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Antitrust

Antitrust and competition law compliance for small businesses, including algorithmic pricing, price-fixing risk, and regulatory enforcement

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The $38 Billion Visa–Mastercard Swipe-Fee Settlement: What Small Businesses Can Now Surcharge, Decline, and Discount at the Register

In June 2026 a federal judge preliminarily approved the $38 billion Visa–Mastercard settlement, cutting average credit interchange by about 0.1 point for five years, capping standard consumer cards at 1.25% for eight years, and — with no sunset date — letting merchants surcharge by card type or decline premium card categories. Here is what the settlement permits, which states still ban or cap surcharging, and the network compliance checklist to follow before changing point-of-sale pricing.

mike

paymentspoint-of-saleantitrust

The Egg Price-Fixing Settlement: What Small Food Businesses Should Learn From It

In June 2026, the DOJ and 17 states settled with Cal-Maine, Versova, and Hickman's for $3.3 million over alleged manipulation of the Urner Barry egg price index from 2022 to 2025 — a period when the three producers earned an estimated $1.22 billion. Here's what bakeries, diners, and grocers should do now, from pulling 2022–2025 purchase records to checking contracts for index-linked pricing clauses.

mike

antitrustsmall-businessbenchmarks

The FTC's Record $12 Million HSR Penalty: What Acquisitive Small Businesses Need to Know About Merger Filing Thresholds

On July 13, 2026, the FTC and DOJ obtained a record $12 million civil penalty from Edwards Lifesciences and Genesis MedTech for structuring a $115 million acquisition with a $25 million non-voting side investment to stay under the Hart-Scott-Rodino filing threshold. This guide explains the 2026 HSR thresholds — $133.9 million size-of-transaction and the size-of-person test — and why roll-ups, PE-backed platforms, and deals structured to "just miss" the line carry real filing risk.

mike

antitrustcompliancelegal

The Robinson-Patman Act Is Back: What a Wine Distributor's Antitrust Fight Means for Every Small Retailer

The FTC's December 2024 Robinson-Patman suit against Southern Glazer's — the first in decades to survive a motion to dismiss — revives a 1936 law barring suppliers from charging small retailers more than big chains for identical goods. What the Act covers, its cost-justification defenses, and the purchase records independent retailers should keep now.

mike

antitrustsmall-businesslegal
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