When global cartel collusion enters the equation, the best friend a CEO can have is a preeminent lawyer on the frontlines of competition law. Enter John Terzaken, global co-chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice at Simpson Thacher and former Director of Criminal Enforcement of the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. With decades of experience navigating the complexities of antitrust enforcement, John breaks down how shifts in political direction between the Biden and Trump administrations affect corporate behavior, enforcement strategies, and legal priorities. He shares insights into the psychology behind collusion, the rise of algorithmic pricing as a legal gray zone, and the changing role of non-compete agreements in the American workforce. Whether you’re a law student, a corporate executive, or just curious about how antitrust enforcement shapes the marketplace, tune in for an expert’s perspective on where US competition law is headed and how businesses can stay compliant in a volatile legal environment!

Key Points From This Episode:

• John’s journey into the antitrust space via the DOJ.
• Why cartel law targets corporations, not mobsters.
• How antitrust cases evolve into broader white-collar crime.
• Unforgettable cases: from criminal trials to a client testifying against his own brother.
• Algorithmic pricing and AI-driven collusion under Trump.
• Reasons that consumer goods like eggs and milk will always be in the competition spotlight.
• Why political winds don’t affect antitrust and competition law as much as other areas.
• Antitrust enforcement: legal contrasts and common ground between Biden and Trump.
• How DEI and ESG policies are facing antitrust scrutiny under the Trump administration.
• What the future holds for non-compete agreements.
• Why clarity in the law benefits both business and consumers.
• Understanding the human psychology behind collusion.
• The global, high-stakes career that antitrust law offers (and how to navigate it).

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

John Terzaken

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP

John Terzaken on LinkedIn

The Paramount Case Study and a Look at Where We Are Headed with Antitrust Enforcement

Antitrust Perspectives on the Kroger-Albertsons Merger

Fordham University School of Law Corporate Law Center