The focus and effect of U.S. antitrust laws

Playing fair and by the rules has always been an American business mantra, even if the principle isn’t routinely adhered to by all commercial entities.

We underscore that at the proven Houston antitrust law firm of Hilder & Associates. We note on our website that nothing but envy and kudos feature for a company in Texas or elsewhere “that simply garners the market majority by producing the best product.” Conversely, condemnation and a host of legal troubles can arise if it is discovered that market supremacy owed to acts of fraud and cheating.

In terms of a blog post spotlighting antitrust, questioned actions include things like unreasonable restraint of trade, tactics employed to gain monopoly status and price fixing. Those matters occupy full attention from both civil regulators and criminal authorities.

And the penalties for transgressions can be severe. From the civil side, those include contract rescission, divestiture and injunctions. Criminal exactions imposed by the U.S. Department of Justice (and sometimes local authorities guided by state laws augmenting federal rules/standards) can be notably harsh, ranging from staggeringly high fines to lengthy prison terms for convicted offenders.

The Sherman Act and Clayton Act loom large in the antitrust world. The former statutory law was enacted nearly 130 years ago. That legislation provides for potential criminal outcomes in price fixing and other matters. The Clayton Act — which augments the Sherman Act as a later amendment to that law and does not levy criminal sanctions — focuses especially closely on questionable mergers and acquisitions.

Antitrust law is often a front-and-center concern in Texas, given the state’s huge, pulsing and ever-growing business realm. Individuals or business entities with questions regarding its notably technical/complex subject matter can contact an experienced Houston legal team for guidance and diligent legal representation.

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