Farrah advises on all aspects of antitrust and competition law, including merger review, competitor collaborations, government investigations, private class action litigation, and general antitrust compliance.
Farrah specializes in counseling clients through the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) merger review process at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, including responding to Second Requests and providing substantive antitrust risk analysis for strategic acquisitions. She has obtained antitrust clearance for major, multi-billion dollar transactions in a variety of industries. Farrah also regularly advises on HSR reporting triggers for securities investors and provides strategic advice for non-reportable transactions with significant competitive implications.
She also has significant experience counseling clients on a wide range of other antitrust compliance issues, including information exchanges, competitor collaborations, joint ventures, licensing deals, exclusive dealings, and the creation of internal antitrust compliance programs. In addition, Farrah represents clients in state antitrust investigations, and provides guidance on navigating ex-U.S. merger control requirements.
Outside of her antitrust practice, Farrah serves as chief outside counsel to the National Network to End Domestic Violence. She also actively supports the firm’s pro bono program, representing indigent clients in immigration matters, including successful asylum and U visa applications. She previously served as chief outside counsel for a nonprofit that provides need-based education scholarships for the families of U.S. military personnel.
Prior to her legal career, Farrah was a program associate for the launch of the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard’s Kennedy School.
Education
- University of Pennsylvania Law School (JD)
- Wellesley College (BA)
Experience
- Served as antitrust counsel to one of the largest American retail pharmacies. Our team represented the corporation in its transactions, litigation, and other matters before both state and federal antitrust authorities.
- Represented one of the nation’s leading hospital and physicians networks in connection with its acquisitions of three community hospitals and a large physician group.
- Represented a market leading producer and distributor of environmentally-safe household products in its acquisition by another transnational consumer goods company.
- Represented a leading provider of sample and assay technologies in the antitrust aspects of its $1.5 billion acquisition of another life sciences company.
- Served as antitrust counsel for a hospital in its merger with another medical center.
- Served as antitrust counsel for a leading provider of sample and assay technologies, and are currently involved in counseling and representing the company in merger and acquisition activities.
Recognition & Awards
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers: Rising Star - Antitrust Litigation (2015)
- City Year Idealist of the Year (2015)
Recent Insights
Viewpoints
2019 HSR Notification Thresholds Announced
February 19, 2019|Alert
Divergent Views on Vertical Mergers Apparent in FTC’s Staples Merger Consent
February 4, 2019|Advisory
News & Press
Mintz is proud to be recognized by JD Supra in its 2018 Reader’s Choice awards. The annual program highlights the most widely read authors and articles throughout the past year. Five Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four different industries.
Mintz advised GPB Capital on its acquisition of a majority equity stake in Westwood, Massachusetts-based Prime Motor Group. The acquisition by Capstone Automotive Group, an affiliate of GPB, expands the group’s footprint throughout New England.
Chair of Mintz’s Antitrust section Bruce Sokler, along with Member Rob Kidwell and attorneys, Farrah Short Shawn Skolky collaborated on an article regarding the Washington state attorney general’s office suit against the expansion efforts of Franciscan Health System.
Events
Viewpoints
DOJ Antitrust Division Makes Filings in Civil Cases to Influence Development of Antitrust “No Poach” Law
March 12, 2019 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
This antitrust alert highlights two filings made by the DOJ last week in cases pending in federal district courts in North Carolina and Washington.
2019 HSR Notification Thresholds Announced
February 19, 2019 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short
Read about the FTC’s new “size of transaction” and “size of person” thresholds requiring reporting under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976.
Divergent Views on Vertical Mergers Apparent in FTC’s Staples Merger Consent
February 4, 2019 | Advisory | By Bruce Sokler, Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short
Read about FTC commissioners’ divergent views on vertical mergers detailed in statements filed with a proposed consent order regarding Staples’ acquisition of Essendant.
Antitrust Case Against BCBS to Continue Under Per Se Standard
December 14, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
Read about the 11th Circuit's denial of Blue Cross Blue Shield’s appeal of a ruling that its allegedly restrictive practices must be analyzed under the per se standard.
DOJ Provides Additional Insight into Its Recent Anti-Steering Settlement
December 7, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
This alert reviews the DOJ’s Competitive Impact Statement on the Atrium case, which suggests that providers including anticompetitive steering restrictions in payor contracts may face antitrust risks.
DOJ Reaches Proposed Settlement in Anti-Steering Case Against Atrium Health (f/k/a Carolinas HealthCare)
November 15, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
Read about a DOJ Antitrust Division proposed settlement that would bar Atrium Health from using anticompetitive steering restrictions in payor contracts.
Mintz’s Antitrust Group Covers Third Circuit Reinstatement of $67 Million Antitrust “Refusal to Deal” Suit Against Blues
September 5, 2018 | Blog | By Samantha Kingsbury
Last week, Bruce Sokler and Farrah Short from Mintz’s Antitrust practice group published a detailed alert regarding the Third Circuit’s reinstatement of an antitrust suit brought by medical device manufacturer LifeWatch Services, Inc. (“LifeWatch”) against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and five of its member insurance plan administrators: LifeWatch
Third Circuit Reinstates $67 Million Antitrust “Refusal to Deal” Suit Against Blues
August 31, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short
The Third Circuit reinstated an antitrust suit brought by a medical device seller that alleged Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and five of its member insurance plan administrators shut out the seller by conspiring to deny coverage for its device. LifeWatch Services Inc. v. Highmark Inc. et al., Case No. 17-1990 (3rd Cir. Aug. 28, 2018). Critical to the Third Circuit’s reversal of the lower court’s dismissal of the suit was market definition. In this buyer-side conspiracy case, where the seller alleged a concerted refusal to deal by purchasers of its product, the relevant market is comprised of buyers who are seen by the seller as reasonably good substitutes for each other regarding the purchase of its product. Thus “[a] concerted refusal to deal with all sellers of telemetry monitors, regardless of its equality, may still restrain competition in the alleged market for the purchase of outpatient cardiac monitors.” The lower court had instead focused on the market for the seller’s product.
Not Just Mergers – FTC Highlights Commonly Missed HSR Reportable Transactions
May 16, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Robert Kidwell, Farrah Short
The Premerger Notification Office (the “PNO”) of the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) recently issued a reminder about often overlooked “transactions” that may require notification under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”).
Out with the Old: DOJ Seeks to Terminate Outdated Antitrust Judgments
April 26, 2018 | Alert | By Bruce Sokler, Farrah Short, Shawn Skolky
The Department of Justice (“DOJ”) announced a new initiative to terminate “legacy” antitrust judgments that “no longer protect competition.” In 1979, the DOJ adopted a general practice to include sunset provisions that automatically terminate judgments, typically 10 years after entry.
News & Press
Mintz Honored by JD Supra's 2018 Reader's Choice Awards
March 19, 2018
Mintz is proud to be recognized by JD Supra in its 2018 Reader’s Choice awards. The annual program highlights the most widely read authors and articles throughout the past year. Five Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four different industries.
Mintz advised GPB Capital on its acquisition of a majority equity stake in Westwood, Massachusetts-based Prime Motor Group. The acquisition by Capstone Automotive Group, an affiliate of GPB, expands the group’s footprint throughout New England.
Physician Practice Acquisitions And Antitrust Scrutiny
September 19, 2017 | Law360
Chair of Mintz’s Antitrust section Bruce Sokler, along with Member Rob Kidwell and attorneys, Farrah Short Shawn Skolky collaborated on an article regarding the Washington state attorney general’s office suit against the expansion efforts of Franciscan Health System.
Mintz Named Top Firm in Energy and Eleven Attorneys Featured in JD Supra’s 2017 Reader’s Choice Awards
March 20, 2017
JD Supra has recognized Mintz in its 2017 Reader’s Choice awards, highlighting the most widely read authors and articles over the past year. Eleven Mintz attorneys were named JD Supra Top Authors in four industries and Mintz was recognized as the Top Firm with readers in the Energy Industry.
A New Meaning For FRAND In Korea's Qualcomm Sanctions
January 24, 2017
A team of Mintz attorneys author this column discussing the Korean Fair Trade Commission’s steep fine against Qualcomm for antitrust violations and the continued antitrust concerns raised by Qualcomm’s licensing practices.
Mintz Represents Seventh Generation, Inc. in Sale to Unilever
October 27, 2016
Mintz attorneys represented Seventh Generation, Inc. in its recent sale to Unilever. Based in Vermont, Seventh Generation is a pioneer in corporate responsibility and sustainable product innovations, including plant-based detergents and household cleaners.
Peoria hospital's exclusive contracts did not unreasonably block competition, federal court rules
October 18, 2016 | Cook County Record
Farrah Short, Special Counsel on antitrust matters in Washington, DC, is quoted in a Cook County Record article on the U.S. District Court for the Central District of Illinois ruling in a matter involving OSF Saint Francis Medical Center and Unity Point Health-Methodist.
What Have Merchants Gained From Payment Card Litigation?
August 10, 2016
Mintz Members Bruce Sokler and Robert Kidwell, and Special Counsel Farrah Short, authored this Law360 column about the war being waged between businesses that accept payment cards and payment card fees and protective network rules.
Former NIU punter sues NCAA over scholarship, transfer rules
March 24, 2016
Farrah Short, Special Counsel, is quoted in a Legal Newsline article on a lawsuit brought against the NCAA by a former Northern Illinois University football player. The plaintiff claimed that the NCAA’s scholarship and transfer rules violate antitrust laws.
Rodeo Associations Fail to Rein in Each Other in Round 1
February 9, 2016
Chair of Mintz’s Antitrust Practice Bruce Sokler and Farrah Short, Antitrust Special Counsel, authored this Law360 column on a legal battle between two rodeo associations.
Events
Panelist
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