Our Curious Amalgam

American Bar Association

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.

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391 episodes
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Episodes391

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Today · 42 min
#389 What Should Directors Be Asking? Antitrust in the Boardroom
Competition law isn't just for antitrust lawyers anymore—it's increasingly a boardroom issue. What questions should directors be asking to ensure their companies are identifying and managing competition risk before it becomes a crisis? Julie Goshorn, whose career spans the DOJ, FTC, private practice at Arnold & Porter, and global in-house leadership at Visa, speaks with Jeny Maier and Anora Wang about why corporate boards should view antitrust as an enterprise risk alongside cybersecurity, financial controls, and compliance. Listen to this episode to learn about the board's oversight role, lessons from recent Delaware fiduciary duty cases, and the practical questions every director should be asking to help protect long-term enterprise value. With special guest: Julie Goshorn Related Links: Julie Goshorn on LinkedIn Hosted by: Jeny Maier, Axinn and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
July 27 · 40 min
#388 Who's Minding the Money? The Role of Competition Authorities in Digital Finance
Digital financial services are transforming the way we bank, borrow, save, invest, and make payments. But are these innovations creating more competitive markets, or are they simply fostering new forms of market power? On this episode of Our Curious Amalgam, we speak with Beatriz Marques of the OECD Competition Division about the evolving competitive landscape in digital finance. We explore the role of FinTechs, incumbent banks, card networks, and BigTech platforms; the importance of data, interoperability, and open banking; and what competition authorities can do to foster innovation while protecting competition and consumers in an increasingly digital financial ecosystem. With special guest: Beatriz Marques, OECD Related Links: OECD (2025), "Competition in mobile payment services", OECD Roundtables on Competition Policy Papers, No. 324, OECD Publishing, Paris OECD (2025), "Balancing prudential regulation and competition considerations in banking", OECD Roundtables on Competition Policy Papers, No. 329, OECD Publishing, Paris OECD (2026), "Banking Unbundled: Competition in the Age of Digitalisation" Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank
July 20 · 38 min
#387 Can Potential Vertical Integration Harm Be (Silver) Screened Horizontally?
Vertical merger review has long rested on the principle that competitive harm is most likely when a merged firm has both the ability and incentive to foreclose rivals, yet courts and enforcers often struggle to establish that harm empirically. But can potentially anticompetitive vertical integrations be screened in advance using observable market characteristics? Charles Hodgson, Assistant Professor of Economics at Yale University and Faculty Research Fellow at the NBER, and Shilong Sun, Senior Economist at Compass Lexecon, join Anora Wang and Panos Dimitrellos to discuss how evidence from the Chinese film industry sheds light on when vertical foreclosure is likely to emerge, why downstream concentration and upstream product substitutability matter, and how these findings may inform modern merger review across industries ranging from movie theaters to digital platforms. Listen to this episode to learn more about how a practical screening framework for vertical mergers could help identify when foreclosure concerns are most likely to arise and provide enforcers and practitioners with a more evidence-based approach to assessing competitive harm. With special guests: Charles Hodgson, Professor, Yale and Shilong Sun, Dr., Compass Lexecon Related Links: Charles Hodgson bio Shilong Sun bio Heterogeneity in Vertical Foreclosure: Evidence from the Chinese Film Industry Hosted by: Panos Dimitrellos, Secretariat Economists and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
July 13 · 37 min
#386 How Is AI Changing the Practice of Antitrust Law? A Discussion With Daniel Schwarz of CompetitionAI
AI is transforming all areas of legal practice. But what are the special issues in antitrust? Daniel Schwarz, CEO and Founder of CompetitionAI and a former antitrust attorney at Clifford Chance and the IMF, joins Matthew Hall and Alysha Pannu to discuss the use of AI in antitrust now and in the future and its impact on lawyers and competition authorities. Listen to this episode to learn more about CompetitionAI and the impact of AI on antitrust practice and enforcement. With special guest: Daniel Schwarz, co-founder, CompetitionAI Related Links: CompetitionAI website Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and Alysha Pannu, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt
July 6 · 30 min
#385 How Do We Level the AI Fluency Playing Field? The 21 Days of AI Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge
Are you as AI fluent as you should be? The American Bar Association's "21 Days of AI: A Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge" is a free online resource that offers a path toward becoming adept in the use of AI to enhance legal practice and professional development. In this episode, hosts Alicia Downey and James Hunsberger speak with legal innovation strategist and "21 Days of AI" co-author Gabrielle Kohlmeier about the origins of the Challenge and how closing the AI knowledge gender gap was a key driver of the project. Listen and learn how the "21 Days of AI" can level the AI fluency playing field not just for women lawyers, but for anyone contending with the AI revolution in their work and personal life. With special guest: Gabrielle ZA Kohlmeier, Principal and Founder, GK Strategic Advisory, former Verizon Global Head of Legal Change Related Links: The 21 Days of AI: A Grit and Growth Mindset Challenge The Grit and Growth Mindset Project Hosted by: Alicia Downey, Downey Law and James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
June 29 · 31 min
#384 What's Up? Enforcement Updates From the Middle East and Africa
What have been the latest competition law developments across the Middle East and Africa in the last year? Nicolas Bremer and John Oxenham join Matthew Hall and Jeny Maier to discuss new filing regimes, agency priorities and hot topics for competition law compliance in jurisdictions across the Middle East, COMESA, and South Africa. Listen to this episode to get up to speed on what to know about these rapidly developing and evolving jurisdictions. With special guests: Nicolas Bremer, Partner, Bremer Law Firm and John Oxenham, Partner, Primerio Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
June 22 · 27 min
#383 What's the Role of Communications Strategy in M&A? How Public Affairs Impacts Antitrust
Recently, the role of lobbying in M&A has become the talk of the antitrust bar in current administrations in the U.S. and in other jurisdictions. But what about the related discipline of public affairs? Nat Wood, Managing Director of Rational 360, a strategic communications, public affairs, and crisis management firm, joins Jeny Maier and Puja Patel to discuss what's involved in crafting a public affairs strategy to support an M&A deal and how the playbook is changing in the current administration. Listen to this episode if you want to learn more about the tools of the trade for strategic communications in merger advocacy. With special guest: Nat Wood, Managing Director, Rational 360 Hosted by: Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider and Puja Patel, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton
June 15 · 28 min
#382 What's Up? Enforcement Updates From Austria and Switzerland
What is happening in competition enforcement in Austria and Switzerland? Lukas Cavada, Executive Director for International Affairs at Austria's Federal Competition Authority (BWB), joins Anora Wang to discuss the BWB's most significant accomplishments over the past year, key competition enforcement developments in Austria, and the evolving challenges facing competition authorities in an increasingly global marketplace. Next, Dr. Laura Melusine Baudenbacher, President of the Swiss Competition Commission (ComCo), speaks with Anora Wang on ComCo's unique structure, key recent legal changes and enforcement accomplishments, focus on labor markets, and more. Join us for a look at how Austria and Switzerland are steering competition enforcement, the key developments to watch in 2026, and what these shifts mean for businesses and practitioners. With special guests: Lukas Cavada, Executive Director for International Affairs, BWB (Austrian Federal Competition Authority) and Dr. Laura Melusine Baudenbacher, President, ComCo (Swiss Competition Commission) Related Links: BWB (Austrian Federal Competition Authority) ComCo (Swiss Competition Commission) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
June 8 · 38 min
#381 A New Era for EU and UK Deals? The EC's Draft Merger Guidelines and the CMA's Growth Approach
The analysis of mergers in the EU and UK is adapting to take account of a changed worldwide geo-political and trade context. But what does this mean in practice? Stuart Hudson, co-lead of Brunswick's global regulatory practice, joins Matthew Hall and James Hunsberger to discuss the European Commission's draft new EU Merger Guidelines and changes in the UK. Listen to this episode to learn more about what is in the draft EU guidelines, why the changes have been made, the UK's new approach, a prediction on EU/UK convergence or divergence and the risk of politicisation of merger control. With special guest: Stuart Hudson, co-lead global regulatory practice, Brunswick Group Related Links: Stuart Hudson, "Six types of politicisation", 4 May 2026 European Commission, Draft new EU Merger Guidelines, 30 April 2026 UK Government, Strategic steer to the UK Competition and Markets Authority, 15 May 2025 UK CMA, CMA launches review of its approach to merger efficiencies, 15 January 2026 UK CMA, Merger remedies CMA87, 19 December 2025 Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
June 1 · 30 min
#380 What Is Happening at the OECD Competition Division? A Discussion With Ori Schwartz
The OECD's Competition Division carries out the organisation's work on worldwide competition law, policy and enforcement. But what does this mean in practice? Ori Schwartz, Head of the Competition Division, joins Matthew Hall to discuss the Division's activities. Listen to this episode to learn more about the Division's recent and upcoming focus areas. With special guest: Ori Schwartz, Head, OECD Competition Division Related Links: OECD Competition Division webpage Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods
May 25 · 33 min
#379 What's Up? Enforcement Updates from Ireland, Brazil, and Paraguay
What are the latest trends and developments in competition law enforcement in Ireland, Brazil, and Paraguay? Geoffrey Gray of the Irish Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), joins Lexi Michaud to discuss his agency's efforts to refine merger analysis and enhance competition in Ireland's taxi and ride-sharing sector. Brazilian CADE President Gustavo Augusto speaks with Matthew Hall about how his agency has been deploying AI to analyze market data and identify possible cartel activity. Finally, Eduardo Barros, President of Paraguay's CONACOM, talks to Alicia Downey about how his relatively young agency has been growing and successfully collaborating with other agencies. Listen to this episode to hear about how all three competition agencies are approaching competition law enforcement and advocacy in 2026. With special guests: Geoffrey Gray, Commission Member, Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), Ireland Gustavo Augusto Freitas de Lima, President, Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), Brazil Eduardo Barros, President, CONACOM, Paraguay Related Links: Ireland Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE), Brazil Comisión Nacional de la Competencia (CONACOM), Paraguay Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods, Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank, and Alicia Downey, Downey Law
May 18 · 37 min
#378 How Do Enforcers Approach Information Sharing and Benchmarking?
Benchmarking and information sharing can be procompetitive, but modern data tools can also make it easier for rivals to coordinate on prices. But when does benchmarking cross the line into unlawful antitrust conduct? Norman Lee Morris, Attorney for Mississippi Attorney General, joins Panos Dimitrellos and Alysha Pannu to discuss the evolution of antitrust enforcement, the economic risks posed by real-time algorithmic pricing and data aggregation, and what recent cases like RealPage and Agri Stats reveal about enforcement priorities. Listen to this episode to learn more about how antitrust law applies to information exchanges, and why the economics of benchmarking matter so much in today's markets. With special guest: Norman Lee Morris, Attorney for Mississippi Attorney General Hosted by: Alysha Pannu, Osler Hoskin & Harcourt and Panos Dimitrellos, Secretariat Economists
May 11 · 28 min
#377 What's Up? Enforcement Updates From Australia and New Zealand
What is happening in competition enforcement in Australia and New Zealand? Luke Woodward, Commissioner at the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), joins Lexi Michaud to discuss the ACCC's distinctive joint competition and consumer protection mandate, the ACCC's role in deregulation as a way to unlock innovation, growth, and productivity, and where the ACCC is focused to keep pace with changing markets. Next, Luke Becker, Chief Legal Counsel of Competition at the New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC), speaks with Anora Wang on the NZCC's approach to digital markets, enforcement priorities, and the application of traditional regulatory tools in evolving market contexts. Join us for a look at how Australia and New Zealand are steering competition enforcement across the Asia‑Pacific, the key developments to watch in 2026, and what these shifts mean for businesses and practitioners. With special guests: Luke Woodward, Commissioner, Australian Competition & Consumer Commission and Luke Becker, Chief Legal Counsel (Competition), New Zealand Commerce Commission Related Links: Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) New Zealand Commerce Commission (NZCC) Hosted by: Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
May 4 · 40 min
#376 Where Is Europe's Path Forward in AI? Mistral AI's Case for Rethinking Competition Policy
Can competition laws keep pace with the AI race? Blanche Savary de Beauregard, General Counsel at Mistral AI, joins co-hosts Anora Wang and Clémence Coppin, in collaboration with the New York State Bar Association, to discuss how a European AI company competes against U.S. and Chinese makers of AI foundation models, the strategic logic behind Mistral's major industry partnerships, and why Europe's regulatory fragmentation makes scaling uniquely difficult for emerging AI champions. Blanche offers a candid take on why both under- and over-enforcement are genuine risks in a market that can foreclose before regulators have fully mapped it. Listen to this episode for a rare industry perspective on AI competition policy in 2026. With special guest: Blanche Savary de Beauregard, General Counsel, Mistral AI Related Links: Mistral AI Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Clémence Coppin, Latham & Watkins
April 27 · 36 min
#375 What's Up? Competition Enforcement Updates From Italy and Portugal
What has competition enforcement looked like in Italy and Portugal over the past year? Saverio Valentino, Board Member of the Italian Antitrust Authority, joins Jaclyn Phillips to discuss AGCM's 2025 enforcement record, an ongoing digital sector investigation into Meta, and a whistleblower platform that has generated over 600 complaints since 2023. Next, Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, President of the Portuguese Competition Authority, speaks with Jeny Maier about a creative hospital merger remedy, AdC's research on AI and competition, and a consumer outreach initiative that took the authority beyond Lisbon. Listen to this episode to hear how two of Europe's most active competition agencies are approaching enforcement and advocacy in 2026. With special guests: Saverio Valentino, Board Member, AGCM (Italian Antitrust Authority) and Nuno Cunha Rodrigues, President, AdC (Portuguese Competition Authority) Related Links: Italian Antitrust Authority (AGCM) Portuguese Competition Authority (AdC) Hosted by: Jaclyn Phillips, Proskauer Rose and Jeny Maier, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider
April 20 · 39 min
#374 What if Robots Are Setting My Pay to Employees? Economic Tools To Avoid Compliance Pitfalls
Algorithmic and AI-driven tools are increasingly shaping how employers set employee compensation. But how can employers avoid compliance pitfalls when use of these tools raises competition and other regulatory concerns? Economist Rose Healy joins Anora Wang and Subrata Bhattacharjee to discuss the legal and economic risks, as well as practical tools such as bias audits and event studies. Listen to this episode to learn how wage-setting algorithms are being used today—and what may lie ahead as these technologies evolve. With special guest: Rose Healy, Director, Resolution Economics Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter and Subrata Bhattacharjee, Borden Ladner Gervais
April 13 · 32 min
#373 What's Up? Competition Enforcement Updates From Malaysia and Hong Kong
What is happening in competition enforcement in Malaysia and Hong Kong? Iskandar Ismail, Chief Executive Officer of the Malaysia Competition Commission (MYCC), joins Anora Wang to discuss MYCC's actions against bid-rigging, ongoing market reviews of the digital economy, and Malaysia's broader plan to consolidate competition oversight over regulated sectors like energy, with phase one targeted for completion in 2026. Next, Teenie Yu, Of Counsel at the Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC), speaks with Anora on the HKCC's landmark case against a bid-rigging syndicate in the building maintenance sector, HKCC's ongoing effort before the Court of Appeal over the applicable standard of proof in competition proceedings, and the agency's creative advocacy campaign regarding information exchange. Listen to this episode to learn about enforcement developments in two of Asia's fastest developing competition jurisdictions and what practitioners should be watching in 2026. With special guests: Iskandar Ismail, Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Competition Commission (MYCC) and Teenie Yu, Of Counsel, Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) Related Links: Malaysia Competition Commission (MyCC) Hong Kong Competition Commission (HKCC) Hosted by: Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
April 6 · 38 min
#372 Can a Price Be Put on Harm? FTC Monetary Remedies and the Data-Driven Economy
Five years after the Supreme Court's AMG Capital Management decision limited the FTC's ability to seek monetary remedies under Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, the agency continues to look for ways to obtain money in consumer protection and privacy cases through other authorities and theories. At the same time, it is grappling with how to define and measure consumer injuries and benefits in an increasingly data driven economy, including through its February 26 workshop on "Consumer Injuries and Benefits in the Data Driven Economy." Hosts Lexi Michaud and Anora Wang talk with Laura Riposo VanDruff from Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and Mike LeGower from NERA about how the FTC is pursuing monetary relief after AMG, whether and how it might articulate clearer guidance for quantifying harm, and what companies should expect when facing privacy and data investigations by the FTC. With special guest: Laura Riposo VanDruff, Partner, Kelley Drye and Warren LLP and Mike LeGower, Director, Nera Economic Consulting Related Links: FTC's "Measuring Consumer Injuries and Benefits" Workshop: Key Takeaways by Kelley Drye and Warren LLP Hosted by: Lexi Michaud, Fried Frank and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
March 30 · 40 min
#371 Who Does Your Doctor Work For? Vertical Integration in the Healthcare Provider Market
Hospitals, as well as insurers, have been increasingly purchasing physicians practices, home health providers, and nursing facilities. But what are the competitive implications of these acquisitions? Dr. Zack Cooper, economist and public health expert at Yale University, joins Derek Jackson and Anora Wang to discuss both the theoretical and empirical competitive harms and benefits to vertical integration in the healthcare provider market. Listen to this episode to learn more about the changing competitive landscape in this large and important sector of the economy. With special guest: Zack Cooper, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Public Health and Associate Professor of Economics, Yale University Related Links: Are Hospital Acquisitions of Physician Practices Anticompetitive? by Cooper et al., July 2025 Zack Cooper's Congressional Testimony, Fighting Obamacare Subsidy Fraud: Is the Administrative Procedure Act Working as Intended?, December 10, 2025 Zack Cooper's Senate Testimony, Consolidation and Corporate Ownership in Health Care: Trends and Impacts on Access, Quality, and Costs, June 8, 2023 Hosted by: Derek Jackson, Cohen & Gresser and Anora Wang, Arnold & Porter
March 23 · 42 min
#370 Is Any Deal Safe From Review in the EU? Implications of the "Towercast" Judgment
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: France Autorité de la concurrence, press release, Doctolib case (6 November 2025) France Autorité de la concurrence, press release, meat-cutting case (15 May 2024) Belgium Autorité belge de la Concurrence, press release, Proximus/EDPnet case (6 November 2023) European Court of Justice, Case C-449/21 "Towercast" (16 March 2023) Hosted by: Matthew Hall, McGuireWoods and James Hunsberger, Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider