Worldwide: Trade Regulation & Practices

Competition authorities worldwide are intensifying enforcement across multiple sectors, from healthcare and renewable energy to automotive and technology. How are regulatory agencies coordinating—or diverging—in their approaches to merger review, algorithmic pricing, and cross-border transactions, and what does this mean for companies navigating an increasingly fragmented global enforcement landscape?

The US Department of Justice has filed antitrust lawsuits against major hospital systems, alleging that contractual restrictions imposed on health insurers prevent lower-priced plans and stifle competition.

A federal appeals court has struck down the FTC's authority to adjudicate deceptive advertising claims through its internal administrative process, ruling that such enforcement violates constitutional separation of powers. The Fifth Circuit's decision in Intuit v. FTC requires these cases to be heard in federal court, potentially reshaping how the agency pursues advertising enforcement actions and raising broader questions about the Commission's structural constitutionality.

Crowell attorneys attended the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) 2024 Consumer Protection Spring Conference in San Francisco, California on May 15.

An increasingly common practice in American business involves requiring employees to sign covenants not to compete, usually referred to as "non-competes," with their employers or prospective employers.

The FTC passed its long-awaited final rule banning non-competes (the "Rule") yesterday, April 23rd.

This week the FTC highlighted its report on the prevalence of fraudulent business practices directed at older adults. It also announced that the Agency is seeking public comment...

In the nearly eighteen months since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many companies have had to reanalyze their export control compliance procedures, particularly with respect to countries...

A year ago, the FTC and six states filed a lawsuit against Roomster and its owners, alleging that they had posted "tens of thousands of fake positive reviews to bolster their false claims that properties listed on their Roomster platform are real, available, and verified."