Clients facing government antitrust investigations and grand jury proceedings turn to our specialized Task Force for pragmatic and informed advice and representation. We assist parties and third parties in investigations of alleged anticompetitive conduct by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), State Attorneys General and foreign competition regulators. Corporate and individual clients trust us to guide them through sensitive criminal cartel investigations on a wide range of issues, including alleged price-fixing, bid-rigging, customer allocation and no-poach/non-solicit agreements within the U.S. and around the world.
We provide rapid response when government agents arrive unannounced for dawn raids, seeking to search and seize documents, electronic data and other potentially vital corporate information, or attempt to conduct unscheduled interviews at business locations and employee homes. We advise and assist on strategic responses to subpoenas, civil investigative demands (CIDs) and other government compulsory processes. Our deep experience as former government prosecutors and antitrust litigators allows us to assess antitrust risk in all phases of proceedings and formulate comprehensive, effective and efficient responses in bet-the-company situations.
To navigate cartel investigations, we apply a practical perspective to understand the issues and continually optimize our approach and mitigate exposure. If cooperation is the best option, we have the experience to successfully guide companies and individuals through the Antitrust Division’s Leniency Program process, to take advantage of opportunities for non-prosecution agreements or to obtain reduced sentences through deferred prosecution or plea agreements. We work with our clients to identify potential risks and recommend risk-reduction measures, as well as setting up compliance programs tailored to business needs and training. We are also prepared to aggressively defend our clients’ rights and interests in litigation, including sentencing and appeals.