A substantial body of modern academic and popular commentary argues that U.S. federal antitrust policy since the 1970s failed badly by tolerating significant increases in concentration, including the emergence of dominant firms in many commercial sectors. This critique calls for a significant redirection of policy to control mergers more severely, to attack improper exclusion by dominant enterprises, and, perhaps, to deconcentrate certain industries.
This symposium brings together academics and practitioners who have served in leadership positions at the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission at various times since 1980. The participants will assess the performance of federal enforcement policy over the past three decades and discuss possible refinements going ahead.
Agenda
2-2:15 pm: Welcome and Introduction
- William E. Kovacic, Professor, The George Washington University Law School
2:15-3:45 pm: Antitrust Goals (and Is Big Bad)?
- Kevin J. Arquit, Partner and Co-Head, Antitrust/Competition Practice, Weil
- Bill Baer, Partner, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
- Aviv Nevo, Professor, University of Pennsylvania
- James Rill, Senior Counsel, Baker Botts
- Jeff Schmidt, Partner, Linklaters
- William E. Kovacic, Professor, The George Washington University Law School (Moderator)
4-5:30 pm: Do we need to change statutes, case law, or agency practice for effective enforcement in mergers and conduct?
- William Blumenthal, Partner, Sidley
- Debbie Feinstein, Partner and Head, Global Antitrust Group, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer (Invited)
- Andrew I. Gavil, Professor, Howard University School of Law
- Renata B. Hesse, Partner, Sullivan & Cromwell
- Jon Leibowitz, Partner, Davis Polk
- D. Daniel Sokol, Professor, University of Florida Levin College of Law (Moderator)
5:30-6 pm: Closing Remarks and Discussion
- D. Daniel Sokol, Professor, University of Florida Levin College of Law
RSVP
Media interested in attending should contact Kara Tershel at 202.994.0616 or [email protected].
Background
GW Law, long recognized as one of the top law schools in the country, pursues a distinctive research and learning mission that engages the leading law and policy questions of our time and provides students with an education that will position them to help change the world. Accredited by the American Bar Association and a charter member of the Association of American Law Schools, GW Law was founded in 1865 and was the first law school in the District of Columbia.