Antitrust and Trade Regulation
In this modern economy, corporate litigation such as those regarding antitrust and trade regulations must be defended aggressively by experienced antitrust lawyers. The team of antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm is experienced in defending their clients from criminal and civil allegations of antitrust violations in both The State and Federal Courts. The experienced antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm also are practiced in defending their clients from antitrust class actions matters that, if not handled in the right way, can cost their companies millions of dollars in settlements and judgments. The qualified antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm are dedicated to their clients and possess the requisite skill needed to make sure that they get them the best result possible.
The antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm have defended their clients in some of the largest class action antitrust cases in recent years. The Blanch Law Firm often serves foreign based corporations in U.S prosecuted antitrust defense litigations, particularly ones that allege price fixing, or other cartel related activities. With decades of experience working as both prosecutors and defense attorneys, the antitrust defense attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm have a unique perspective gained through familiarity. That experience serves to benefit their clients in each and every case.
Antitrust Violation Penalties
The U.S Department of Justice, The New Jersey Financial Crimes and Antitrust Bureau and other offices of The Federal and State Governments dedicate some of their best resources and legal minds to investigating and prosecuting antitrust violations. The penalties for antitrust violations are very severe and can damage the life and operations of a corporation for years to come. Recent acts such as The Clayton Act, The Sherman Act, The Robinson-Patman Act, The Federal Trade Commission Act and The Antitrust Criminal Penalty Enhancement and Reform Act demand that harsh penalties be applied to those found guilty of antitrust violations.
Under these acts, fines and penalties can be levied against corporations as well as individual actors. Recent fines for corporations in antitrust litigations have been over $300 million. The penalties for individuals can be even more costly. Individuals criminally charged with antitrust violations can face sentences of up to 10 years in jail and fines of up to $1 million. If you or your company are facing allegations of antitrust violations; contact an experienced white collar firm staffed with skilled antitrust defense attorneys today and begin the fight to save your company. The antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm have decades of experience serving their clients and protecting them from allegations of white collar and corporate crimes.
Antitrust Violations
In order to succeed in business, innovative and aggressive risks need to be taken. Sometimes, such actions will be question by the government and an investigation will be opened. The following are a list of actions that could be construed as violation of the U.S. law that regulate alleged antitrust activities:
- Price Fixing: When elements of collusion are apparent in industry wide actions to stabilize, raise, maintain, or otherwise fix prices; accusations of antitrust violations will follow to all those suspected of involvement. The class action antitrust suits that follow such investigations can be very damaging to the life of a corporation. If your company is under investigation for such activities, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm.
- Bid Rigging: Allegations of this violation arise when elements of collusion are found to exist in the way that bids for a commercial contract are entered in an attempt to influence the decision making process. If you or someone you know is under investigation for such activities, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today.
- Market Manipulation: When interference with the fair and free operation of the market is said to have occurred, whether it is by collective efforts to alter the price of a security, creating trading pools, or many other illegal techniques. All market manipulation allegations are investigated thoroughly by The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and The United States Department of Justice (DOJ). If you are facing market manipulation charges, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today.
- Tying: If the sale of one good is dependent on the sale of another good that is distinctly different, allocations of tying may arise. Horizontal tying allegations may occur if a business is said to have forced their customers to purchase one product or pay for a service (which they have no interest in), when they purchase another product or service. The criminal charges that stem from alleged acts of tying are very serious. If you are facing such charges, contact The Blanch Law Firm today.
- Price Gouging: If the price of a good is said to have been raised dramatically above the real value of goods and services, accusations of price gouging can follow. Price gouging is a crime in both The State and Federal Courts. If the alleged acts of price gouging are believed to have come about through cooperative and collusive efforts, a complaint alleging antitrust violations can follow shortly thereafter. If you or someone you know are facing price gouging charges, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm.
- Mergers and Acquisitions Violations: If one corporation mergers, or acquires another one and that acquisition is said to grant that company control of a specific market in a way that diminishes and halts competition and the fair and free operation of the market, Antitrust allegations may arise. If you or your business is facing such charges, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm.
- Customer/Territory Allocations: If the government believes that allegedly competing businesses have conspired together to divide up their perspective markets, a complaint alleging antitrust violations can follow. If your business is facing such charges, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today.
- Cartels: A formal agreement between alleged competitors in a specific industry, creating an oligarchy or sorts, is prohibited by the antitrust laws in The United States of America. Cartels can be formed on any level, within a town, large metropolitan area, state, country, or in the international business environment. Such allegations can be severely damaging to the life of an industry. If your business is facing such charges, contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm today.
The Blanch Law Firm Can Help
Because of the recent changes in the economy, stabilizing revenue and securing the bottom line for businesses are a pressing need. Shareholders and board members continue to expect the same high profits that may not be possible at this time. The pressures that are placed on executives to succeed and meet their targeted goals are immeasurable and can lead to bad decisions being made. The differences between an aggressive and ambitions business decision and one that is illegal by The United States antitrust laws is can be difficult to determine. If you are facing allegations of antitrust violations, you need a skilled team of antitrust lawyers from a well known white collar firm to protect you. Contact the antitrust attorneys at The Blanch Law Firm and begin the fight to save your business.