Attorney General Office Antitrust Division
The Antitrust Division of the Attorney General’s Office was established in 1976. Since its inception, the Section has recovered approximately $240 million on behalf of Florida’s citizens and taxpayers and state and local public entities within Florida.
The primary focus of the Division is the enforcement of state and federal antitrust laws through civil investigations and litigation under authority granted the Attorney General in the Florida Statutes. Over the years, the Division’s successful antitrust enforcement efforts have not only resulted in sizable recoveries for Floridians and Florida’s public entities, but have also ensured more competitive markets in Florida.
The Division also seeks to preserve competition by reviewing proposed mergers and acquisitions. A merger review is triggered when the proposed activity may result in reduce competition which would adversely affect Floridians.
In addition to its enforcement role, the Division also provides antitrust counsel for the State and its agencies and serves as a competition advocate in that role. For example, the Division regularly reviews administrative rules proposed by the various professional boards for potential anti-competitive consequences and consults with Administrative Law Division attorneys regarding any such concerns.
The Division also periodically conducts or participates in seminars for state and local procurement officials, designed to instruct them on spotting potential bid-rigging. In addition, the Division regularly participates in education seminars for government and private attorneys both through the Florida Bar and nationally. Accordingly, the Division will be, in cooperation with the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice, holding training sessions in Tallahassee on July 28-29, 2009 at the R.A. Gray Building, 500 S. Bronough Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32301.