Public Workshops

Competition Policy and the Real Estate Industry

October 25, 2005

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Antitrust Division Comments to Organizations

The historic goal of antitrust laws has been to protect economic freedom and opportunity by promoting competition in the marketplace. Competition in a free market benefits American consumers through lower prices, better quality and greater choice. Competition provides businesses the opportunity to compete on price and quality, in an open market and on a level playing field, unhampered by anticompetitive restraints.

To promote and protect the competitive process, the Antitrust Division has issued comments to the following organizations:

• Alabama State Senate
• American Bar Association
• Georgia State Bar
• Indiana State Bar Association
• Kansas Bar Association
• Kentucky Bar Association
• Massachusetts Bar Association
• Massachusetts House of Representatives
• Michigan Lt. Governor's Office and Michigan Senate
• Michigan Senate and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth
• Missouri Governor's Office
• New Mexico Real Estate Commission
• North Carolina State Bar
• Oklahoma Real Estate Commission
• Oklahoma State Senate
• Rhode Island House of Representatives
• Texas Real Estate Commission
• Virginia State Bar
• Virginia Supreme Court

Alabama State Senate

May 12, 2005

Comments on House Bill 156--Proposed Amendments to Section 34-27-84, Code of Alabama

America Bar Association

December 20, 2002

Comments on the American Bar Association's Proposed Model Definition of the Practice of Law

Georgia State Bar

March 20, 2003

Comments on Potential Unlicensed Practice of Law Opinion Regarding Real Estate Closing Activity

Indiana State Bar Association

October 1, 2003

Comments on Draft Proposed Amendment to Indiana Supreme Court Admissions & Discipline Rule 24 Regarding Unauthorized Practice of Law

Kansas Bar Association

February 4, 2005

Comments on Kansas Bar Association's Proposed Definition of the Practice of Law

Kentucky Bar Association

June 10, 1999

Comments on Proposed Opinion KBA U-58 Prohibiting Real Estate Closings By Non-Attorneys

September 10, 1997

Comments on Proposed Opinion Prohibiting Real Estate Closings By Non-Attorneys

Massachusetts Bar Association

December 16, 2004

Comments on Draft Proposed Definition of the Practice of Law in Massachusetts

Massachusetts House of Representatives

October 6, 2004

Comments on House Bill 180 Concerning Legislation of Non-Lawyer Competition for Real Estate Closings

Michigan Lt. Governor's Office and Michigan Senate

June 2, 2006

Comments on Michigan House Bill 4849

Michigan Senate and Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth

October 18, 2005

Comments on Michigan House Bill 4849

Missouri Governor's Office

May 23, 2005

Comments on Missouri House Bill 174

New Mexico Real Estate Commission

November 2, 2005

Comments on Proposed "Minimum Service" and "Advertising" Rules

North Carolina State Bar

July 11, 2002

Comments on Proposed Opinions Concerning Non-Attorneys' Involvement In Real Estate Transactions

December 14, 2001

Comments on North Carolina State Bar Opinions Restricting Involvement of Non-Attorneys in Real Estate Closings and Refinancing Transactions

Oklahoma Real Estate Commission

September 21, 2005

Comments to Oklahoma Real Estate Commission on Website Notice Regarding SB 673

Oklahoma State Senate

April 8, 2005

Comments on Oklahoma Senate Bill 673

Rhode Island House of Representatives

June 30, 2003

Comments on House Bill No. 5936, Proposed Restrictions on Competition From Non-Attorneys In Real Estate Closing Activities

March 28, 2003

Comments on Proposed Bills H. 5936 and H. 5639, Proposed Restrictions on Competition from Non-Attorneys in Real Estate Closing Activities

March 29, 2002

Comments on Proposed Bill H. 7462, Restricting Competition from Non-Attorneys in Real Estate Closing Activities

Texas Real Estate Commission

April 20, 2005

Comments on Proposed Amendments to 22 Tex. Admin. Code § 535.2

Virginia State Bar

September 20, 1996

Comments on Proposed UPL Opinion #183 (Non-Lawyers Conducting Real Estate Closings)

Virginia Supreme Court

January 3, 1997

Comments on Proposed UPL Opinion #183 (Non-Lawyers Conducting Real Estate Closings)