What We Do
Working for the Bureau of Competition
One of the "Best Places to Work in the Federal Government," the Federal Trade Commission is the place to be for talented attorneys and law students who are passionate about antitrust law, preserving competitive markets, and protecting American consumers. Bureau of Competition attorneys are among the best in the antitrust world and their work ensures that our markets are open and free, allowing for lower prices and better quality goods and services.
The FTC is an independent agency, and the Bureau of Competition is dedicated to preventing anticompetitive mergers and business conduct that can lead to higher prices, reduced service, less innovation, and fewer choices for consumers. Our attorneys and interns work with economists in collaborative teams to investigate unlawful business practices and, when necessary, bring cases through the Commission's administrative process or in federal court.
Bureau of Competition Attorneys
Bureau of Competition attorneys are dedicated to serving American
consumers and businesses. The varied experiences, skills, and
educational backgrounds of our attorneys and legal interns foster an
environment that values diversity and achievement. Our collegial and
inclusive work environment, early opportunities to take on meaningful
assignments, commitment to training and professional development, and
excellent federal benefits
package are among the key reasons why we have been consistently named a
"Top 10 Agency" by
the Partnership for Public Service.
The Bureau of Competition coordinates a highly selective recruitment program and places new attorneys in its enforcement divisions. These divisions are differentiated by the markets they investigate.
- Mergers I: Health care related industries, including brand-name and generic pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution, medical devices, and consumer health products. The division also reviews markets for defense, scientific, industrial, and consumer products.
- Mergers II: A wide range of industries, from coal mines and industrial solvents, to video rental stores, soft drinks, and semiconductors.
- Mergers III: Energy, oil, gasoline, and natural gas industries.
- Mergers IV: Hospitals, consumer goods, supermarkets, retail, multichannel video programming distribution, and media.
- Health Care: Physicians and other health professionals, pharmaceutical companies, institutional providers, and insurers. The division also reviews mergers involving health care products and services.
- Anticompetitive Practices: Anticompetitive conduct, with an emphasis on issues of intellectual property rights, attempts by professional and regulatory boards to limit competition, immunities from and exceptions to the antitrust laws, and industry standard setting.
- Compliance: Competition orders and appropriate remedies for unlawful mergers or anticompetitive practices.
