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The Trump Administration’s antitrust enforcement priorities are beginning to take shape. On January 20, 2025, President Trump designated former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) commissioner Andrew Ferguson as the agency’s next Chair and formally nominated Mark Meador, an FTC veteran, to be a Commissioner. In addition, Trump nominated Gail Slater to be the next head of the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.

Vinson & Elkins’ 2024 Chemicals & Energy Antitrust Report details the antitrust approach expected under the upcoming Trump administration, with a focus on boosting oil and gas production.

On December 18, 2024, the Department of Justice (the “DOJ”) announced that Tencent Holdings Ltd. (“Tencent”) had removed two directors from the board of Epic Games, Inc. (“Epic”) and relinquished its right to unilaterally appoint directors to Epic’s board going forward.

As former President Trump returns to office, excitement is building in the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries, fueled by the administration’s early signals of support for digital assets and Web3 technologies, including the appointment of crypto advocate Paul Atkins to chair the Securities and Exchange Commission. Industry leaders are hopeful that the pro-cryptocurrency stances held by President Trump and his appointees will foster a regulatory environment that supports growth and innovation in decentralized technology.

We’re talking Antitrust with a Texas T. And a whole lot of D.C. and SF – with a team of stars from across the country who’ve come together in one of the most powerhouse competition practices going.

June 2023 Antitrust Cartel primer brings together our knowledge of cartel cases and distills it in an easily digestible and practical format. It discusses challenges targets face in responding to cartel allegations and gives examples from actual cases to illustrate key points.

As companies seek to promote their green bona fides, they are at risk of coming under scrutiny for “greenwashing” — the practice of claiming practices, products, or services as more environmentally friendly than they actually are. 

Companies face a difficult choice between taking heed of growing anti-ESG voices while continuing to meet investor and shareholder demands.

Sharing competitively sensitive information can carry antitrust risks in certain situations. Recently, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice indicated that it will take an increased interest in challenging information sharing as a potential antitrust violation in the health care sector and, possibly, other industries.

With a practice that’s ranged from Japanese beef to airline bag fees, from Internet search engines to auto parts, it’s hard to find much the lawyers in Vinson & Elkins’ top-tier antitrust practice have not litigated or advised on.