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Antitrust and Trade Regulation

Companies across every major industry, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food and agricultural products, finance, telecommunications, insurance, media and entertainment, energy, utilities, heavy manufacturing, healthcare, semiconductors, software, transportation and defense, rely on our premier practice for every aspect of their global antitrust needs, as well as advice on regulatory issues impacting their interests and operations throughout the world.

As enforcement and regulatory agencies engage in increased activism and cross-border cooperation, clients appreciate our in-depth understanding of how the antitrust and regulatory authorities operate. Our bench includes former senior officials, enforcement attorneys, prosecutors, and trial lawyers from the FTC and DOJ.

“A consummate team of antitrust practitioners who adeptly handle high-value merger clearance matters and government investigations conducted by the FTC, DOJ and European regulatory authorities.”
Chambers USA 2023

Government Investigations of Cartels and Competition Infringements

Domestic and multinational clients trust us to steer them through government investigations of suspected cartel and other anticompetitive activity, which can raise grave reputational and financial risks for corporations and even subject executives to risks of imprisonment. Clients benefit from our extensive experience in defending government investigations, many of which have involved multiple regulatory authorities from different regions of the world—including investigations conducted by the DOJ, the FTC, State AGs, the European Commission, authorities of various EU member states, COFECE (Mexico), JFTC (Japan), KFTC (Korea), SAMR (China), CADE (Brazil) and many others.

Our experience includes: conducting internal investigations and audits; preparing for inspections and challenging dawn raids; navigating leniency programs and government settlement processes; litigating criminal charges; and advising on governance and communications strategies.

Litigation of Private Antitrust Actions

Multinational corporations and financial institutions have turned to us for many of the highest-profile antitrust litigations of recent decades, which have involved billions of dollars in potential damages and the possibility of significant criminal penalties. Our successes in criminal and civil antitrust matters, as well as in FTC administrative proceedings, have shaped antitrust law through cutting-edge legal arguments on issues such as monopolization, price-fixing, and tying claims. 

Trade Regulation Enforcement

We advise financial institutions, private equity firms, and domestic and foreign issuers of securities on internal investigations, enforcement matters, and regulatory issues in connection with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Department of State, and the SEC. We also advise energy and infrastructure companies and private equity investors with respect to compliance issues and rate-related matters before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and state utility regulatory agencies.

Risk Management and Counseling

In addition to litigation, investigations and regulatory advice, we provide clients with risk-management assessments and ongoing counseling—advice on antitrust concerns arising out of our clients’ supply chain (e.g., suppliers, customers, competitors, contracting, etc.); designing and implementing compliance programs; and proactively identifying issues and risks.

“Simpson Thacher is an absolute leader in US, UK and EU competition law. They routinely work on the most difficult merger and commercial matters and investigations.”
The Legal 500 U.S. 2023, quoting a source

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        Spotlight on
        Simpson Thacher Matter Wins Impact Case Award at Benchmark Litigation Awards 2024
        Spotlight on
        Sara Razi Named Antitrust Litigator of the Year at Benchmark Litigation Awards 2024
        Spotlight on
        Simpson Thacher Matter Named “Merger Control Matter of the Year – Americas” at GCR Awards 2023
        Spotlight on
        Excerpt from the 11th edition of The Cartels and Leniency Review
        Spotlight on
        Antonio Bavasso Named “Hall of Fame” Leading Lawyer by The Legal 500 United Kingdom
        Spotlight on
        Global Competition Review’s “Cases and Precedents: Cartels 2023”—United Kingdom Section