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ARTICLE · 02 JANUARY 2026

Five Must-Watch Antitrust Storylines For 2026

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As an eventful 2025 in antitrust and competition comes to an end and we look forward to 2026, we reflect on the things that changed—and some things that did not—over the last year.

United StatesAntitrust/Competition Law
Rachel J. Lamorte
Rachel J. Lamorte
Julyana C. Dawson
Julyana C. Dawson
Lauren E. Knudson
Lauren E. Knudson
Ora Nwabueze
Ora Nwabueze
Mecca Aikens
Mecca Aikens
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As an eventful 2025 in antitrust and competition comes to an end and we look forward to 2026, we reflect on the things that changed—and some things that did not—over the last year.

  • Some things did not change:
    • Reforms to the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act adopted during the Biden Administration went into effect, and the 2023 Merger Guidelines were retained; and
    • Big Tech litigation continued, with courts reaching big decisions on remedies and liability.
  • Some things have definitely changed:
    • New leadership has taken over at the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division (DOJ) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the FTC is now down to two Republican members after Alvaro Bedoya and Rebecca Kelly Slaughter were removed, and Melissa Holyoak resigned;

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This Mayer Brown article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.

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