CBA Economics Roundtable 2026: Negotiation and Market Power in Antitrust Enforcement
Presented by the CBA Competition Law and Foreign Investment Review Section
Wednesday May 13, 2026 | 10:00 AM–3:45 PM ET
Theme
Negotiation is a pervasive feature of many markets, influencing both price and non-price dimensions of products and services. Over the past decade, antitrust analysis has increasingly adopted modern techniques to study markets where outcomes are shaped by bargaining between parties. In today’s environment—marked by heightened attention to labour market competition and recent frictions in collective bargaining—these approaches are particularly relevant for understanding negotiations between employers and employees.
This year’s Roundtable will examine how economic models of bargaining are applied in antitrust enforcement, with practical implications for merger review, conduct investigations, and labour market cases. It will provide practitioners with a deeper understanding of how these models shape enforcement approaches and highlight emerging issues in markets where prices and terms are negotiated.
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EVENT |
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10:00 am – 10:20 am
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Introduction
Welcome: Dr. Nadia Soboleva, Chair, Economics and Law Committee
Introductory Remarks: Nicholas Janota, Director of Economics and Associate Deputy Commissioner of Competition, Competition Bureau
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10:20 am – 11:05 am
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Presentation 1: Foundations of Negotiation Economics and Antitrust Applications
Speaker: Dr. Allan Collard-Wexler, Professor of Economics, Duke University
Dr. Allan Collard-Wexler will provide an overview of the economics of negotiation and the key bargaining models used in antitrust analysis. He will explain how these models are applied in merger review and conduct investigations, illustrating their role in assessing competitive effects in markets where prices and terms are negotiated. The session will conclude with insights on how these frameworks can be extended to labour markets, drawing on his research into collective bargaining in education.
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11:15 am – 12:30 pm
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Panel 1: Economics in Antitrust Enforcement for Negotiated Markets
Moderator: Dr. Sebnem Gavin, Senior Economist, Competition Bureau
Panelists:
- Dr. Allan Collard-Wexler, Professor of Economics, Duke University
- Dr. Alessandro Kadner-Graziano, Associate Principal, Charles River Associates
- Umang Khandelwal, Associate, Davies LLP
Focus: Practical challenges in applying bargaining models to merger and conduct cases, and how these tools inform enforcement decisions
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12:30 pm – 1:35 pm
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Lunch and Keynote Address
Keynote Address: Acquihiring for Monopsony Power (30 minutes)
Speaker: Dr. Heski Bar-Isaac, Distinguished Professor of Economics and Finance, Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto
Dr. Heski Bar-Isaac will explore the economics of “acquihiring” and its implications for competition policy. Drawing on his recent research, he will explain how acquisitions aimed at securing specialized talent can reduce competition in labor markets and create monopsony power. The presentation will examine why firms may prefer acquihiring over direct hiring, how this strategy can suppress wages and harm workers, and under what conditions these acquisitions may lead to inefficient outcomes. Dr. Bar-Isaac will also discuss the enforcement challenges this behavior poses for merger review and labour market cases, offering insights into how antitrust frameworks can adapt to address these emerging concerns.
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1:45 pm – 2:15 pm
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Presentation 2: Topic To Be Confirmed
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2:30 pm – 3:45 pm
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Panel 2: Antitrust Enforcement in Labour Markets
Moderator: Dr. Matthew Strathearn, Senior Economist, Competition Bureau
Panelists:
- Dr. Marissa Ginn, Managing Principal, Analysis Group
- Bill Wu, Partner, McMillan LLP
- Third panelist to be confirmed
Focus: Enforcement strategies for addressing monopsony power and collective bargaining frictions, and how economic tools can support legal analysis in labour market cases.
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