Antitrust Clearance & Merger Enforcement Conference 2023

October 24, 2023

Antitrust Clearance & Merger Enforcement Conference
New York City
October 24, 2023

In six sessions, expert panelists discussed the latest in competition law, from legal technology updates to trends from the regulators to diversity, equity & inclusion in antitrust practice. Panelists also shared insights on the future of timing agreements, the draft merger guidelines, and strategies for managing multijurisdictional mergers.

Panelists included in-house antitrust counsel from Uber, IBM, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals as well as leading outside antitrust counsel from Dentons, Mayer Brown, Baker Botts, Latham & Watkins, King & Spalding, Sidley Austin, Crowell & Moring, Baker McKenzie, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, Jones Day, and more.

Keynote Address by Tim Wu

We were honored to have Tim Wu, distinguished professor, author, and legal scholar, as our 2023 keynote speaker. As the Special Assistant to President Biden for Technology and Competition Policy (2021 – 2023), Tim Wu is widely regarded as the chief architect of the current administration’s antitrust policy. Currently the Julius Silver Professor of Law, Science, and Technology at Columbia Law School, Wu is also known for coining the term "net neutrality" before it became a federal law.

Panel Spotlights

Trends from the Regulators

The current Khan and Kanter administrations at the FTC and DOJ Antitrust have been very vocal in favor of challenging more transactions and updating the agencies’ oversight, but what has the impact been to date? This panel of expert attorneys will take a deep dive into the results to date of the potential and actual trends from the regulators.

Moderator:

Eloris Snyder – Senior Director, TransPerfect Legal

Panelists:

Ausra Deluard – Co-Chair, US Competition and Antitrust Group, Dentons
William Stallings – Partner (Co-Chair Global Antitrust & Competition), Mayer Brown LLP
Jimmy Attridge – Partner, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
Pat Pascarella – Partner/General Counsel, Bona Law

The Future of Timing Agreements

This panel of leading antitrust attorneys will delve into the evolving landscape of timing agreements, including how timing agreements impact downstream processes, both with and without their implementation. Attendees will gain insights into when and why it makes sense to go without a timing agreement, and if timing agreements will remain part-and-parcel of the Second Request process.

Moderator:

Michael Kriegal – Vice President, Consulting Services and Antitrust Practice Group, TransPerfect Legal

Panelists:

Peter Schwingler – Partner, Jones Day
Zachary Hemenway – Partner, Stinson LLP
Preston Miller – Partner, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP
Jody Boudreault – Partner, Baker Botts

The Draft Merger Guidelines

With the new Draft Merger Guidelines set to replace the Horizontal Merger Guidelines and Vertical Merger Guidelines, this panel will discuss the potential impacts on deal flow, deal scrutiny, and practice before the regulators. Attendees will learn what is in the new guidelines versus what is simply a refresh, and what the effects of these new guidelines will be.

Moderator:

Katharine Perekslis – President, eDiscovery Services, TransPerfect Legal

Panelists:

Christina Ma – Partner, Antitrust, Watchell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Matthew Kent – Partner, Alston & Bird
Eric Lipman – Director, Litigation & Global Competition, Uber
Richard Jamgochian – Senior Counsel, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

Managing Multijurisdictional Mergers

Navigate the complex waters of multi-jurisdictional antitrust investigations with our expert panel, as we delve into the challenges and strategies of managing multijurisdictional filings and clearance processes. This session will explore the key considerations in parallel proceedings and provide best practices for effectively managing parallel and/or related competition proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.

Moderator:

Stefan Nigam – Director, Consulting & Information Governance, TransPerfect Legal

Panelists:

Lindsey Champlin – Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
Teisha Johnson – Partner, Baker McKenzie
Santi Roca Arribas – Special Legal Consultant, Clifford Chance
John Davis – Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP

Legal Technology Updates

How can recent advancements in legal technology streamline Second Requests? Often the greatest obstacle to efficient merger clearance proceedings is the sheer volume of potentially relevant electronic documents. Fortunately, sophisticated AI and data analytics tools are available to streamline this process. This panel will further explore the cutting-edge technology shaping the legal space.

Moderator:

Brittany Field – Senior Director, Antitrust Practice Group & Consulting Services, TransPerfect Legal

Panelists:

Nikki Bass – Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP
Larry Briggi – Partner, Baker McKenzie
Robert Keeling – Special Legal Consultant, Clifford Chance
John Davis – Senior Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP
Jake Maslov – eDiscovery Solutions Attorney, Latham & Watkins LLP
Haylee Barney – Senior Director, Antitrust Practice Group, TransPerfect Legal

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Antitrust Practice

The good, the bad, and the ugly; stories from the trenches and lessons learned for a more inclusive antitrust bar of the future. In this session, panelists will discuss the challenges underrepresented groups face in the antitrust space, and the efforts to address these challenges both in-house and in private practice. Panelists will analyze what impacts the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action may have on DEI efforts, and more.

Moderator:

Jodi Brockington – Founder & CEO, NIARA Consulting

Panelists:

Puja Patel – Associate, Allen & Overy LLP
Andrea Rivers – Associate, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
Sara Meyers – Legal Counsel eDiscovery, Takeda Pharmaceuticals

Litigation Readiness & Consulting

Practice Groups - Dropdown

Practice Groups - Dropdown

Technology

QuickTabs - Resource Blog Quicktabs

About Block

Careers

Antitrust Clearance & Merger Enforcement Conference 2023

Antitrust Clearance & Merger Enforcement Conference 2023