ABA Section of Antitrust Law to host meetings in Brussels and Amsterdam

The American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law will make its annual trip abroad to host its annual Global Seminars Series in Brussels, Belgium, on May 4, and the inaugural Global Private Litigation Conference May 7-8 in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The Global Seminar Series is designed to develop and maintain the Section of Antitrust Law's involvement with the competition and consumer protection bar across the globe. The highlight event will be a panel discussion from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.: "Broadening the Innovation Theory of Harm in Merger Review - Moving from the Specific to the Speculative?" - Panelists will explore how competition law enforcement is developing the concept of an industry-wide reduction in innovation as a basis for intervening in merger cases. Counsel in recently decided cases will share their experience and thoughts in an open discussion on these developments. Speakers include moderator Frank Montag, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Brussels; Fiona Carlin, Baker McKenzie, Brussels; Christopher J. Cook, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Brussels; Thomas Deisenhofer, European Commission, DG Competition, Brussels; and Frederic Depoortere, Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom LLP, Brussels. The Global Private Litigation Conference will feature private plaintiff and defense litigators as well as government enforcers, economists, corporate counsel and academics from around the world. The luncheon will feature a discussion between United States District Judge Susan Illston, Northern District of California, and Sir Peter Roth, President of the United Kingdom's Competition Appeal Tribunal. Program highlights include: - "The Role of Private Enforcement" - In answering the question, Why private enforcement?, this panel will focus on how best to achieve goals of compensation and deterrence, analyzing perceived abuses in the U.S. system and proposed solutions, including the approach of the European Union Directive. Speakers include Kris Dekeyser, acting director, Policy and Strategy Directorate, European Commission Directorate General for Competition, Brussels; Konrad Ost, vice president, Bundeskartellamt, Bonn; and Brent Snyder, acting Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. - "Collective Actions Across the Globe" - The experts provide a nuts-and-bolts examination of developing approaches to collective actions, including a review of implementing statutes in EU member states during 2016, and discussion of significant opt-out or opt-in actions. Speakers include Ellen Braun, Allen & Overy LLP, Hamburg, Germany: Nicholas Heaton, Hogan Lovells International LLP, London; and Maarten Schinkel, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam. - "Public and Private Interface" - Potentially game-changing questions: What is the potential for discovery of government files under the EU directive, what stay issues may arise, what collateral estoppel effect arises from European Commission findings? Speakers include Albrecht Bach, Oppenländer Rechtsanwälte, Stuttgart, Germany; Jay L. Himes, Labaton Sucharow LLP, New York, N.Y.; Belinda Hollway, Scott + Scott LLP, London; Lisa M. Phelan, chief, National Criminal Enforcement Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. Published: Fri, Apr 28, 2017