Rule Garza Howley’s Fireside Conversations with FTC Senior Officials Covered Extensively in Press

WASHINGTON, D.C., September 28, 2026 — Rule Garza Howley’s fireside conversations with FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson and Directors Guarnera and Mufarrige were extensively covered by several press outlets, making clear just how substantive the discussion was.

In the hours following the event, Global Competition Review and MLex devoted extensive coverage to Chairman Ferguson’s remarks, covering everything from the FTC’s approach to merger litigation and the role of lobbyists, to state antitrust enforcement, the impact of Trump v. Slaughter, and the relationship between the FTC and the White House. Law360 likewise highlighted Chairman Ferguson’s candid comments on the FTC’s decision to pursue mergers exclusively in federal court, the potential consequences for companies that resist that approach, AI and antitrust enforcement, state attorneys general, and the future of FTC enforcement.

Among the more notable observations to emerge from the discussion:

• On company challenges to FTC’s approach to merger litigation: “If you guys are going to be jerks about it, no one in this room that I know of, I’m fine being a jerk back.”
• On lobbying: “I don’t think hiring a lobbyist is necessary, remotely necessary to do merger work at either agency.”
• On state enforcement: Ferguson described the Paramount case as involving “a fair amount of soapboxing and not a ton of law enforcement.”
• On White House involvement:  While observing the President’s agenda will continue to be followed, “[t]here’s just no need for people at the White House to be calling shots” on specific enforcement matters.

We are proud that Rule Garza Howley created a forum where the Chairman could engage directly—and candidly—with an audience of our clients and friends. Thank you to Chairman Ferguson, Directors Guarnera & Mufarrige, journalists, and everyone who joined us for an exceptionally substantive conversation.

Some representative articles can be found here:

GCR: AI cartel suit seeks to promote safety, plaintiffs’ lawyers say – GCR USA & The smell “cartel”: The Tipline for 23 September 2026 – GCR USA

Law360: FTC’s Ferguson: Don’t Fight New Fed. Courts Merger Policy – Law360

MLex: No need to hire lobbyists for US FTC antitrust, merger cases, Ferguson says, States have important antitrust role despite politicization risk, US FTC chair says, FTC could bring administrative cases if firms don’t cooperate in court, Ferguson says, White House isn’t ‘calling shots’ at US FTC, Ferguson says, US FTC commissioners’ role remains consultative post-Slaughter, Ferguson says