Sandrock: Trends and Developments in California Antitrust Law
California has, for decades, been at the forefront of antitrust enforcement in the United States, according to Shook Antitrust Practice Co-Chair Ryan Sandrock. Sandrock has authored a Trends and Developments article for the USA - California Section of Chambers and Partners' Cartels 2026 practice guide.
In the article, Sandrock identified key trends, including increased antitrust matters from the state attorney general. In one example, he notes the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) suit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation in 2024. While the assumption was that state attorneys general would follow DOJ's lead, Sandrock says that was incorrect. DOJ reached a settlement mid-litigation, but states chose to keep litigating, resulting in a favorable jury outcome in New York in April 2026.
"The lesson is that state AGs, including the California Attorney General, are increasingly willing not only to litigate independently of federal enforcers but also to pursue more aggressive theories of harm and more robust remedies," he says.
Read the article in Chambers and Partners >>
In the article, Sandrock identified key trends, including increased antitrust matters from the state attorney general. In one example, he notes the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) suit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation in 2024. While the assumption was that state attorneys general would follow DOJ's lead, Sandrock says that was incorrect. DOJ reached a settlement mid-litigation, but states chose to keep litigating, resulting in a favorable jury outcome in New York in April 2026.
"The lesson is that state AGs, including the California Attorney General, are increasingly willing not only to litigate independently of federal enforcers but also to pursue more aggressive theories of harm and more robust remedies," he says.
Read the article in Chambers and Partners >>
