The Antitrust Division

The Attorney General’s Antitrust Division protects the people, state agencies and businesses of Massachusetts from anti-competitive practices and helps maintain and encourage a competitive and vibrant economy through fair and effective enforcement of antitrust laws. 

The Antitrust Division:

• Investigates and challenges anti-competitive mergers, price-fixing agreements, and other illegal practices by companies, both local and national, that harm Massachusetts consumers and important state interests.
• Promotes and protects competition in various industries directly affecting consumers including:  health care, high technology,  telecommunications, retail and transportation.
• Obtains relief for consumers in the form of refunds for overcharges, civil penalties, and injunctions on offending businesses.
• Advocates for effective competition policy at the state and national levels by filing legal briefs in important antitrust cases, engaging in policy initiatives, and promoting pro-competitive  legislation.

Helpful Links:

• United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division
• Federal Trade Commission
• ABA Section of Antitrust Law

State and Federal Antitrust Laws:

State:

• M.G.L. Ch. 93
• M.G.L. Ch. 93A

Federal:

• The Sherman Act, Section 1 (15 U.S.C. §§ 1)
• The Sherman Act, Section 2 (15 U.S.C. §§ 2)
• The Federal Trade Commission Act, Section 5 (15 U.S.C. § 45):
• The Clayton Act, Section 7 (15 U.S.C. §§ 18)
• The Clayton Act, Section 7A (15 U.S.C. §§ 18a)