Live Updates – ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting 2026: Panel On Federal And State Enforcement Priorities

The members of BakerHostetler’s Antitrust and Competition Team are pleased to present these brief updates from the conference sessions at this week’s ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C.

The ABA Antitrust Spring Meeting opened its Wednesday session with a panel examining how recent actions by the federal government may signal its enforcement priorities in the coming year. Panelists from across the antitrust bar discussed recent enforcement activity at the DOJ and FTC, providing observations on merger enforcement, conduct cases, interagency dynamics, and the evolving relationship between federal and state enforcers.

Focus on ‘Kitchen Table’ Issues

Speakers noted both agencies’ interest in competition issues that affect consumers’ day‑to‑day lives, including the healthcare, agriculture, food, and consumer‑facing entertainment sectors. Commentators observed that federal enforcers’ focus on these industries reflects recent trends in antitrust policy, in which enforcement