Recent high-profile vertical mergers such as AT&T/Time Warner, CVS/Aetna, and CIGNA/Express Scripts have thrust such vertical deals back into the antirust spotlight. There continues to be much debate about how such mergers are to be analyzed, as evidenced by the U.S. Department of Justice’s appeal of the decision in AT&T/Time Warner and by the vigorous debate at a recent Federal Trade Commission workshop discussing the need for updated agency guidelines to address vertical mergers.
This course, presented by Craig G. Falls of Dechert LLP, will address how such mergers are likely to be analyzed by the agencies, how such analysis compares to trends in antitrust analysis of vertical agreements outside the merger context, and what merging parties should do to avoid potential blind spots as to the vertical risks implicated by their contemplated transactions.
Learning Objectives:
Craig G. Falls helps companies obtain antitrust clearances for mergers and acquisitions, and defends transactions in litigation when necessary. He also advises companies on how to structure their joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and other commercial agreements to minimize antitrust risk, and has represented companies in conduct investigations by antitrust enforcers and in Sherman Act litigation brought by private plaintiffs. Craig has served clients in a wide variety of industries, including consumer packaged goods, retail and internet, supermarkets, pharmaceuticals, transportation, and energy.
Mr. Falls regularly counsels clients and has published frequently on questions concerning the application of antitrust law to distribution agreements, pricing practices, and other relationships between companies operating at different levels of the supply chain. He also has an active pro bono practice, which includes representing the homeless and victims of human trafficking, and helping to obtain a trial victory for plaintiffs challenging Wisconsin’s photo identification voter law.
Thought it would be boring, but it wasn't! Now smarter.
Content of this CLE was highly useful and thorough.
The presenter could be a little halting but the materials and his grasp of them was superb.
Excellent Presentation! Very interesting and informative Speaker!
Very comprehensive and enlightening.
Excellent presenter
Good course.
this had really good content
thanks
Very knowledgeable.
Was overall great!
Very informative and easy to understand.
Great depth and materials.
Excellent
good one
Good and timely content!
Wow, this presenter really knows antitrust law!!
best written materials I have seen in some time. Appreciate it.
Great
Thank you for a fine overview of antitrust law.
Craig did a great job!