Our Curious Amalgam

Hosted by American Bar Association

Careers

Website RSS feed

Episodes

384

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

About the show

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.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 38228 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, 2026Episode 38138 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, 2026Episode 38030 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, 2026Episode 37933 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, 2026Episode 37837 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, 2026Episode 37728 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, 2026Episode 37640 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, 2026Episode 37536 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, 2026Episode 37439 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, 2026Episode 37332 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