Essential Antitrust #29: Microsoft/Activision: parallel reviews in high-innovation digital deals

Antitrust authorities are taking tougher and more interventionist approaches to merger reviews, deploying novel theories of harm and more forward-looking approaches to assessing nascent markets and technologies. These challenges are on full display in the Microsoft/Activision deal, which was recently blocked by the UK Competition and Markets Authority whilst receiving clearances from the European Commission and other authorities. In this latest episode of our Essential Antitrust podcast, our host Jenn Mellott is joined by our two newest antitrust partners, Rikki Haria and Jenny Leahy, to discuss the nuances underpinning these different results and how companies can navigate these key antitrust enforcement trends in future deals.