The first hour of an antitrust inspection should focus on lawful cooperation, document/evidence preservation and disciplined internal coordination.
Employees should not destroy, hide or alter information, speculate to investigators, or create conflicting response channels. The company should identify the authority and scope, contact competition counsel, preserve relevant systems and record requests/actions.
5 questions before you choose the route.
This page identifies the right question and evidence. It does not determine the legal outcome on a reader’s facts.
Check authority and legal basis
Identify the relevant facts, documents and operating role before choosing the route.
Decision factorCheck scope/products/entities named
Identify the relevant facts, documents and operating role before choosing the route.
Decision factorCheck documents/devices requested
Identify the relevant facts, documents and operating role before choosing the route.
Decision factorCheck employee interviews
Identify the relevant facts, documents and operating role before choosing the route.
Decision factorCheck parallel criminal/data issues
Identify the relevant facts, documents and operating role before choosing the route.
Decision factorWorking rule: Map the regulated role before marketing or launch in China.
The signal ledger.
These facts move the question beyond a label and into a product, money-flow and control analysis.
Bring a compact evidence docket—not a pitch deck.
Give a compliance team or counsel the operating facts that reveal the perimeter.
Primary authorities
Reviewed sources support orientation, not a fact-specific assessment.
Sources last checked: