The Obama Trials: the US antitrust agencies in the courtroom, 2009-2017

Our new essay collection, The Obama Trials: the US antitrust agencies in the courtroom, 2009-2017, describes in vivid detail the lawsuits and courtroom battles that have defined the antitrust legacy of President Barack Obama.

Built around his campaign trail promise to reinvigorate antitrust enforcement in the US, the book explores in a dozen chapters whether and how that promise was kept - from the early structural reorganization of the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division, to the near-unprecedented string of courtroom victories by it and the Federal Trade Commission.

Each chapter is divided into three sections, providing the reader a unique perspective on the legacy of a case or group of cases that Obama-era antitrust enforcers took to trial.

The chapters also include an essay written by current and former GCR reporters and editors who had on-the-ground experience covering Obama Administration antitrust trials in court.

The entire collection is assembled and curated by GCR's Editor-at-large, Ron Knox, who watched the Obama era of antitrust enforcement unfolding during his decade as a reporter and editor for the magazine.

Chapters: 

Introduction

• Preface
  • Ron Knox
• Introduction
  • Christine Varney, Cravath Swaine & Moore

Changes and H&R Block

• Blocking Block
  • Lawrence Buterman, Latham & Watkins LLP
• A new dawn 
  • Ron Knox
• Changes and H&R Block: Stories from the GCR Archives

AU Optronics

• United States v AU Optronics et al
  • Peter K Huston, Sidley Austin LLP
• Frank Peake
  • Ron Knox
• AU Optronics: Stories from the GCR Archives

Bazaarvoice

• Reflections on US v Bazaarvoice
  • Jim Tierney, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe
• The Looming Threat: Amazon’s role in US v Bazaarvoice/PowerReviews
  • Pallavi Guniganti
• Bazaarvoice: Stories from the GCR Archives

Steris/Synergy

• STERIS: the limits of imagined competition
  • John M Majoras and Aaron Healey, Jones Day
• The outlier
  • Yasmine Harik, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
• Steris/Synergy: Stories from the GCR Archives

The Healthcare Challenges

• Call it a comeback, now that they’ve been here for years
  • Matthew J Reilly, Sarahi Padilla and Michael DeRita, Kirkland & Ellis International LLP
• Dual focus
  • Alex Wilts
• Healthcare industry fosters consolidation concerns
  • Pallavi Guniganti

American Express

• US v American Express
  • Ethan Glass, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan LLP
• The dogs of class war: US v American Express 
  • Pallavi Guniganti
• American Express: Stories from the GCR Archives

Staples/Office Depot

• Staples/Office Depot, Round 2
  • Deborah Feinstein, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
• The “decision”
  • Charles McConnell
• Staples/Office Depot: Stories from the GCR Archives

McWane

• In the Matter of McWane
  • Edward Hassi, O'Melveny & Myers
• America First: the Federal Trade Commission trial of McWane
  • Pallavi Guniganti
• McWane: Stories from the GCR Archives

Sysco/US Foods

• FTC v Sysco/US Foods
  • Stephen Weissman, Baker Botts LLP
• Learning on the job
  • Harry Phillips
• Sysco/US Foods: Stories from the GCR Archives

Apple

• United States v Apple
  • Mark Ryan, Mayer Brown
• Apple: Stories from the GCR Archives

Conclusion

• Conclusion
  • Bill Baer, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer