From 27 to 31 March, Kārlis Piģēns, a member of the Competition Council, was in Washington, D.C., representing the Competition Council and participating in a week of events on competition law.
From 29 to 31 March, K. Piģēns participated in the 71st Antitrust Law Annual Spring Meeting, the world’s largest conference of competition, consumer protection and data privacy professionals, organised by the American Bar Association. During the conference K. Piģēns gave an interview on current developments in the field of competition law in Latvia, got acquainted with new developments in competition law, and met with representatives of the US Department of Justice to discuss issues regarding the strengthening of future cooperation. At the same time, a meeting of representatives of Eastern European competition authorities was organised in parallel to the sessions to discuss issues related to enhancing international cooperation.
Kārlis Piģēns, Member of the Competition Council: ‘The conference once again highlighted the crucial role of efficient internal and external markets and the free competition that exists within them in today’s economy, as well as the ‘competition guards’ from the supervisory authorities that defend free competition and prevent the existence of cartels or other forms/groups that would restrict the existence of free competition.’
The conference brings together more than 3,400 delegates from over 65 countries, including the world’s top competition professionals: lawyers, academics, economists, enforcers, journalists and students. All participants shared their experience and knowledge, exchanged views, and debated the best solutions to the challenges faced by today’s national economies.
While in Washington, K. Piģēns also participated in other events devoted to competition law. On 27 March, K. Piģēns participated in the annual Law Enforcement Summit organised by the US Department of Justice and the US Federal Trade Commission.
On 28 March, K. Piģēns met with the staff of the Embassy of Latvia in the United States, providing insight into the current developments in competition law in the Latvian and European Union legal space. K. Piģēns also represented the Competition Council at the annual Antitrust Writing Awards Ceremony.
On 30 March, K. Piģēns participated in a seminar organised by Concurrences, an independent competition law publication, entitled ‘EU Foreign Subsidies: A US Perspective’.
On 31 March, K. Piģēns met with the faculty of The George Washington University and attended a lecture by Prof. William E. Kovacic on current developments in competition law.
More information on the 71st Antitrust Law Annual Spring Meeting conference is available here: https://web.cvent.com/event/1be398b6-c587-42f6-83f9-021684e22ca9/summary