The Federal Trade Commission and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice recently released Draft Antitrust Guidelines for Collaborations Among Competitors. The stated goal of the antitrust enforcement agencies in developing the Guidelines was to clarify antitrust policy regarding various forms of collaborative activity among competitors, such as strategic alliances and joint ventures.

The Guidelines were released in draft form, and the agencies currently are soliciting public comment before releasing the final Guidelines. Immediately following the release of the draft Guidelines, several members of Hale and Dorr's Antitrust and Trade Regulation Practice Group attended a two day program featuring officials from both of the antitrust enforcement agencies who provided commentary and insight into the methodology employed by the agencies in reviewing competitor collaborations.

For further information on the draft Guidelines, please contact Partner Michelle Miller at 617-526-6116 or [email protected].