#263 What’s the Role of a Magistrate Judge? Conversation With Judge Lindsey Vaala
Release Date: 03/04/2024
#370 Is Any Deal Safe From Review in the EU? Implications of the “Towercast” Judgment
Our Curious Amalgam
M&A deals impacting the EU that are not caught by standard merger control thresholds can still be reviewed under general competition law rules. But how does this work? Frédéric Manin, lawyer at Advant Altana in Paris, joins Matthew Hall and James Hunsberger to discuss the implications of the 2023 European Court of Justice judgment in the "Towercast" case. Listen to this episode to learn more about the practical implications of this judgment for lawyers and dealmakers doing M&A that touches the EU. With special guest: Frédéric Manin, partner, Advant Altana Related Links: ...
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#369 Back To Form or Back to the Drawing Board? How To Navigate the Decision Vacating the New HSR Rules
Our Curious Amalgam
In February 2025, new rules for the pre-merger notification requirements in the U.S. came into effect. But will a February 2026 court decision undo these changes? Daniel Rosenthal, partner at Kirkland & Ellis, joins Jaclyn Phillips and Lexi Michaud to discuss a decision vacating the new rules, the subsequent appeal, and what might happen next. Listen to this episode to learn more about how to navigate merger filings in an uncertain time. (Since this episode was recorded, the Fifth Circuit denied the FTC’s motion to stay the decision vacating the new HSR Rules. On March 19, 2026,...
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#368 Mother, May I? The Use of Prior Approval Requirements in Merger Settlements
Our Curious Amalgam
Over the last few decades, prior approval requirements were considered an extraordinary remedy in merger settlements, yet their use has fluctuated in agency enforcement across recent administrations. Where do the FTC and DOJ stand in their current practice? Bilal Sayyed, a Counsel at the Cadwalader law firm, and antitrust professor and former FTC policy leader, speaks with Anora Wang and Jeny Maier about the role of prior approval provisions in modern merger enforcement and what their recent rise—and retreat—signals about agency policy. Listen to this episode to learn how prior approval...
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#367 How Do States Make Independent Judgment in Merger Review? The Tunney Act and HPE–Juniper
Our Curious Amalgam
States have become increasingly active participants in merger enforcement, often conducting independent analyses and, at times, intervening alongside federal agencies in high-profile cases. What goes into states’ analyses and decisions to intervene? Anthony Mariano, Chief of the Antitrust Division at the Massachusetts Office of the Attorney General, speaks with Lexi Michaud and Anora Wang about how states approach merger enforcement in parallel with the DOJ and FTC, the importance of independent state scrutiny, and, using the HPE–Juniper transaction to guide the discussion, how the Tunney...
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#366 What’s the State of Mini-HSR Regimes? Perspectives from the Colorado & Washington State AGs
Our Curious Amalgam
State attorneys general are taking a more active role in merger control, with Colorado and Washington leading the way on new “mini-HSR” notification regimes. What do these new state pre-merger filing laws require, and how should companies and practitioners navigate them alongside the federal Hart-Scott-Rodino Act? Assistant Attorneys General Paula Pera Czollak and Bryn Williams join hosts Puja Patel and James Hunsberger to discuss the origins of the Uniform Antitrust Pre-Merger Notification Act, lessons from the first months of filings in Colorado and Washington, key interpretive questions...
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#365 What Roles Do Economists Play in Chinese Competition Law? Conversation With Dr. Vanessa Zhang
Our Curious Amalgam
China’s antitrust regime has evolved rapidly over the past decade. What role does economic analysis play in the actual enforcement? Anora Wang and Kathleen Hu speak with Dr. Vanessa Zhang of Compass Lexecon about the growing role of economic analysis in Chinese competition law, drawing on her experience advising China’s antitrust authority and serving as a testifying expert in high-stakes cases. The conversation explores how economic evidence is developed, evaluated, and increasingly relied upon in China’s evolving antitrust regime. With special guest: Vanessa Zhang, Executive Vice...
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#364 Does Visual Generative AI Make Better Ads? Exploring AI Advertising Effectiveness
Our Curious Amalgam
Businesses are increasingly considering the use of generative AI for work that historically relied on human creativity, including in the area of marketing and advertising. But can ads made with gen AI really be more effective than human-created ads? Professor Vilma Todri of Emory University Goizueta Business School joins Kathleen Hu and Jaclyn Phillips to discuss her recent research on the impact of visual generative AI on advertising effectiveness. Listen to this episode to learn more about how gen AI is being used in advertising and the implications for ad effectiveness and AI disclosure...
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#363 The Antitrust Controversy Surrounding Brazil’s Soy Moratorium
Our Curious Amalgam
In 2006, various parties came together to form Brazil’s Amazon Soy Moratorium in an effort to curb illegal deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest. Today, challenges regarding Brazil’s Soy Moratorium continue to mount, with passionate advocacy from farmers, environmentalists, government agencies, and international organizations. What might seem a cut-and-dry conflict between free enterprise and environmental conservation becomes more complicated when we delve deeper. With an antitrust cartel investigation in limbo, a pseudo-private agreement to arguably higher deforestation standards than...
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#362 What’s Happening With AI and Data Privacy? An Update From the PRIS Committee
Our Curious Amalgam
The past few years have been a critical time in the development of data privacy laws and the regulation of AI in the United States. As we look toward 2026, the complexities are only increasing. In this episode, the Antitrust Law Section's Privacy and Information Security (PRIS) Committee joins forces with OCA to focus on the highlights of 2025 and predictions for 2026. Hosts Alicia Downey and Anora Wang talk to PRIS Committee vice chairs Jessica Cohen of Verizon Communications and Alex Brown of Alston & Bird about why the next 12 months could redefine how AI and data privacy are regulated...
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#361 All Change or More of the Same? UK Merger Control Developments
Our Curious Amalgam
The UK merger control regime is undergoing procedural and substantive changes. What is happening and what should practicioners know? John Schmidt, solicitor at Arnold & Porter in London, joins Matthew Hall and Jaclyn Phillips to discuss the changes introduced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority's (CMA) and the UK government. Listen to this episode to learn more about new CMA jurisdictional and procedural guidance, a strategic reform of UK merger remedies and institutional changes to phase 2 merger reviews. With special guest: John Schmidt, partner, Arnold & Porter Related...
info_outlineThe U.S. federal district courts have magistrate judges who are appointed to assist the district court judges and generally oversee first appearances of criminal defendants, set bail, and conduct other administrative duties. But is the role of a magistrate judge different across districts? In a district like Eastern District of Virginia where the trial docket is so fast that it earned the nickname as a “Rocket Docket,” a magistrate judge can make important decisions and have a great impact on the cases there. Judge Lindsey Vaala, the first magistrate judge interviewed by our program, and a long-time active member of the ABA Antitrust Law Section, speaks with Anora Wang and Melissa Maxman on her previous career as an antitrust litigator, her path to the bench, and to the extent that she can speak, her views on current antitrust issues.
With special guest:
The Honorable Judge Lindsey R. Vaala, Magistrate Judge, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
Related Links:
Magistrate Judge Lindsey Vaala Appointment Announcement Nov 2022
Hosted by:
Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP and Melissa H. Maxman, Cohen & Gresser LLP