Antitrust, Unfair Competition, Unfair Trade Practices, and Trade Regulation

The attorneys of Hamilton, Brown & Babst are experienced in representing clients in the defense and prosecution of claims involving unfair and anticompetitive business practices across a broad range of businesses, arising under a broad range of federal and state statutes. We are pleased to accept referrals from attorneys in these areas, as well.

Two of the firm’s attorneys have served as chairmen of the Section of Antitrust, Trade Regulation and Business Torts Law, of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and have regularly practiced and lectured in this area.

These claims arise in the context of business relations between manufacturers and their distributors or dealers, in relations between businesses and their suppliers, in relations between consumers and the businesses that serve them, and in matters involving competition between business entities.

The claims involved can range from price-fixing, bid-rigging and agreements between competitors to allocate territories or customer between them, to abuse of economic power. They can involve raiding of the employees of a competitor, the taking of confidential business information and trade secrets, and other types of conduct having impact on vital business operations. These matters can also involve issues of misrepresentation, false advertising and other forms of deception of consumers, breach of contract, and detrimental reliance.

We are experienced in the defense and prosecution of these claims arising under:

• State and federal antitrust law,
• RICO,
• Louisiana’s Unfair Trade Practice and Consumer Protection Law,
• State and federal price discrimination statutes,
• the Lanham Act,
• State laws regulating unfair competition and false advertising,
• Louisiana civil law and
• Other policies and laws.