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Competition law, also known as antitrust law, governs how businesses compete in the market to promote fair competition and prevent practices that harm consumers or other businesses. It addresses issues like price-fixing, monopolies, cartels, exclusive agreements, and mergers that may reduce competition. Its goal is to ensure open markets, innovation, and consumer choice.

Competition laws are enforced by government regulators. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division are the primary enforcers. In the EU, it’s the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Competition. Many countries also have national competition authorities that investigate and penalize anti-competitive practices.

A competition lawyer advises businesses on compliance with antitrust laws, reviews mergers and acquisitions for regulatory approval, and defends clients in investigations or litigation involving price-fixing, monopolies, or anti-competitive conduct. They help structure business practices to avoid legal violations and represent clients before competition authorities and courts.

Antitrust violations are actions that harm competition or create unfair market dominance. Common violations include price-fixing, bid-rigging, market allocation, monopolization, and anti-competitive mergers. These practices restrict consumer choice, inflate prices, or block competitors. Authorities like the FTC and DOJ investigate and penalize such conduct to preserve market fairness.