Antitrust & Trade Regulation

McGuireWoods’ global team of antitrust and competition lawyers excels at finding creative, practical ways for clients to compete aggressively while minimizing risks. Recognized individually and as a practice by Chambers, U.S. News-Best Lawyers, Legal 500 and Global Competition Review, our lawyers strategically guide clients through antitrust and competition challenges. We handle civil antitrust disputes, criminal cartel investigations and transactions clearance, and counsel on business and compliance issues and international competition laws.

Our team includes a past chair of the American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law, and many of our lawyers currently hold leadership positions with the organization. Global industry and legal publications and media outlets such as Corporate Briefing, Law360,Journal de droit européen, and L'observateur de Bruxelles seek us out for insight on antitrust and competition-related legislative, regulatory and judicial developments.

We serve clients as business counselors, trial lawyers and agency professionals throughout the world in virtually every significant area of antitrust and competition law, including:

  • Antitrust counseling, audits and compliance programs
  • Antitrust litigation, government investigations and class actions
  • Grand jury investigations and criminal prosecutions
  • International cartel investigations
  • Merger and acquisition clearance
  • European competition law

Experience

  • REPRESENTATIVE MATTER

    Obtained total dismissal of claims against health care plan

    Representation of a health care plan that was sued by The American Chiropractic Association, the Virginia Chiropractic Association and several chiropractors. The plaintiffs alleged a conspiracy in violation of the federal and state antitrust laws, attempted monopolization, a RICO violation, tortious interference, a common law conspiracy, breach of contract, and violation of state law. Obtained a total dismissal of all of the plaintiffs' claims through a summary judgment motion, which subsequently was affirmed by the Fourth Circuit.

  • CASE STUDY

    Federal court upholds constitutionality of exclusive provider status for Manpower

    McGuireWoods recently obtained dismissal of a constitutional challenge to a contract awarded to McGuireWoods' client Manpower. Manpower won a contract from the State of South Dakota which designated Manpower as the exclusive staffing provider to South Dakota’s WINS program. The WINS program is designed to attract out of state workers to South Dakota, where there is a shortage of skilled labor. South Dakota businesses who qualify for the program are permitted to use Manpower to search for out of state workers for a state-subsidized placement fee. The state also provides Manpower with a stipend to start up the program. more >>

  • REPRESENTATIVE MATTER

    Defeated summary judgment in a civil antitrust lawsuit alleging illegal tying, bundling, and exclusive dealing

    Representation of an ambulatory surgery center in civil litigation in which it alleged the defendant hospital used anticompetitive tying and bundling to secure an exclusive contract from the area's largest employer self-funded health plan.  The case settled after the antitrust claims survived the defendant hospital's motion for summary judgment.

  • REPRESENTATIVE MATTER

    Defended client in criminal price fixing investigation by the DOJ and follow-on civil litigation.

    Representation of a domestic ocean container shipping company in a criminal investigation by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice of price-fixing of ocean transportation rates  and defense of related treble-damage actions brought by customers seeking to recover damages as a result of the alleged conspiracy.

  • REPRESENTATIVE MATTER

    Guided clients through the global merger control regime maze

    Counsel on various transactions subject to the EU Merger Regulation, including phase one and two clearances subject to remedies. Sectors include construction machinery, agricultural machinery, process machinery, transport, healthcare, electronic equipment and chemicals. Counsel on various transactions reviewed under the UK merger control and public interest rules, including phase one and two clearances subject to remedies. Sectors include process machinery, transport, chemicals, defence and retail. Counsel on a large number of multi-jurisdictional merger control matters on a worldwide basis, including obtaining clearances subject to remedies.

Team Leaders

Full Team
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