 2020 • 32min
#24 What the Oyez? The Current Supreme Court and Antitrust
The U.S. Supreme Court is no stranger to antitrust law. Jaime Santos, a partner in Goodwin Procter's appellate group, joins Christina Ma and John Roberti to explore recent Supreme Court antitrust cases, including FTC v. Actavis, Ohio v. American Express, and Apple v. Pepper. Listen to this episode to learn more about how the changing Supreme Court bench is likely to impact antitrust cases in the years to come. Related Links: Apple v. Pepper SCOTUS decision Ohio v. American Express SCOTUS decision FTC v. Actavis SCOTUS decision FTC/DOJ Rift Over Qualcomm Hosted by: Christina Ma, Associate, Wachtell Lipton and John Roberti, Partner, Allen & Overy LLP

Jan 6, 2020 • 25min
#23 How Do You Connect to Lead? Using Social Media to Enhance Your Practice
Social media is convenient and gets people connected, but how can the legal profession use it effectively, and for what purposes? Should lawyers try to be influencers? Marketing professionals Nancy Myrland & Valentina Escobar-Gonzalez speak to John Roberti and Anora Wang about how lawyers, economists, and scholars alike can use social media in personal branding, reaching out to desired audiences, and more. Listen to this episode to learn how to use social media to enhance your practice and become a leader. Related Links: Mark Schaefer on "Only We" Hosted by: John Roberti, Partner, Allen & Overy LLP (Washington DC office) and Anora Wang, Associate, Winston & Strawn LLP (Washington DC office)

10 snips
Dec 23, 2019 • 26min
#22 Is the Price Right? Understanding Price Vertical Restraints in the United States.
U.S. law involving the enforcement of vertical price restraints has softened in the last 10 years. But that does not mean that they are not traps that must be avoided. John David Evans, the chair of the Pricing Conduct Committee at the Antitrust Law Section, speaks to John Roberti and Elyse Dorsey about where the lines are regarding companies enforcing pricing policies down the chain of distribution. Listen to this program if you want to learn more about the risks of vertical pricing policies. Related Links: ABA Pricing Conduct Committee Hosted by: John Roberti, Allen & Overy LLP and Elyse Dorsey, Federal Trade Commission