US Antitrust Law and Enforcement

A Practice Introduction

This book is an accessible and authoritative single-volume guide to antitrust law. It provides a complete and detailed framework for United States (US) antitrust laws and the cases which interpret them. It describes how the laws are enforced, and by whom, and introduces the reader to the practice of antitrust law. In covering these topics, the book cites and discusses a large volume of US Supreme Court decisions, as well as lower court decisions and secondary sources, in order to provide an understanding of the broad principles, statutory mandates, and statements of the regulatory agencies. It provides a succinct overview and history of US antitrust law and its enforcement. Summaries of the most important federal antitrust and related statutes are provided, as the primary sources and foundation upon which antitrust case law and enforcement are built. The book then offers a narrative discussion of the principles of US antitrust law as contained in the court decisions, statutes, and enforcement guidelines, with chapters organised according to the primary statutes. These chapters cover the provisions of the Sherman Act, including the outlawing of agreements in restraint of trade and monopolization; the Clayton Act's provisions against anticompetitive mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures; the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and the regulation of premerger notification and merger clearance processes; and the Robinson-Patman Act, which prohibits certain kinds of differential pricing. Finally, it describes and outlines the activities of the four groups responsible for enforcing US antitrust law. For those unfamiliar with the law of the US, the book also provides an overview of the federal and legal systems, including the judicial decision-making process, and outlines how a case progresses through the federal courts. This is an essential and accessible guide to US antitrust law, offering clear explanations and insightful analysis of this complex legal area.