United States State Attorneys General (multistate coalition): how it reviews brand acquisitions
State attorneys general can sue in federal court to block a merger under the Clayton Act even after the federal agencies have let it proceed. Coalitions of states are usually led by one attorney general and ask the court for temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions to stop a deal closing before trial. They act as litigants rather than as regulators with the power to decide, so a state challenge is recorded here as an open matter until a court rules.
Official site: www.naag.org · Regime: Section 7 of the Clayton Act, enforced by states suing under section 16; state antitrust laws
A primer on this jurisdiction's merger regime is in preparation.
Consumer-brand decisions by the State AGs (1)
| Date | Case | Deal | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2026 | The State of California et al. v. Paramount Skydance Corporation et al., No. 4:26-cv-07116-AMO (N.D. Cal.) | Paramount Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery | Under investigation |