Trade Associations, Information Exchange, and Cartels

T rade associations can play a procompetitive role in an economy but, as an association of actual and potential competitors, can also raise important competition law issues that must be addressed carefully by legal counsel. This Issue Paper presents a hypothetical problem that illustrates many of the issues that counsel can confront in representing a trade association, its members, or company executives. The Issue Paper raises many of the issues from a United States' perspective with occasional comparative examples from other jurisdictions. Carefully consider how your jurisdiction would, and should, address these all too real issues. In thinking about the competition law and best practices in your jurisdiction, also consider how the best legal advice possible will be subverted unless there is a true culture of compliance in the industry, enterprises, and employees in question.