Bruce retired from Mintz in 2026. He was Chair of the firm's Antitrust Practice.
Experience
viewpoints
DOJ Loses Two Criminal Antitrust Labor Trials, Stymied by (Lack of) Evidence
April 19, 2022 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Tinny Song
Last week, the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) was handed two losses after federal juries in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas and the U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado acquitted defendants accused of violating the antitrust laws by fixing wages and conspiring to suppress competition through no-poach agreements, respectively.
FTC and DOJ to Host Public Forums on Effects of Mergers Ahead of Issuance of New Merger Guidelines
March 22, 2022 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Tinny Song
No Harm, No Foul, and No Standing for Would-be SEP Implementer: 5th Circuit Changes Narrative on Patent “Hold Up”
March 3, 2022 | Blog | By Daniel Weinger, Michael Renaud, Bruce Sokler, James Thomson
In its analysis of Cont’l Auto. Sys., Inc. v. Avanci, L.L.C.,, the Fifth Circuit made several interesting findings: (1) that potential pass-through non-FRAND royalties are too speculative to create an injury in fact; (2) that SEP holders can fulfill their obligations to SSOs, with respect to suppliers, by actively licensing SEPs to downstream OEMs; and (3) that not all implementers are intended beneficiaries entitled to FRAND licenses.
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Increased HSR Notification Thresholds for 2022
January 24, 2022 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short
This alert covers the FTC’s increased jurisdictional thresholds for premerger notification filings under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (HSR Act), as amended.
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FTC, DOJ Launch Proceeding to Revise Antitrust Merger Guidelines
January 19, 2022 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short
As has been expected, on January 18, 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced in a joint press conference an initiative to review and revise the antitrust merger guidelines. In his competition Executive Order last summer, President Biden announced a policy calling for increased scrutiny of mergers. Against this backdrop, one would expect the effort would result in the toughening of standards over what currently is found in the existing guidelines.
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FTC Issues Fines Totaling Nearly $2 Million For Failures To File HSR Notifications
December 27, 2021 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
The Federal Trade Commission is closing out the year with vigorous enforcement of the Hart Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”) by imposing fines totaling nearly $2 million. On December 22, 2021, the FTC settled charges in two separate matters for repeated violations of the HSR Act. In one, investment fund operator Biglari Holdings Inc. will pay $1.4 million to settle charges that it failed to file the required HSR notification for stock acquisitions it made in 2020. In the other, Clarence L. Werner, founder of Werner Enterprises, Inc. will pay $486,900 to settle charges that he failed to file for acquisitions between May 2007 and February 2020 of his company’s stock.
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DOJ and FTC Virtual Workshop: Agencies Discuss Whole-of-Government Approach and New Solutions to Address Competition Issues in Labor Markets
December 10, 2021 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Tinny Song
On December 6 and 7, 2021, the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (“DOJ”) and the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) hosted a virtual workshop to discuss competition issues in labor markets and plans to execute President Biden’s Executive Order to address competition issues in our modern economy. The workshop, along with enforcement actions already underway, reinforces that this is a priority area for the Administration; marketplace participants are well advised to review their policies and compliance programs accordingly.
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Antitrust Agencies to Hold Virtual Public Workshop to Promote Competition in Labor Markets
October 29, 2021 | Blog | By Bruce Sokler, Tinny Song
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and the Department of Justice Antitrust Division (“DOJ”) just announced that they will host a virtual workshop on December 6 and 7, 2021, to discuss the agencies’ efforts to promote competition in labor markets and worker mobility.
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Webinar Recording: Cutting Through the Antitrust Noise — What’s Actually Going On?
October 7, 2021 | Webinar | By Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short, Bruce Sokler
Mintz’s antitrust team discussed what you should know as you conduct your business and plan your transactions and investments.
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FTC Promises More Rigorous Merger Reviews
October 1, 2021 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
Read about the FTC Bureau of Competition’s new process reforms to make the merger review process more rigorous and streamlined amid the surge in mergers and HSR notifications.
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News & Press
Five Mintz Attorneys Recognized as ‘Top Authors’ by JD Supra
February 24, 2026
Mintz is pleased to announce that five Attorneys have been named ‘Top Authors’ in their respective fields by JD Supra in its 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. This annual award recognizes top authors and firms for their thought leadership in key topics and reaching high levels of visibility and engagement.
How DOJ's Visa Debit Monopolization Suit May Unfold
October 28, 2024|
FTC Theories Of Harm After Anesthesia Co. Ruling
June 3, 2024|
The Capitol Forum Interviews Mintz's Bruce Sokler
April 22, 2024|
Are the Google, Amazon Suits This Generation's Microsoft?
November 26, 2023|
Thirteen Mintz Members Named To Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators List
September 11, 2023|
FTC Pharma Merger Digest May Offer Policy Clues
June 15, 2023|
FTC Shift In Compulsory Process Lends Staff More Clout
September 12, 2022|
Poultry Sector Wage-Fixing Case Shows Info Exchange Risks
August 31, 2022|
Private Equity On Notice Due To Vet Clinic FTC Settlement
June 16, 2022|
Five Mintz Attorneys Recognized as Client Service All-Stars by BTI
February 8, 2022|
Biden Enforcers Fail to Stem Rising Merger Tide
October 22, 2021|
Mintz Attorneys and Practices Recognized by Chambers USA 2020
April 24, 2020|
One Hundred Mintz Attorneys Ranked as Leaders by Best Lawyers 2020
August 15, 2019|
Mintz Recognized by Chambers USA 2019
April 26, 2019|
Antitrust Case against BCBS to Continue under Per Se Standard
February 1, 2019|
Chambers USA 2018 Ranks Mintz Attorneys & Practices
May 3, 2018|
Mintz Honored by JD Supra's 2018 Reader's Choice Awards
March 19, 2018|
Antitrust World Eyes Justices On AmEx Steering Case
February 23, 2018|
Hospital Consolidation
December 4, 2017|
What’s at Stake in the AmEx Merchant Rules Case?
October 16, 2017|
Physician Practice Acquisitions And Antitrust Scrutiny
September 19, 2017|
DOJ About-Face In High Court AmEx Case Has Attys Puzzled
August 9, 2017|
Chambers USA 2017 Ranks Mintz Attorneys & Practices
May 26, 2017|
Discord Between Ballad Health and the FTC
April 23, 2017|
Emboldened, the FTC Seems Ready to Fight More Mergers
November 21, 2016|
Chicago Hospital Case Could Hinge on Efficiency Argument
November 3, 2016|
Mintz Represents Seventh Generation, Inc. in Sale to Unilever
October 27, 2016|
FTC wins appeal to halt Penn State Hershey/PinnacleHealth merger
September 28, 2016|
Hospital Merger Stalls After FTC Court Win
September 27, 2016|
DOJ Loss In AmEx Case Could Imperil Hospital Steering Suit
September 27, 2016|
Six Mintz Members to Speak at 2016 IBA Annual Conference
September 12, 2016|
What Have Merchants Gained From Payment Card Litigation?
August 10, 2016|
5 Questions To Watch As DOJ Targets Carolinas HealthCare
June 13, 2016|
49 Mintz Attorneys Featured in Chambers USA 2016 Guide
May 31, 2016|
5 Ways to Ease the Pain of an Antitrust Review
May 23, 2016|
Rodeo Associations Fail to Rein in Each Other in Round 1
February 9, 2016|
Mintz’s Wins Significant Antitrust Case for C-SPAN
June 10, 2013|
Mintz Advises on Top Greentech Deal of 2012
January 8, 2013|
podcasts
Biden’s Executive Order on Antitrust Competition: What Does It Mean for the Health Care Industry?
July 19, 2021 | Podcast | By Bruce Sokler
Joe Miller and Bruce Sokler, Co-Chairs of Mintz's Antitrust Practice, discuss President Biden’s July 9 executive order, which called for a government-wide focus on antitrust competition issues and identified 72 initiatives across several industries.
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Events & Speaking
Panelist
Speaker
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Speaker
May
17
2018
Antitrust in Healthcare
American Bar Association and American Health Lawyers Association
The Ritz-Carlton Arlington, VA
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Speaker
Moderator
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Apr
23
2015
Recent Insights
