CHICAGO, Feb. 6, 2024 — The American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section will join with the University of Oxford Centre for Competition Law and Policy (CCLP) on Friday, Feb. 9, with an afternoon program focusing on how companies, faced with the serious threat of climate change, are increasingly considering a wide range of strategies and collaborations aimed at promoting more sustainable business.
What: 2024 Sustainability and Competition Law: Friends or Foes?
Sponsored by the ABA Antitrust Law Section
When: Friday, Feb. 9 (in-person only, 1:30-5 p.m. local time)
Where: Pembroke College, University of Oxford
Pichette Auditorium
St. Aldates
Oxford, OX1 1DW
The program explores the policy and enforcement challenges associated with the application of competition law to sustainability initiatives. Panels will discuss whether these concerns are legitimate, what balance should governments strike between protecting competition and promoting initiatives in the context of climate change, and how policies can be refined to enable sustainability initiatives while preventing businesses from using them as a vehicle to dampen competition.
The program includes (scheduled order):
· “Should Sustainability Count in Competition Law Assessments: The Case for and Against” ― This panel features speakers Simon Holmes, UK Competition Appeals Tribunal, London, and Maarten Pieter Schinkel, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam. It will be moderated by Fiona A. Schaeffer, Milbank LLP, New York, NY.
· “Fireside Chat” ― Ariel Ezrachi of CCLP discusses sustainability and antitrust issues with Ann Pope, senior director for antitrust, UK Competition and Markets Authority, London.
· “Implementation Challenges: Balancing Sustainability and Competitive Effects in Practice” ― Six global experts from a range of fields will present their perspectives: Ninette Dodoo, Freshfield Bruckhaus Deringer, Beijing; Maurits Dolmans, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Brussels; Ruben Maximiano, senior competition policy expert, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris; Julian Nowag, CCLP and Lund University, Oxford; Peter Tufano, Harvard Business School, Boston; and Vanessa Turner, The European Consumer Organisation, Brussels. Okeoghene Odudu, Co-Director, Centre for European Legal Studies, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, will moderate.
· “Final Reflections” ― The wrap-up session will be led by Grant Bermann, Milbank LLP, Washington, D.C., and Anne Catherine Faye, Analysis Group, Boston.
The full agenda is here with faculty. Media are welcome to attend but must register in advance by 5 p.m. EST Thursday, Feb. 8, by emailing [email protected]. The ABA Antitrust Law Section reserves the right to limit the number of media per organization based on availability of seating.
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