On March 20, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit held that deceptive advertising actions brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in an administrative proceeding are unconstitutional.[1] In Intuit, Inc. v. FTC (No. 24-60040), the Fifth Circuit determined that when the FTC prosecutes deceptive advertising claims pursuant to Section 5 of the FTC Act, it can only bring those
Read More Fifth Circuit Holds FTC’s Internal Administrative Adjudication of Deceptive Advertising Claims Unconstitutional
Robert Langer
Bob is recognized as one of the country’s foremost authorities on antitrust, consumer protection, and trade regulation law. He possesses unparalleled experience in counseling, litigation, and regulatory investigations in the field.
FTC Foregoes Administrative Proceeding Option, Indicating Procedural Changes to Merger Enforcement are Underway
A recent case commenced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) challenging a merger directly in federal court has contradicted longstanding expectations regarding the agency’s merger enforcement process.
The FTC has generally used Section 13(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act[1] to obtain preliminary injunctive relief in merger challenges in federal court, but it has also utilized its authority to continue these litigations administratively. This…
Read More FTC Foregoes Administrative Proceeding Option, Indicating Procedural Changes to Merger Enforcement are UnderwayUptick in DOJ Antitrust Division Statements of Interest
In President Trump’s second term, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division has demonstrated its antitrust enforcement priorities through relatively frequent filing of Statements of Interest. The 13 Statements filed in 2025 represent a clear uptick from the 7, 8, and 9 Statements filed under the Biden Administration in each of 2022, 2023, and 2024, respectively, marking the highest annual total since President Trump’s first term…
Read More Uptick in DOJ Antitrust Division Statements of InterestDistrict Court Vacates HSR Reporting Requirements
Last week, a Texas federal district court vacated the Federal Trade Commission Final Rule from 2025 that expanded the information companies must include in Hart-Scott-Rodino (“HSR”) premerger notifications.[1]
The Final Rule, which went into effect in February 2025, greatly increased reporting burdens on parties to a merger or acquisition, including by requiring parties to provide narrative descriptions of their transaction rationale; produce all transaction-specific…
Read More District Court Vacates HSR Reporting RequirementsNew York’s Fair Business Practices Act Significantly Expands State Consumer Protection Law
On December 19, 2025, New York’s Governor signed into law the Fostering Affordability and Integrity Through Reasonable Business Practices Act (“FAIR Business Practices Act”). The FAIR Business Practices Act amends Sections 348 and 349 of New York’s General Business Law for the first time since the 1970s.
The Act makes three key changes, expanding: (1) the New York Attorney General’s enforcement authority; (2) the…
Read More New York’s Fair Business Practices Act Significantly Expands State Consumer Protection Law2025 Antitrust Round-Up
The last stretch of 2025 saw significant developments in antitrust litigation involving algorithmic pricing and listing services in the real estate sector. As artificial-intelligence driven software and other real estate business practices continue to generate antitrust litigation, companies should remain vigilant about the risks of incorporating new technologies and listing policies into their business models.
Algorithmic Pricing: Settlements and New Legislation.
Four settlements involving algorithmic…
Read More 2025 Antitrust Round-UpFTC Sets Aside Rytr LLC Final Order, Citing the Trump Administration’s AI Action Plan
On December 22, 2025, the FTC reopened and set aside the FTC’s 2024 consent order against the AI company Rytr LLC.[1] This move was made by the two active members, Chair Andrew Ferguson and Commissioner Mark Meador, leading the normally five-member agency. These members ordered the Rytr consent decree to be set aside because the initial complaint against Rytr “failed to satisfy the legal…
Read More FTC Sets Aside Rytr LLC Final Order, Citing the Trump Administration’s AI Action PlanWiggin and Dana Attorneys Co-Author Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices, Business Torts and Antitrust, 2025-2026 ed. (Vol. 12, Connecticut Practice Series)
Wiggin and Dana’s Robert M. Langer, a senior counsel in the firm’s Hartford office and co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust and Technology Disputes Practice Group, and New Haven Partner, Kim E. Rinehart, chair of the firm’s Class Action Defense Practice Group, have co-authored the 2025-2026 Edition of “Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices, Business Torts and Antitrust,” Vol. 12 of the Connecticut Practice Series, just…
Read More Wiggin and Dana Attorneys Co-Author Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices, Business Torts and Antitrust, 2025-2026 ed. (Vol. 12, Connecticut Practice Series)Wiggin and Dana Co-Authors SAPS (6th Edition) Connecticut Chapter — First ABA Antitrust eBook Released
Wiggin and Dana’s Robert M. Langer and Zeynep E. Vallance, together with Quyen Truong of Covington & Burling LLP and Alundai Benjamin of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, each former UConn Law School students of Mr. Langer, have co-authored the Connecticut Chapter of the Sixth Edition of State Antitrust Practice and Statutes (SAPS). This edition marks a milestone as the first chapter to be released…
Read More Wiggin and Dana Co-Authors SAPS (6th Edition) Connecticut Chapter — First ABA Antitrust eBook ReleasedMerger Remedies Are Back in Play: Recent Developments
Recent merger settlements further confirm that merger remedies are back and indicate the healthcare industry remains a priority for antitrust enforcers.
In July, we published an alert regarding the resolutions of two merger investigations initiated by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (DOJ).[1] We observed a key shift in enforcement policies under the new Trump administration based on…
Read More Merger Remedies Are Back in Play: Recent Developments