VLGS’s “Bust the Trust Symposium”

Vermont Law and Graduate School’s Food and Agricultural Law Society is hosting a symposium, “Bust the Trust,” to discuss legal trends in the growing antitrust movement. Learn from legal experts at a state and national level about the role of antitrust in various areas, such as consolidation in agriculture, the implications on business, and careers in antitrust law.  

Legal action against monopolies and corporate consolidation plays a crucial role in our food system, especially with the recent merger of grocery giants and price fixing by food manufacturers. In the United States, four companies control over seventy percent of all beef processing and nearly half of all retail grocery markets. Antitrust is relevant, not just in food and agriculture, but a rising issue in the tech industry as it faces scrutiny from the Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission with cases against Google.   

The event will open with a keynote address from Zephyr Teachout, author of the book “Break ‘Em Up,” followed by a panel discussion featuring professionals with diverse experiences and expertise in antitrust law and policy. There will be a reception with snacks and drinks provided as an opportunity for students and attendees to connect with distinguished experts.  

*Tentative Agenda:

4 p.m. – Welcome 

4:05 p.m. – Keynote speaker, Zephyr Teachout

5 p.m. – Panel discussion: Antitrust enforcement trends in Vermont and Nationwide (Moderated by Claire Kelloway)

6 p.m. – Happy hour reception 

7 p.m. – Closing remarks