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Algorithmic and AI-driven tools are increasingly shaping how employers set employee compensation. But how can employers avoid compliance pitfalls when use of these tools raises competition and other regulatory concerns? Economist Rose Healy joins Anora Wang and Subrata Bhattacharjee to discuss the legal and economic risks, as well as practical tools such as bias audits and event studies. Listen to this episode to learn how wage-setting algorithms are being used today—and what may lie ahead as these technologies evolve. With special guest: Rose Healy, Director, Resolution Economics Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Subrata Bhattacharjee, Borden Ladner Gervais

What is happening in competition enforcement in Malaysia and Hong Kong? Iskandar Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MYCC), joins Anora Wang to discuss MYCC's actions against bid-rigging, ongoing market reviews of the digital economy, and Malaysia's broader plan to consolidate competition oversight over regulated sectors like energy, with phase one targeted for completion in 2026. Next, Teenie Yu, Of Counsel at the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC), speaks with Anora on the HKCC's landmark case against a bid-rigging syndicate in the building maintenance sector, HKCC's ongoing effort before the Court of Appeal over the applicable standard of proof in competition proceedings, and the agency's creative advocacy campaign regarding information exchange. Listen to this episode to learn about enforcement developments in two of Asia's fastest developing competition jurisdictions and what practitioners should be watching in 2026. With special guests: Iskandar Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Competition Commission (MYCC) and Teenie Yu, Of Counsel, Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) Related Links: Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

Five years after the Supreme Court's AMG Capital Management decision limited the FTC's ability to seek monetary remedies under Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the agency continues to look for ways to obtain money in consumer protection and privacy cases through other authorities and theories. At the same time, it is grappling with how to define and measure consumer injuries and benefits in an increasingly data driven economy, including through its February 26 workshop on "Consumer Injuries and Benefits in the Data Driven Economy." Hosts Lexi Michaud and Anora Wang talk with Laura Riposo VanDruff from Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and Mike LeGower from NERA about how the FTC is pursuing monetary relief after AMG, whether and how it might articulate clearer guidance for quantifying harm, and what companies should expect when facing privacy and data investigations by the FTC. With special guest: Laura Riposo VanDruff, Partner, Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and Mike LeGower, Director, Nera Economic Consulting Related Links: FTC's ​"Measuring Consumer Injuries and Benefits" Workshop: Key Takeaways by Kelley Drye and Warren LLP Hosted by: Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

Hospitals, as well as insurers, have been increasingly purchasing physicians practices, home health providers, and nursing facilities. But what are the competitive implications of these acquisitions? Dr. Zack Cooper, economist and public health expert at Yale University, joins Derek Jackson and Anora Wang to discuss both the theoretical and empirical competitive harms and benefits to vertical integration in the healthcare provider market. Listen to this episode to learn more about the changing competitive landscape in this large and important sector of the economy. With special guest: Zack Cooper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Health and Associate Professor of Economics, Yale University Related Links: Are Hospital Acquisitions of Physician Practices Anticompetitive? by Cooper et al., July 2025 Zack Cooper's Congressional Testimony, Fighting Obamacare Subsidy Fraud: Is the Administrative Procedure Act Working as Intended?, December 10, 2025 Zack Cooper's Senate Testimony, Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality, and Costs, June 8, 2023 Hosted by: Derek Jackson, Cohen & Gresser and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

M&A deals impacting the EU that are not caught by standard merger control thresholds can still be reviewed under general competition law rules. But how does this work? Frédéric Manin, lawyer at Advant Altana in Paris, joins Matthew Hall and James Hunsberger to discuss the implications of the 2023 European Court of Justice judgment in the "Towercast" case. Listen to this episode to learn more about the practical implications of this judgment for lawyers and dealmakers doing M&A that touches the EU. With special guest: Frédéric Manin, partner, Advant Altana Related Links: France Autorité de la concurrence, press release, Doctolib case (6 November 2025) France Autorité de la concurrence, press release, meat-cutting case (15 May 2024) Belgium Autorité belge de la Concurrence, press release, Proximus/EDPnet case (6 November 2023) European Court of Justice, Case C-449/21 "Towercast" (16 March 2023) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider

In February 2025, new rules for the pre-merger notification requirements in the U.S. came into effect. But will a February 2026 court decision undo these changes? Daniel Rosenthal, partner at Kirkland & Ellis, joins Jaclyn Phillips and Lexi Michaud to discuss a decision vacating the new rules, the subsequent appeal, and what might happen next. Listen to this episode to learn more about how to navigate merger filings in an uncertain time. (Since this episode was recorded, the Fifth Circuit denied the FTC's motion to stay the decision vacating the new HSR Rules.  On March 19, 2026, the Premerger Office announced that the Commission is now accepting HSR filings using the Form and Instructions that were in place before the February 10, 2025, effective date of the new rule.  As always, continue to follow the case and consult a lawyer for any legal advice.) With special guest: Daniel Rosenthal, Partner, Kirkland & Ellis Related Links: OCA #297 - HSR You Kidding Me? Unpacking the New Requirements for Merging Parties in the U.S. Hosted by: Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose and Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank

Over the last few decades, prior approval requirements were considered an extraordinary remedy in merger settlements, yet their use has fluctuated in agency enforcement across recent administrations. Where do the FTC and DOJ stand in their current practice? Bilal Sayyed, a Counsel at the Cadwalader law firm, and antitrust professor and former FTC policy leader, speaks with Anora Wang and Jeny Maier about the role of prior approval provisions in modern merger enforcement and what their recent rise—and retreat—signals about agency policy. Listen to this episode to learn how prior approval differs from traditional HSR review, when agencies have relied on such provisions, and what the evolving approach means for merging parties and future dealmaking. With special guest: Bilal Sayyed, Counsel, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft Related Links: 2021 FTC Statement on Use of Prior Approval Provisions in Merger Orders Bilal Sayyed, U.S. Antitrust Agency Merger Roundup & Commentary: FTC Reverses Routine Use of Prior Approval Requirements in Merger Settlements, Trump Antitrust Leadership Continues Departure from Antitrust Merger Policies of Previous Administration (July 15, 2025) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider

States have become increasingly active participants in merger enforcement, often conducting independent analyses and, at times, intervening alongside federal agencies in high-profile cases. What goes into states' analyses and decisions to intervene? Anthony Mariano, Chief of the Antitrust Division at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, speaks with Lexi Michaud and Anora Wang about how states approach merger enforcement in parallel with the DOJ and FTC, the importance of independent state scrutiny, and, using the HPE–Juniper transaction to guide the discussion, how the Tunney Act promotes transparency and public interest oversight of federal settlements. With special guest: Anthony Mariano, Antitrust Division Chief, Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General Hosted by: Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

State attorneys general are taking a more active role in merger control, with Colorado and Washington leading the way on new "mini-HSR" notification regimes. What do these new state pre-merger filing laws require, and how should companies and practitioners navigate them alongside the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act? Assistant Attorneys General Paula Pera Czollak and Bryn Williams join hosts Puja Patel and James Hunsberger to discuss the origins of the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, lessons from the first months of filings in Colorado and Washington, key interpretive questions practitioners are raising, and what the spread of state mini-HSRs could mean for national antitrust enforcement. Listen to this episode to learn more about how emerging state-level merger notification regimes are reshaping the U.S. antitrust landscape and what companies need to know now. With special guests: Paula Pera Czollak, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Washington State Office of the Attorney General and Bryn Williams, First Assistant Attorney General, Colorado Attorney General's Office, Leader of Antitrust Unit Related Links: https://www.atg.wa.gov/premerger-notifications  Hosted by: James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider and Puja Patel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton

China's antitrust regime has evolved rapidly over the past decade. What role does economic analysis play in the actual enforcement? Anora Wang and Kathleen Hu speak with Dr. Vanessa Zhang of Compass Lexecon about the growing role of economic analysis in Chinese competition law, drawing on her experience advising China's antitrust authority and serving as a testifying expert in high-stakes cases. The conversation explores how economic evidence is developed, evaluated, and increasingly relied upon in China's evolving antitrust regime. With special guest: Vanessa Zhang, Executive Vice President, Compass Lexecon Related Links: The Complex Geopolitics of Digital Regulation: The Three Body Problem Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Kathleen Hu, Cornerstone Research

Businesses are increasingly considering the use of generative AI for work that historically relied on human creativity, including in the area of marketing and advertising. But can ads made with gen AI really be more effective than human-created ads? Professor Vilma Todri of Emory University Goizueta Business School joins Kathleen Hu and Jaclyn Phillips to discuss her recent research on the impact of visual generative AI on advertising effectiveness. Listen to this episode to learn more about how gen AI is being used in advertising and the implications for ad effectiveness and AI disclosure policies. With special guest: Vilma Todri, Associate Professor, Goizueta Business School of Emory University Related Links: The Impact of Visual Generative AI on Advertising Effectiveness Hosted by: Kathleen Hu, Cornerstone Research and Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose

In 2006, various parties came together to form Brazil's Amazon Soy Moratorium in an effort to curb illegal deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. Today, challenges regarding Brazil's Soy Moratorium continue to mount, with passionate advocacy from farmers, environmentalists, government agencies, and international organizations. What might seem a cut-and-dry conflict between free enterprise and environmental conservation becomes more complicated when we delve deeper. With an antitrust cartel investigation in limbo, a pseudo-private agreement to arguably higher deforestation standards than those instituted by the government, and international observers on the scene, including customers and climate activists, the facts surrounding Brazil's Soy Moratorium are ripe for unpacking. Our guest today is antitrust attorney Eduardo Frade, who joins Barry Nigro and Anora Wang to discuss Brazil's Soy Moratorium and the various antitrust and competition questions it raises. With special guest: Eduardo Frade, Partner, Mattos Filho Related Links: General Superintendence of the Administrative Council for Economic Defence (CADE) decides to adopt preventive measures to suspend the Soy Moratorium Hosted by: Barry Nigro, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

The past few years have been a critical time in the development of data privacy laws and the regulation of AI in the United States. As we look toward 2026, the complexities are only increasing. In this episode, the Antitrust Law Section's Privacy and Information Security (PRIS) Committee joins forces with OCA to focus on the highlights of 2025 and predictions for 2026. Hosts Alicia Downey and Anora Wang talk to PRIS Committee vice chairs Jessica Cohen of Verizon Communications and Alex Brown of Alston & Bird about why the next 12 months could redefine how AI and data privacy are regulated at the federal and state levels. In addition, listeners will hear from Jessica about being a mother of five, and get an update on Walter, a beauty pageant-winning dog, who was just a puppy when Alex was a featured guest on OCA Episode #89 back in 2020. With special guests: Jessica Cohen, Senior Counsel, Regulatory Affairs, AI, Cybersecurity & Privacy, Verizon Communications and Alexander G. Brown, Partner, Alston & Bird LLP Related Links: Kathleen Benway, Alexander G. Brown, Maki DePalo, Jennifer C. Everett, Graham Gardner & Hyun Jai Oh, "Flurry of FTC Activity Shows Enforcement Emphasis on Youth Protection," 12 PRATT'S PRIVACY &CYBERSECURITY LAW REPORT 8 (LexisNexis A.S. Pratt 2026) Alexander G. Brown & Katherine Doty Hanniford, "First 100 Days – Federal Privacy and Cybersecurity Regulation and Enforcement Under the Second Trump Administration," Alston & Bird Advisory (May 8, 2025) Our Curious Amalgam, Episode #89 What's the Deal with Data Portability? Understanding the Competition and Privacy Aspects Surrounding the Movement of Data, November 30, 2020, featuring Alex Brown Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter

The UK merger control regime is undergoing procedural and substantive changes. What is happening and what should practicioners know? John Schmidt, solicitor at Arnold & Porter in London, joins Matthew Hall and Jaclyn Phillips to discuss the changes introduced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) and the UK government. Listen to this episode to learn more about new CMA jurisdictional and procedural guidance, a strategic reform of UK merger remedies and institutional changes to phase 2 merger reviews. With special guest: John Schmidt, partner, Arnold & Porter Related Links: Arnold & Porter, UK Merger Review Reform: From Merger Mystery To Remedy Rodeo (17 November 2025) UK CMA, Merger remedies (19 December 2025) UK CMA, Mergers: Guidance on the CMA's jurisdiction and procedure (19 December 2025) UK government press release, Growth placed at the heart of regulators' remit alongside new measures to boost scrutiny and transparency (21 October 2025) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose

Blockchain and cryptocurrency promised to decentralize modern financial markets to take market power away from centralized financial intermediaries. But have they lived up to this promise? Hanna Halaburda, Associate Professor of Technology, Operations, and Statistics at NYU, joins Panos Dimitrellos and Christina Ma, to break down the layers of blockchain and the competitive forces and dynamics in these markets. Listen to this episode to learn more about the intersection of blockchain, crypto and antitrust. With special guest: Hanna Halaburda, Associate Professor of Technology, Operations, and Statistics, NYU Stern Related Links: Hanna Halaburda Articles and Research Hosted by: Christina Ma, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Panos Dimitrellos, Secretariat Economists