DOJ Adds Promptness And Remediation To Leniency Program

Lisa Phelan spoke to Law360 about the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division's announcement about changes to its leniency program, which will require companies disclosing anti-competitive conduct in the hopes of avoiding criminal charges and reducing fines to now report violations “promptly” and attempt to undo the harm they've caused.

“These are increased expectations on the leniency applicants,” Lisa said, noting that the changes come as U.S. and international enforcers deal with a multi-year downward trend in companies coming forward to disclose price-fixing and other cartels. Raising the bar for leniency, she said, “seems kind of counterproductive” if the goal is to get more companies to come forward.