Our Curious Amalgam

Fiona Schaeffer, a partner at Milbank LLP with over 25 years in antitrust law, discusses how competition law can address pressing issues like climate change and AI. She shares insights about the ABA’s initiatives, emphasizing balanced regulations that encourage innovation while protecting consumers. Fiona reflects on the importance of updating guidelines for sustainability, the need for collaboration among stakeholders, and even takes a moment to enjoy the light-hearted connection between pet ownership and the complexities of life.

Nicole Kar, a partner specializing in EU antitrust law at Paul, Weiss, joins to unravel the European Court of Justice's ruling on the Illumina-GRAIL merger. They discuss the Commission's failed attempt to assert jurisdiction under Article 22 and its implications for future merger reviews. Kar highlights the uncertainty for companies regarding 'killer acquisitions' and the challenges created by revised regulations. The conversation also touches on legal certainty's importance in maintaining Europe's competitiveness, wrapped up with a humorous legal anecdote.

Luis Blanquez, a partner at Bona Law P.C. specializing in antitrust law, joins the discussion on Big Tech's challenges with AI investments amidst tightening regulations. The conversation dives into the implications of recent scrutiny on mergers and licensing deals, exploring how this might protect smaller rivals or stifle innovation. Blanquez also reflects on the shifting funding landscape for AI startups, noting the allure of big tech partnerships over traditional venture capital. Personal anecdotes add a humorous touch, showcasing his passion for competition, both in law and basketball.

The European Commission's draft guidelines on exclusionary abuses of dominance will, once adopted, be a key document when applying EU competition law. But what is in the draft? Rona Bar-Isaac, head of competition at Addleshaw Goddard in London, joins Matthew Hall and Derek Jackson to discuss the draft guidelines and a controversial European Court of Justice judgment which was released soon after the publication of the guidelines. Listen to this episode to learn more about the components of the draft, including the Commission's two-stage approach for analysing potential exclusionary abuses of dominance and the available defences, as well as the implications for the guidelines of the Google Shopping ECJ judgment that deals with self-preferencing as an abuse. With special guest: Rona Bar-Isaac, partner, Addleshaw Goddard LLP Related Links: European Commission press release 1 August 2024 consultation on draft antitrust guidelines on exclusionary abuses European Commission consultation webpage including draft guidelines European Court of Justice press release 10 September 2024 Google Shopping judgment European Court of Justice 10 September 2024 Google Shopping judgment Addleshaw Goddard 8 August 2024 briefing on draft antitrust guidelines on exclusionary abuses Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP and Derek Jackson, Cohen & Gresser LLP

Can a Big Law antitrust practitioner have a successful career as a solo or small firm lawyer? In this episode, antitrust trial lawyer Sean Gates and co-hosts Alicia Downey and Matt Reynolds talk about their experiences leaving large firms to strike out on their own in the middle of their careers. Listen to this episode to learn what motivated them to "go small," and why antitrust law offers unique challenges, opportunities, and rewards to those looking for an alternative to Big Law practice. With special guest: Sean Gates, Partner, Illovsky Gates & Calia LLP Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP

What were the cases and controversies that defined a decades-long career as an antitrust lawyer and scholar? Hosts Alicia Downey and Subrata Bhattacharjee welcome former Antitrust Law Section Chair Jon Jacobson back to the podcast to talk about his newly-published memoir of the highs and lows of litigating some of the biggest antitrust cases in U.S. legal history. Listen to this episode to learn how trial lawyers like Jon have helped to shape U.S. competition law and public policy. With special guest: Jonathan Jacobson, Partner (retired), Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Related Links: Jonathan Jacobson, My Life in Antitrust (2024) "Rock Can't Get No Satisfaction? Antitrust and Rock 'n' Roll, Our Curious Amalgam, Episode #1 (Aug. 12, 2019) Bayou Bottling, Inc. v. Dr. Pepper Co., 725 F.2d 300 (5th Cir. 1984) Sewell Plastics, Inc. v. The Coca-Cola Co., 720 F. Supp. 1196 (W.D.N.C 1989) Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Subrata Bhattacharjee, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP

Antitrust and competition lawyers have a choice of career paths, including private practice, in-house, and public sector. What about the increasingly-important area of litigation finance? Aviva Will, Co-Chief Operating Officer of Burford Capital, joins Alicia Downey and Matthew Hall to discuss her career journey from a law firm to a senior executive role at a publicly traded, global litigation finance company. Listen to this episode to learn more about Aviva's current role, the evolution of the litigation finance industry in the U.S. and elsewhere, and The Equity Project--a groundbreaking initiative designed to help increase diversity in law. With special guest: Aviva Will, Co-Chief Operating Officer, Burford Capital LLC Related Links: Burford Capital, The Equity Project Association of Litigation Funders (England and Wales) American Legal Finance Association (U.S.) International Legal Finance Association Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP

The failing firm defense can be viewed skeptically when put forward by merging parties. But when can it be used successfully to save a deal that may otherwise be found to be anticompetitive? Chris Wilson, partner in the antitrust group of Paul Weiss, joins Jaclyn Phillips and Anora Wang to discuss the current state of the failing firm defense. Listen to this episode if you want to learn more about recent cases and what facts may make a failing firm defense thrive. With special guest: Christopher M. Wilson, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP Related Links: Hospitals Defeat FTC Merger Injunction Request With a Version of the “Failing Firm” Defense Hosted by: Jaclyn Phillips, White & Case LLP and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP

The Antitrust Law Section's new Chair is a lawyer, professor, and author of countless books and articles, with decades of leadership experience in the Section. What changes will he bring? In this episode, co-hosts Alicia Downey and Puja Patel ask Steve Cernak about his unusual career path, the priorities and initiatives he is planning to pursue in his one-year term, and the legal trends that he believes will affect the Section's members and their clients. Listen to this episode to get to know Steve a little better as the leader of a global association of professionals in the fields of antitrust, competition, consumer protection, and data privacy law--and as a loyal baseball fan. With special guest: Steven Cernak, Partner, Bona Law PC Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Puja Patel, A&O Shearman US LLP

Most agree that children's online privacy is important. But how should it be protected? Ryan Durrie, Associate Director of the Cordell Institute at Washington University in St. Louis, joins Christina Ma and Anora Wang to discuss how the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (or COPPA) protects online privacy today and how it could be reformed. Listen to this episode if you want to learn about the latest policy developments in online privacy. With special guest: Ryan Durrie, Associate Director, Cordell Institute at Washington University in St. Louis Related Links: Cordel Institute for Policy in Law and Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, Comment to FTC on COPPA (Mar. 12, 2024) Neil Richards, Woodrow Hartzog, & Jordan Francis, A Concrete Proposal for Data Loyalty (2023)  Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Christina Ma, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz