WASHINGTON, D.C., Jan. 30, 2012 — The American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law will host its premier International Cartel Workshop at the Fairmont Hotel in Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb 1-3.  The workshop is co-sponsored by the International Bar Association.

Following tradition, this year’s workshop includes demonstrations of hypothetical international cartel cases and features experts from around the globe examining all aspects of a cartel case. The workshop features some 75 highly experienced attorneys, senior cartel enforcement officials from 11 enforcement jurisdictions, and more than 40 cartel defense practitioners from 12 countries, and members of the plaintiffs bar from the United States, Canada and Europe.

Antitrust experts and lead cartel enforcers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United

States will participate in sessions that describe cartel case scenarios, new developments in the law and leniency practices around the world. Highlights include:

“The Decision to Self-Report and Seek Leniency in Multiple Jurisdictions” – Defense practitioners role play the case of a company’s board considering whether to self-report and seek enforcement leniency.  Practitioners will address issues relating to the number of jurisdictions in which the company has exposure and may seek leniency: what are the costs, benefits and risks in applying in multiple jurisdictions?  In which jurisdictions should they self-report and in what order?
Feb. 1, 1:00 p.m.

“The Company Seeks Markers in the United States, Korea and Australia” – This session explores three scenarios of a company seeking a marker for leniency protection and negotiating the terms for perfecting its leniency application with the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division, the Korea Fair Trade Commission, and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Feb. 1, 3:00 p.m.

“Beginning the Cartel Investigation: Eight Jurisdictions Devise Their Strategy” – In this hypothetical international cartel case, lead cartel enforcers from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States plan their strategy to begin a cartel investigation.
Feb. 1, 4:15 p.m.

“Search Warrants and Dawn Raids in Various Jurisdictions” – Senior enforcement officials and leading private practitioners discuss the following hypothetical cases: an FBI search and drop-in interviews in the United States; dawn raids in the European Union; dawn raids and interrogations in Japan; and raids/inspections in Brazil.
Feb. 2, 8:45 a.m.

“Negotiating a Disposition – US, EU and Canada” – Private practitioners and lead enforcers demonstrate negotiating a plea agreement in the United States, discussing a settlement in the European Union and negotiating a disposition in Canada.
Feb. 3, 10:45 a.m.

“A Concluding Roundtable: The 10 Toughest Issues in International Cartel Enforcement” –Panelists from Australia, Brazil, Canada, the European Union and the United States discuss the top issues in international cartel enforcement.
Feb. 3, 4:15 p.m.

Luncheon programs on Feb. 2 and 3 feature two roundtables: A Roundtable of Head Cartel Enforcers from Emerging Jurisdictions and A Roundtable of Heads of Enforcement Agencies, respectively, discussing the most recent developments and hottest issues in international cartel representations today.

The on-site guide and a link to the full agenda can be found here.

There is no charge for media covering this event. For media credentials and more information please contact Maria Gutierrez at 202-662-1091, Maria.Gutierrez@Americanbar.org.

With nearly 400,000 members, the American Bar Association is the largest voluntary professional membership organization in the world.  As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.

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