Antitrust, Consumer Protection and Unfair Business Practices Section

The Antitrust, Consumer Protection, and Unfair Business Practices Section is primarily devoted to keeping its members informed about significant developments in the field of trade regulation law. The Section serves as a forum for members of the Washington State Bar Association to exchange information and ideas and to develop and conduct educational programs regarding public and private aspects of trade regulation law, including antitrust, consumer protection, and unfair business practices.

The Section provides benefits to members by hosting CLEs and publishing resource materials that address current topics of interest. Meetings provide an opportunity to network with experienced trade regulation practitioners from around the state, including private practice, in-house, and government attorneys.

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Shape Your Section for the Future: Apply Today to Become a Section Leader

Application Deadline is 5 p.m. April 17, 2023.

The following section executive committee positions are open for applications. All terms begin Oct. 1, 2023.

• Co-Chair (two positions open): one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
• Secretary: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
• Treasurer: one-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2024.
• At-Large Member (three positions open): three-year position beginning Oct. 1, 2023, and ending Sept. 30, 2026.

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must be a current section member and should be eligible to vote in accordance with the section’s bylaws.

Application Process: Go to the myWSBA portal to complete the online application for open executive committee positions. The Section has requested that each applicant submit a statement of interest with your application. These documents can be uploaded with your online application (pdf format only). Please be advised that application materials may be posted on this website for public viewing.

Note: If you are applying for more than one position on this or multiple sections’ committees, you must complete and submit all applications at the same time, as you will not be allowed back into the portal at a later time. Please make sure you are completing the applications within the application window for all of the relevant sections.

Nomination Process: The Section shall have a nominating committee which shall be charged with the duties of recommending to the Section members a slate of officers and At-Large executive committee members to fill expiring terms, for each fiscal year. The nominating committee shall consist of the Chair, the Immediate Past Chair, and an At-Large member selected by the Chair from the Section members who are not current members of the executive committee. The Nominating Committee shall report its list by March 16.

Alternate Nomination Process: The members of the executive committee shall be elected by the voting members annually on the recommendation of the nominating committee or as described in this section. Nominations may be made from the Membership at large via electronic notification to Secretary and/or existing Chair by any member, provided that the nomination is received prior to March 15. Additionally, a section member may self-nominate by submitting an application.

Elections Process: All voting members of the section will receive an electronic ballot sent to their email in June 2023. Visit this webpage in early June for election updates and voting instructions.

Questions? 
For more information about the Section, its executive committee roles, and elections process, please review the Section’s bylaws. You may also contact any member of the current Section Executive Committee or email sections@wsba.org.

Resources

Putting the Brakes on Washington's Garnishment Treadmill

Although Washington has some of the best consumer laws in the country, our state's approach to wage garnishment is inadequate. Washington's wage garnishment law does too little to protect low-income debtors and their dependents. In this article, the authors propose several reforms — including higher earnings exemptions, annual garnishment caps, and express judicial discretion to limit garnishment for hardship — that would help vulnerable consumers, unburden taxpayers, and improve the administration of justice in Washington.

Green Guide Summary

Green Guide

The Federal Trade Commission

Antitrust Division – Department of Justice

American Bar Association – Section of Antitrust Law

Washington Antitrust and Consumer Protection Handbook, 3rd Edition, 2001, plus 2007 Supplement. Available online via annual subscription ($65).

Executive Committee

For general questions, please email your inquiries to sections@wsba.org. To get involved with the Section and learn more, please contact the Section co-chair, Eric Weiss.