Home Blog Price Fixing: Types, Identification, Legal Consequences

Price Fixing: Types, Identification, Legal Consequences

This page explains what price fixing is, how to identify it, and how a lawyer from ContractsCounsel can help you with its legal consequences.

Jump to Section

What is Price Fixing?

Price fixing is an illegal activity. It involves competitors creating agreements between them that prevent competition in their industry. By setting certain prices for their goods or services, instead of letting supply and demand determine the prices, they engage in price fixing.

Price fixing has many negative consequences, such as preventing lower costs for goods or services, which is unfair to consumers; and legal troubles for those involved.

Read the rest of this article to learn more about price fixing: its types, how it works, and when to hire a lawyer for assistance.

What are the Types of Price Fixing?

There are two main types of price fixing:

  • Horizontal Price Fixing. Competitors agree to set either a minimum or maximum price for their products. A prime example is if competitors in the same industry choose agreed-upon prices that are much higher than what would have been charged in the market.
  • Vertical Price Fixing. Members in the supply chain, such as manufacturers,

decide on a minimum or maximum price for their products. This influences the price strategy throughout all stages of production.

How Do You Identify Price Fixing?

Consumers can spot price fixing in the following ways:

  • The same product is being sold by different companies, and at high prices.
  • Competitors are using the same prices. This is a red flag that they might be in agreement over locking prices.
  • Prices for products are high, despite there not being a big demand for them.

In order for price fixing to be seen as illegal, from a legal standpoint it has to involve intent. It must be proven that the companies involved were trying to restrict competition in the industry. The price fixing must have occurred as a result of an agreement between them.

Clearly, this can be challenging to prove. What makes it even more trying is that the people involved usually don’t put their agreements in writing. They will try to restrict their communication to private, in-person meetings, so that their agreement can’t be traced.

What Should You Do if You Suspect Price Fixing?

As a consumer or whistleblower, you’re not powerless when faced with price fixing. There are important things you can do to deal with the illegal activity.

  • Report the price fixing. You can do this on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
  • Be aware of market trends. By doing this regularly, you’ll start to notice unfair or unusual prices.
  • Keep a record of evidence. If you’re aware of a price-fixing agreement, you should try to gather as much evidence as you can of the activities. This can include recording meeting minutes or text chats.
  • Contact a lawyer. If you’ve experienced financial losses as a result of price fixing, or you’re a whistleblower, you should hire a lawyer to help you.

What are the Consequences of Price Fixing?

People and companies that are involved in price-fixing agreements risk being investigated by the FBI and can be prosecuted for their actions, such as by paying hefty fines. They face up to 10 years of imprisonment and penalties of up to $1 million for individuals and $100 million for companies.

How is Price Fixing Investigated?

Price fixing can be challenging to identify, but antitrust authorities around the world use strategies to uncover them so that people guilty of the illegal practice can be caught out.

Investigations usually include market surveillance to notice any unusual pricing, analyzing pricing data with the use of algorithms, and making use of insider tips.

When pricing patterns are found to be unusual, they will be investigated further. This can include obtaining subpoenas, which provides access to a business’s records, or interviewing people who are suspected of being involved in the price fixing scheme.

Is Price Fixing the Same as Predatory Pricing?

Although they might seem similar, there are important differences between price fixing and predatory pricing.

Price fixing is when competitors agree to set their prices higher, whereas predatory pricing is when one company drops their prices so that their competitors can’t match them.

While it isn’t illegal to lower your prices, it can be deemed predatory if you are trying to push competitors out of the market. It’s an illegal activity, just like price fixing.

How Can a Lawyer Help with Price Fixing?

If you suspect price fixing, it’s important to reach out for legal guidance. A lawyer will help you to report the price fixing and start investigations into the activity. Other ways a lawyer can help you include the following:

  • They’ll assess the information and evidence you’ve provided. This will help you determine if there is illegal activity at play.
  • They’ll explain risks involved for you, such as if you’re working for someone who’s involved in the price fixing activity.
  • They’ll guide you on what to do and avoid doing so that they can protect you.
  • They’ll remind you of your rights in the situation.
  • If you’ve experienced financial harm from a price fixing scheme, your lawyer will help you to build a case. They’ll assist you with remedies, such as if you want to pursue damages.
  • They can also help you negotiate settlements to get compensated for the price fixing.
  • They’ll ensure you stay legally compliant throughout the situation so that you don’t put yourself at risk of legal or financial trouble.

Do you need a lawyer for price fixing?

If you need help from a lawyer, you should hire a lawyer from ContractsCounsel, an online legal network that connects clients with vetted lawyers.

They have several years of experience and the expertise to assist you with any and all fixed- pricing concerns, minimizing your risks and protecting your assets.


ContractsCounsel is not a law firm, and this post should not be considered and does not contain legal advice. To ensure the information and advice in this post are correct, sufficient, and appropriate for your situation, please consult a licensed attorney. Also, using or accessing ContractsCounsel's site does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and ContractsCounsel.


Need help with a dispute

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 22,803 reviews

Meet some of our Lawyers

Gary S. on ContractsCounsel
View Gary
5.0 (3)
Member Since:
June 3, 2025

Gary S.

Business Lawyer
Free Consultation
New Albany, OH
29 Yrs Experience
Licensed in OH
University of Cincinnati College of Law

Gary is the Founder and Principal Attorney at New Ridge Law, where they understand that navigating the legal landscape can be daunting for small businesses—but it doesn’t have to be. The mission at New Ridge is to simplify the complexities, providing clear, affordable, and practical guidance so you can focus on what you do best: growing your business and serving your clients. From business formation and contracts to compliance and dispute resolution, you can move forward with confidence, knowing you have a trusted partner by your side.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"I had a great experience working with Gary. He was very responsive and consistently provided timely, clear answers. Professional, efficient, and easy to work with—I would definitely recommend him."

Dominick B. on ContractsCounsel
View Dominick
5.0 (1)
Member Since:
June 4, 2025

Dominick B.

Attorney-at-Law
Free Consultation
Logan, Ohio
18 Yrs Experience
Licensed in OH
Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law

Dominick Brook has been a licensed attorney in Ohio for the last 16-years. Prior to founding Brook Law, he served as the Director of Real Estate at Ohio University, negotiating and structuring complex transactions to align the University’s real estate portfolio with its mission. For over a decade before Ohio University, Dominick was a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young and served as a trusted business advisor for clients ranging from Fortune 10 companies to high-tech start-ups. Earlier in his career, he worked as a research analyst with Ohio University’s Voinovich School and served as an adjunct instructor of economics at Ohio University. Dominick is a graduate of the University of Edinburgh in Scotland (Masters of Economics and Politics), Ohio University (Masters of Political Science), and the Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law (Juris Doctorate). He is a Governor-appointed Ohio Commodore to aid in the attraction of businesses to Ohio, is a member in three angel investment funds, and served on the Athens County Port Authority.

Joshua D. on ContractsCounsel
View Joshua
5.0 (5)
Member Since:
June 5, 2025

Joshua D.

Business Attorney
Free Consultation
Lynn, MA
3 Yrs Experience
Licensed in MA
New England Law | Boston

I am an experienced small business attorney. I work diligently to ensure that small business owners achieve their objectives while maintaining compliance, satisfying legal duties, and engaging in smart contracting opportunities. I provide everything from organization, to lease/commercial real estate purchase agreement review and negotiation, and even IP filings. I can help to navigate commercial and government contracts, as well as other SaaS-type agreements.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"Joshua is a phenomenal attorney to work with. He has a personality and isn't monotone to converse with. He is extremely responsive and delivers timely. He answered all my questions, while fairly abiding by the scope of representation. I would work with him again."

Cherie M. on ContractsCounsel
View Cherie
5.0 (11)
Member Since:
June 8, 2025

Cherie M.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Shawnee, KS
9 Yrs Experience
Licensed in KS, VA, WA
Regent University School of Law

Dedicated attorney with contract experience in Washington, Virginia, and Kansas.

Recent  ContractsCounsel Client  Review:
5.0

"I was very pleased with Cherie. The work was done in a timely fashion and was exactly what I needed. I intend to hire her again in the very near future."

Niki Z. on ContractsCounsel
View Niki
Member Since:
June 2, 2025

Niki Z.

Fractional General Counsel
Free Consultation
Helena, MT
18 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA, MT
University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law

With more than 20 years of nonprofit, small business, and government experience, Niki can assist you on a wide range of legal issues, including creating new entities and avoiding compliance pitfalls.

Justin T. on ContractsCounsel
View Justin
Member Since:
June 3, 2025

Justin T.

Attorney
Free Consultation
Tennessee
22 Yrs Experience
Licensed in TN
University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law

Attorney with 20+ years substantive experience in the areas of law including real estate; banking, insurance, and financial institutions; business organizations and corporations; and probate and estate planning.

Hung C. on ContractsCounsel
View Hung
Member Since:
June 10, 2025

Hung C.

Tech lawyer / general counsel
Free Consultation
San Francisco Bay Area
20 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
University of San Francisco

Hi, I’m a tech lawyer who helps startups move fast without breaking things legally. I work with founders, product teams, and early-stage companies tackling messy legal and compliance challenges. From launching MVPs to signing your first customers, raising capital, or issuing tokens, I make sure legal supports your growth, not slows it down. With 15+ years of experience at global tech companies and in-house roles, I’ve helped startups across AI, Web3, SaaS, and gaming lay solid legal foundations. I bring sharp, practical advice that fits your stage, your budget, and your ambitions. I offer fractional general counsel support - senior legal expertise without the full-time overhead. Here’s how I can help: Product & Privacy Launch smart with privacy-by-design, strong TOS, and compliance (GDPR, CCPA, HIPAA, etc.). Commercial Contracts SaaS, vendor, data, pilot, licensing. I’ll help you close clean, scalable deals. IP & Open Source Protect what you build. I’ll guide you on patents, trade secrets, and open source use. Crypto & Web3 Token grants, incentive plans, securities and tax issues, DAO structures - I’ve done it. AI Legal & Governance I advise AI teams on legal risk, model oversight, and emerging regulations (US, EU, global). Fundraising & Corporate Stay investor-ready with clean docs, smart governance, and solid equity structure. Regulatory Strategy Fintech, payments, data. I'll turn complex rules into actionable legal strategies. I speak founder. I’ve been inside startups and know what scrappy, strategic legal support looks like. If you're looking for a hands-on legal partner to help you build responsibly and scale with confidence, let’s talk.

Tameem A. on ContractsCounsel
View Tameem
Member Since:
June 12, 2025

Tameem A.

Sr. Counsel - Contracts
Free Consultation
San Diego, CA
10 Yrs Experience
Licensed in CA
Thomas Jefferson School of Law

With nearly a decade of in-house experience at publicly traded and high-growth technology companies, I bring a practical and business-focused approach to negotiating and managing a wide range of commercial agreements, including SaaS, licensing, procurement, and enterprise contracts. I lead strategic negotiations, advise on risk, and collaborate cross-functionally to support scalable legal processes. My background includes enhancing contract frameworks, refining templates, and driving alignment between legal strategy and business goals.

Khari P. on ContractsCounsel
View Khari
Member Since:
June 14, 2025

Khari P.

Business Lawyer
Free Consultation
New York, New York
26 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law

I’m a New York-based attorney with over 20 years of experience, working at the intersection of litigation and transactional law. I help individuals and businesses create solid legal documents — prenups, contracts, leases, and more — with an eye toward clarity, fairness, and long-term protection. As a litigator, I’ve seen firsthand how vague or one-sided agreements can lead to unnecessary disputes, court battles, and financial stress. That perspective shapes the way I draft and review documents: I build them to stand up, not just get signed. Whether you’re preparing for marriage, launching a business, or resolving a dispute, I bring a practical, client-first approach rooted in legal insight and lived experience. Clients appreciate that I explain the law in plain language, respect their time, and tailor every solution to fit their goals — not just the paperwork. Let’s make sure you’re protected — not just on paper, but in real life.

Lana A. on ContractsCounsel
View Lana
Member Since:
June 18, 2025

Lana A.

Owner / Principal Attorney
Free Consultation
New York Law Office
28 Yrs Experience
Licensed in NY
Touro Law Center, Central Islip, NY Juris Doctor

I am a New York Attorney for over 25 years with extensive experience in contract law of all types, including real estate, and was a bank closer for residential housing and refinancing. Extensive landlord-tenant work, including leases, commercial property, and telecom. I have done pre-trial civil litigation, motion practice, and forensic accountings for all types of disputes, from lawsuits to mediations and arbitrations, and created lasting agreements in conflicts. In addition, I have created and advised on business formation as well as dissolutions, recently doing a business acquisition for a scientist who worked for a major company but desired to create their own product and testing line. I maintain a NYC office but reside out of NY.

Laura C. on ContractsCounsel
View Laura
Member Since:
June 18, 2025

Laura C.

Solo Practitioner
Free Consultation
New Orleans, Louisiana
9 Yrs Experience
Licensed in LA
Loyola University New Orleans College of Law

Serving the Greater New Orleans Westbank, Laura brings a unique blend of legal expertise and technical regulatory experience to individuals and small businesses navigating complex legal challenges. With a Juris Doctorate from Loyola College of Law’s Civil Law Night Program (2017) and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of New Orleans (2011), Laura offers grounded, strategic legal support rooted in real-world problem-solving. Prior to practicing law, Laura spent over a decade at the U.S. Department of the Interior, focusing on environmental and safety regulatory enforcement for offshore oil and gas operations. There, she led compliance reviews, developed policy, mediated between federal experts and industry representatives, and presented at major professional conferences on exploration, development, and environmental planning. This experience has instilled a deep understanding of complex regulatory frameworks and strong negotiation skills—assets to any client. Laura also served as Vice President of her union local, where she advocated for federal employees in disciplinary matters, negotiated workplace policy changes, and secured ADA accommodations—experience that informs her empathetic, client-centered approach to employment and family law.

Find the best lawyer for your project

Browse Lawyers Now

Quick, user friendly and one of the better ways I've come across to get ahold of lawyers willing to take new clients.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a dispute

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 22,803 reviews
CONTRACT LAWYERS BY TOP CITIES
See All Financial Lawyers
PRICE FIXING LAWYERS BY CITY
See All Price Fixing Lawyers

Contracts Counsel was incredibly helpful and easy to use. I submitted a project for a lawyer's help within a day I had received over 6 proposals from qualified lawyers. I submitted a bid that works best for my business and we went forward with the project.

View Trustpilot Review

I never knew how difficult it was to obtain representation or a lawyer, and ContractsCounsel was EXACTLY the type of service I was hoping for when I was in a pinch. Working with their service was efficient, effective and made me feel in control. Thank you so much and should I ever need attorney services down the road, I'll certainly be a repeat customer.

View Trustpilot Review

I got 5 bids within 24h of posting my project. I choose the person who provided the most detailed and relevant intro letter, highlighting their experience relevant to my project. I am very satisfied with the outcome and quality of the two agreements that were produced, they actually far exceed my expectations.

View Trustpilot Review

Need help with a dispute

Create a free project posting
Clients Rate Lawyers 4.9 Stars
based on 22,803 reviews

Want to speak to someone?

Get in touch below and we will schedule a time to connect!

Request a call

Find lawyers and attorneys by city