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DOJ Antitrust Chief Slams Big Law Tactics, Announces Crackdown

By  |  August 31, 2025

The head of the US Department of Justice’s antitrust division criticized what she described as troubling tactics employed by major law firms in antitrust litigation, warning that recent courtroom rebukes of Alphabet’s Google and Apple for concealing or destroying evidence are “just the tip of the iceberg,” according to Reuters.

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    Assistant Attorney General Gail Slater delivered the remarks Friday at a Federalist Society gathering in Columbus, Ohio. In her prepared speech, she condemned what she called “tactics of obstruction and gamesmanship,” pledging that the DOJ will pursue penalties against those who cross the line. Per Reuters, Slater’s appearance marked her first public statement since the dismissal of two deputies who resisted leadership’s direction to settle a case on the verge of trial.

    Slater, a veteran antitrust lawyer and former economic adviser to Senator JD Vance, was appointed in March to oversee the division, which enforces federal laws against anticompetitive practices. She has frequently argued that strong enforcement benefits working-class Americans by reducing costs for essentials like housing, food, and healthcare. But, Reuters reported, her push has collided with what critics describe as powerful lobbying forces seeking to curtail cases through settlements.

    Related: Judge Clears Path for DOJ Antitrust Suit Against Visa

    The dispute inside the DOJ escalated earlier this summer when Slater resisted orders to resolve a lawsuit seeking to block Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s $14 billion takeover of Juniper Networks. Following her stance, two deputies, including Roger Alford, were dismissed in July. Alford later claimed in a public address that political influence and “MAGA-in-Name-Only lobbyists” were interfering with enforcement efforts, Reuters noted. Democratic lawmakers have since urged judicial scrutiny into the handling of that settlement.

    In response to what she views as systemic issues, Slater announced the creation of a new task force within the antitrust division. She described the initiative as “comply with care,” a pointed play on Google’s internal “communicate with care” policy, which prosecutors say was used to withhold key documents under the guise of attorney-client privilege.

    “For parties that choose to push the boundaries of fair play or even flout them outright, we will not shy away from pursuing them, taking advantage of the full range of available penalties. And we will not hesitate to bring issues to court,” Slater said in her remarks.

    Source: Reuters