Since the publication of “Rum and Coke: The FTC Targets Soft Drinks and Alcohol in the Revival of Robinson-Patman Act Enforcement–What’s Next?”, new developments have continued to shape the enforcement landscape of the...more
Building upon developing momentum in the courts and among commentators, government enforcers and the private bar have seen recent successes in litigation involving the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA). The FTC in April notched a win...more
The Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) has been generating a lot of buzz, with private lawsuits and high-profile moves by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). But two developments last month may signal that the RPA may be slipping back...more
When agency enforcement of the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) was revived near the end of the Biden administration, it was met with mixed reactions. Given the Republican Commissioners’ disapproval of the complaints, it came as no...more
Recently Amy Mudge and I, along with Bethany Lukitsch and Julie Singer Brady, the co-leads of our class action group, attended and spoke at the Consumer Brand CPG Legal Forum....more
Americans buy consumer packaged goods (CPG) every single day. As such, the CPG industry is on the radar of a variety of regulators and law enforcers, including federal and state antitrust enforcers. As counsel to a number of...more
The Federal Trade Commission recently sued PepsiCo, Inc. alleging that the company engaged in illegal price discrimination by providing a large retailer with unfair pricing advantages in violation of the Robinson-Patman Act....more
In a 3-2 party-line vote (Democratic majority), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) followed up its recent resurrection of the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) with another RPA suit—now, alleging price discrimination through...more
In the days leading up to President Trump’s inauguration, the Biden FTC rushed to initiate major lawsuits and to tie a bow on various antitrust policy efforts. In a series of dissenting statements, the minority Republican...more
President Trump has chosen Gail Slater to lead the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division and elevated Commissioner Andrew Ferguson to chair the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In this second installment of...more
At a public meeting held on January 15, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) summarized the Second Interim Staff Report (Second Report) stemming from its investigation into pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their...more
This month, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) filed its much-anticipated lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (“Southern Glazer’s”), alleging the alcohol distributor violated the Robinson-Patman Act...more
On December 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed its first Robinson-Patman Act case in more than 20 years, just as the White House is set to change parties and the balance of power on the FTC will swing...more
In the waning days of the current administration, the antitrust agencies continue to cross items off their holiday wish list. Since the presidential election in November, the antitrust agencies have filed a new merger...more
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) recently filed a complaint in federal court alleging Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC (Southern Glazer) violated the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), a price discrimination law....more
In a 3-2 party-line vote (Democratic majority), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for the first time in decades filed an action alleging secondary line price discrimination under the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA). The FTC's...more
On December 12, 2024, following a nearly two-year-long investigation, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) initiated its first litigation under the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) in more than two decades. The FTC sued Southern...more
On the eve of a new administration, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed its first price-discrimination action under the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA) since 2000. The FTC sued Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits LLC in US...more
On December 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, LLC (Southern) in the Central District of California for alleged price discrimination, initiating the first federal government...more
On December 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sued Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits (Southern)—the largest wholesale distributor of wine and spirits in the country—in the U.S. District Court for the Central...more
On December 12, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) filed a lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the largest distributor of wine and spirits in the U.S., alleging that Southern Glazer’s has violated the...more
With a new administration reshaping the political landscape, retailers are preparing for policy shifts that may greatly influence their operations. In this Update, we explore the potential changes and challenges on the...more
After a long hibernation, the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA)—which generally prohibits sellers from charging different prices or providing different allowances to “competing” buyers—is poised to make a comeback in agency...more
It has been a busy year for issues related to drug pricing, and with the election around the corner, litigation issues that have been developing over the last few years are likely to be a key focus for the second half of...more
Introduction A recent ruling condemning price discrimination for a popular eye drop brand is yet another reminder that companies cannot afford to ignore antitrust risk under the Robinson-Patman Act (RPA), a longstanding law...more