#324 Is Green the New Black? Greenwashing and Consumer Protection in the Fashion Industry
Sustainability claims are everywhere in the fashion industry — but how can consumers tell what’s real and what’s greenwashing? Baker McKenzie attorneys David Baay and Katia Boneva-Desmicht join Jeny Maier and Puja Patel to discuss civil litigation in this space, as well as government enforcement efforts on both sides of the Atlantic, from the FTC’s Green Guides review to the European Commission’s Green Claims Directive. Listen to this episode to learn how fashion brands are navigating increasing legal scrutiny around environmental marketing. With special guests: David Baay, Partner, Baker McKenzie and Katia Boneva-Desmicht, Partner, Baker McKenzie Hosted by: Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP and Puja Patel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP
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#323 What’s Happening in the EU? A Conversation With DG COMP Director-General Olivier Guersent at the 2025 Antitrust Spring Meeting
The 2025 Spring Meeting of the ABA Antitrust Law Section offered the Our Curious Amalgam team a chance to speak with competition law enforcers from around the world. In this episode, host Matthew Hall asks Olivier Guersent, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Competition of the European Commission (DG COMP), about what’s been happening in the European Union since we interviewed him at the 2024 Spring Meeting. Listen and learn about DG COMP’s current and recent work and what competition law policy and enforcement trends the Director-General sees on the horizon. With special guest: Olivier Guersent, Director-General, Directorate-General for Competition, European Commission Related Links: European Commission DG COMP website 2024 Spring Meeting interview with Olivier Guersent 2023 Spring Meeting interview with Olivier Guersent 2022 Spring Meeting interview with Olivier Guersent Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP
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#322 Prices on Your Mind? Using Economics To Understand Inflation, Tariffs, and Junk Fees
We are seeing some swirling changes to the marketplace and international trade that affect prices of goods and services in our daily lives. How can economics help us cope and understand underlying concepts such as cost pass-through? Anne Catherine Faye, Vice President at Analysis Group, speaks to James Hunsberger and Anora Wang about inflation, tariffs, and junk fees, as well as her experience as the first economist to serve as Counsel to the Chair of the ABA Antitrust Section. Listen to this episode to see key antitrust issues on the horizon through an economic lens. With special guest: Anne Catherine Faye, Vice President, Analysis Group, Inc. Related Links: Robert A Ritz, Does competition increase pass-through? The RAND Journal of Economics, 55: 140-165 (2024) Jason Douglas et al., How Much Do Tariffs Raise Prices? The Wall Street Journal (Mar. 2, 2025) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLPÂ and James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP
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#321 What Is Happening at the UK CMA? Impact of the Government’s New Approach
The UK government elected in 2024 has a "growth" agenda and is pushing regulators including the UK Competition and Markets Authority to support this. What does the approach mean for the CMA? Veronica Roberts, lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills, joins Blair Matthews and Matthew Hall to discuss the wide range of recent announcements and proposals from the CMA and government. Listen to this episode to learn more about the CMA's future approach to enforcement of the UK merger control, antitrust, consumer protection and digital markets rules. With special guest: Veronica Roberts, lawyer, Herbert Smith Freehills Related Links: UK government policy paper, "New approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth", 17 March 2025 UK Competition and Markets Authority, "Mergers: Evolving the CMA's approach", 12 March 2025 UK government consultation, "Strategic steer to the Competition and Markets Authority", 13 February 2025 UK Competition and Markets Authority blog post, "New CMA proposals to drive growth, investment and business confidence", 13 February 2025 Hosted by: Blair West Matthews, Cleary Gottlieb and Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods London LLP
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#320 What Can In-House Counsel Do To Tame the Premerger Notification Beast? Practical Suggestions for Complying With the New HSR Rules
New disclosure requirements for U.S. premerger notifications under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act were announced in the fall of 2024 and became effective in February 2025. What are the practical implications of the new requirements for in-house counsel tasked with preparing for an HSR filing? In this episode, Matt Bester and Paul Covaleski of Accenture LLP talk to Alicia Downey and Matt Tabas about some concrete suggestions for accurately and cost-effectively identifying and assembling the newly-required information and documents. Listen and learn some tips that will be useful not only for in-house counsel but also outside counsel and firms of all sizes involved in reportable transactions. With special guests: Matthew J. Bester, Director of Competition Law, Accenture LLPÂ and Paul Covaleski, Antitrust and Competition Counsel, Accenture LLP Related Links: Matthew J. Bester & Paul Covaleski, "A Practical Guide to the New HSR Form For In-House Counsel," Business Law Today (ABA Business Law Section, Mar. 27, 2025) Our Curious Amalgam Episode #297: "HSR You Kidding Me? Unpacking the New Requirements for Merging Parties in the U.S." (Oct. 28, 2024) Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law LLCÂ and Matt Tabas, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP
Our Curious Amalgam explores topics in antitrust, competition, consumer protection, data protection, and privacy law around the world with leading experts in those areas. It is an amalgam because it is a group of diverse topics all in one place. It is curious because it gets the experts and asks them in-depth questions.