Recorded Webinar—Merger Challenge on Aisle 5!: Assessing FTC’s Kroger-Albertsons Case

Webinar

Panelists:
Maureen Ohlhausen, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Michelle Yost Hale, Partner, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Description:
The Federal Trade Commission has concluded that Kroger’s $24.6 billion acquisition of Albertsons violates the Clayton Act and the FTC Act. The legal challenge relies upon a narrow market definition, disregards the parties’ proposed divestitures, and argues the merger creates a monopsony in the grocery-worker labor market. A former FTC Acting Chairman and a former FTC Mergers IV division lead attorney will examine the lawsuit’s claims and how those claims may influence future federal merger review and enforcement.

Speakers' Biographies

Maureen Ohlhausen

Maureen is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. In 2012, Maureen was confirmed by the Senate as a Commissioner of the FTC and was appointed Acting Chairman in January 2017, a role she held until May 2018. Prior to that, she was Director of the FTC Office of Policy Planning, where she led the agency’s work on e-commerce and headed the FTC’s Internet Access Task Force. A recognized thought leader, Maureen is a frequent author and speaker, and is often quoted by leading print and broadcast media on antitrust, FTC, and privacy and data security matters. She serves as a member of WLF's Legal Policy Advisory Board.

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Michelle Yost Hale

Michelle is a Partner in the Washington, DC office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Her practice focuses on representing companies in government antitrust investigations, including mergers and acquisitions and other civil antitrust investigations. She regularly appears before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the U.S. Department of Justice, representing companies across a range of industries. Prior to joining the firm, Michelle served as a lead attorney in the Mergers IV division of the FTC, where she led matters related to the healthcare, supermarket, and retail industries.

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