Antitrust and 21st Century Bigness: Panel 2 – Mergers: Are Big Tech Acquisitions Different?

Big Tech and Bigness. These issues continue to dominate the antitrust agenda in the United States and throughout the world. Three years ago, we examined these issues at a conference held at NYU School of Law, at a time when US enforcement agencies had yet to act. We now return for a second edition of that conference, at a time when antitrust agencies around the world—including in the US—are taking on the challenge. We will ask, what progress has been made? What obstacles have been encountered? What are the prospects for the future?

In the morning, for the second panel of the Antitrust and 21st Century Bigness symposium, moderator Scott Hemphill was joined by Cristina Caffarra, John Newman, and Daniel Rubinfeld, and Vaughn Walker. The panel shared their opinions on how Big Tech acquisitions should be evaluated, including the acquisition of nascent upstarts.

The Antitrust and 21st Century Bigness symposium was held on February 24, 2023, at the NYU School of Law.

Read more about the symposium

Participants:

  • Cristina CAFFARRA | Co‐Head, Keystone Strategy Europe
  • John NEWMAN | Assistant Director Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission
  • Daniel RUBINFELD | Professor Emeritus, Berkeley Law 
  • Vaughn WALKER | United States District Judge (ret.), Northern District of California
  • Moderator: Scott HEMPHILL | Professor, NYU School of Law