The EU's merger control law--the Merger Regulation--was revised in 2004, and 2024 is therefore the 20th anniversary of the changes. What prompted those changes? Sir Philip Lowe, Director-General of the European Commission's Directorate-General for Competition from 2002-2010, joins Matthew Reynolds and Matthew Hall to discuss the background to the changes and what else in EU merger control changed at the time. Listen to this episode to learn more about the basis for the current EU regime and Sir Philip's views on other topical merger control issues.

With special guest:

Sir Philip Lowe, Partner, Oxera Consulting

Related Links:

European Commission Mergers Website Page
Court of First Instance judgment in Airtours
Court of First Instance judgment in Tetra Laval/Sidel
Court of First Instance judgment in Schneider/Legrand

Hosted by:

Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP and Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP

An important component of U.S. consumer protection law includes the regulation of endorsements, a form of advertising where someone other than the seller of a product or service—such as an athlete, a celebrity, or an influencer—is compensated to promote that product or service. In this episode, co-hosts Alicia Downey and Matt Reynolds talk to consumer protection lawyer Caiti Zeytoonian about the Federal Trade Commission’s Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising, which were significantly updated in June 2023 to reflect the rising power and ubiquity of social media influencers. Listen and learn how the new guidance is making a difference in the rapidly evolving world of online endorsements.

With special guest:

Caiti Zeytoonian, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP

Related Links:

16 CFR Part 255, Guides Concerning Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising
Disclosures 101 for Social Media Influencers
The FTC Endorsement Guides: What People Are Asking (FAQs)

Hosted by:

Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Matthew Reynolds, Huth Reynolds LLP

While on site at the ABA Antitrust Law Section's Annual Spring Meeting in April 2024, the Our Curious Amalgam team sat down with competition regulators from around the world to talk about their current and future enforcement priorities. We also got to know them a little better as people. In this episode, Alicia Downey finds out what's happening in New Zealand with Andrew Riseley, the General Counsel and General Manager of the Legal Services branch of the New Zealand Commerce Commission. Following that is Alicia's interview with Joshua Sherman, the Chief Economist of the Israel Competition Authority. The episode concludes as Jaclyn Phillips speaks with Tina Søreide, the General Manager of the Norwegian Competition Authority.

With special guests:

Andrew Riseley, General Counsel/General Manager Legal Services, New Zealand Commerce Commission, Joshua Sherman, Chief Economist, Israel Competition Authority, and Tina Søreide, General Manager, Norwegian Competition Authority

Related Links:

New Zealand Commerce Commission

Israel Competition Authority

OCA Episode #175, Who Is Michal Halperin? Meet the Former Director-General of the Israeli Competition Authority

Norwegian Competition Authority

Hosted by:

Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Jaclyn Phillips, White & Case LLP