New Section Will Enhance New Jersey’s Capabilities to Protect Fair Competition

TRENTON — Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced the establishment of a permanent, stand-alone Antitrust Litigation and Competition Enforcement Section (ALCEs) within the Division of Law (DOL) to reinforce the State’s capacity for robust antitrust protection. This new section will empower New Jersey to better protect consumers and foster a fair marketplace.

“There is a pressing need in New Jersey for dedicated resources and specialized expertise for antitrust issues, which are becoming increasingly complex,” said Attorney General Platkin. “As the Attorney General, I have the critical obligation to protect consumers and workers from the problems that result from unchecked monopolies and oligopolies. With this move, we are acting to safeguard the interests of our residents and foster a fair and competitive marketplace for all.”

“Anticompetitive behavior hurts everyone, and fighting it is a challenge,” said DOL Director Michael T.G. Long. “We’re thankful for Attorney General Platkin’s leadership on this issue and for ensuring that New Jersey’s Antitrust Act is vigorously enforced.”

The formation of this new section reflects the Attorney General’s strategic commitment to proactively address both large-scale and localized antitrust issues affecting New Jersey markets. The new section will enhance the State’s capabilities under New Jersey’s Antitrust Act, ensuring that consumers and the market remain protected from unlawful monopolistic and anti-competitive behaviors.

In August 2022, Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation amending the State’s antitrust statute to permit claims by indirect purchasers harmed by anticompetitive conduct. This significant step ensures that the Attorney General can pursue bad actors and obtain restitution at all levels of the supply chain, promoting a fair playing field for all market participants.

Building upon this advancement, the DOL is expanding dedicated antitrust enforcement efforts to address the growing need to pursue antitrust bad actors and ensure sustainable success. In recent years, New Jersey has become more actively involved in significant antitrust actions against major technology corporations, including Apple (in which the DOL is local counsel for the federal and state plaintiffs), Amazon, and Google, as well as other industries such as the airline, retail, labor, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries. Attorney General Platkin remains committed to addressing emerging antitrust issues that are pervasive in these and other sectors including technology, housing, and the food chain.

Taken together, these efforts have laid a strong foundation for the dedicated staff within the new ALCEs to build upon. The new section is headquartered out of the DOL’s Newark office and will be led by a section chief and an assistant section chief in the DOL’s Affirmative Civil Enforcement Practice Group. To learn more about hiring opportunities in the DOL, click here.

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