Lawless, start unit that could protect small companies (9)

I believe the answer is:

antitrust

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'could protect small companies' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.

'lawless start unit' is the wordplay.
'lawless' indicates anagramming the letters.
'start'+'unit'='startunit'
'startunit' anagrammed gives 'ANTITRUST'.

'that' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for antitrust that I've seen is " promoting competition".)

I've seen this clue in The Hindu.

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