An opinion obtained from qualified counsel to the effect that a particular arrangement does not violate, in particular, U.S. Antitrust Law. Such an opinion may be useful to a company or its managers in the event that commercial arrangements are investigated by the United States Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division or the FTC, especially in limiting legal liability or criminal culpability. However, opinions are usually very carefully written to confine their assessment to the practices or arrangements disclosed to the opinion writer – if a recipient knowingly moves beyond the scope of the opinion liability may still arise.