Our Curious Amalgam American Bar Association

The preservation of competition in agricultural markets has been identified as as one of the Biden Administration's highest enforcement priorities. In this episode, co-hosts Alicia Downey and Barry Nigro talk to Professor Kelly Nuckolls of the University of Arkansas School of Law about recent enforcement actions and rulemaking efforts targeting anticompetitive practices in the agriculture sector. Listen to this episode to learn about the DOJ Antitrust Division's case against benchmarking service provider Agri Stats based on allegedly collusive information-sharing, and the Division's renewed interest in enforcing the Packers and Stockyards Act of 1921--a federal statute with the potential to support challenges to unfair conduct that the Sherman Act might not reach.
With special guest:
Kelly Nuckolls, Assistant Director and Visiting Assistant Professor of Law for the LL.M. Program in Agricultural and Food Law, University of Arkansas School of Law
Related Links:
Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA), Inclusive Competition and Market Integrity Under the Packers and Stockyards Act, 9 CFR 201.302-201.390 (Mar. 6, 2024)

Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of Agriculture (USDA), Transparency in Poultry Grower Contracting and Tournaments, 9 CFR 201.2-201.4 (Nov. 28, 2023)

Wheeler v. Pilgrim's Pride Corp., 591 F.3d 355 (5th Cir. 2009)


Hosted by:
Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLC and Barry Nigro, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP

Not many antitrust lawyers have a front row seat to competition law and policy around the globe. But have you met Krisztian Katona? Krisztian Katona, an international competition lawyer, speaks with Anora Wang and Jaclyn Phillips about the trajectory of his career, insights about competition law and trends, and how the ABA provides opportunities for international lawyers.
With special guest:
Krisztian Katona, Computer & Communications Industry Association
Hosted by:
Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Jaclyn Phillips, White & Case LLP

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

In April 2024, the Our Curious Amalgam team interviewed international competition law regulators while on site at the ABA Antitrust Law Section's Annual Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C. In this episode, Anora Wang talks to Samuel Chan, Chairman of the Hong Kong Competition Commission, and Commissioner Reiko Aoki of the Japan Fair Trade Commission. Listen to what they had to say about their respective agencies' major achievements of the past year and current and future enforcement priorities, while also getting to know them a little better as people.
With special guests:
Samuel Chan, BBS, JP, Chairman, Hong Kong Competition Commission and Reiko Aoki, Commissioner, Japan Fair Trade Commission
Related Links:
Hong Kong Competition Commission
Educational short videos produced by the Hong Kong Competition Commission
Japan Fair Trade Commission
Hosted by:
Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP