Antitrust Enforcement By State Attorneys General

State Attorneys General often investigate antitrust violations – ranging from price fixing to anticompetitive mergers – in conjunction with the federal antitrust enforcement agencies (the U.S. Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission).  But recently the nation’s AGs have more frequently taken the lead, conducting their own investigations and initiating independent enforcement actions.  Are these examples of state AGs merely utilizing their own statutory authority to protect their constituents?  Are they filling a vacuum when federal authorities choose not to act?  Or are they becoming the equivalent of national regulators?  An experienced panel of antitrust practitioners and representatives from state AG offices will share their perspectives on the impact of increased antitrust enforcement by the state AGs and what businesses and their counsel need to understand about it.