Arnold & Porter continues to be a top-tier destination practice for business-critical mergers with a significant public profile, with the team regularly called upon as specialist antitrust counsel by global household-name businesses including AT&T, Cargill, and Sony for DOJ and FTC clearance proceedings, investigations and litigation, as well as multijurisdictional merger approvals. The Washington DC-based team is led by the vastly experienced Debbie Feinstein, who served as Director of the FTC Bureau of Competition, and maintains her record in high-level merger clearances, advising AT&T on the spin-off of WarnerMedia to its shareholders and the merger of the WarnerMedia business with Discovery, alongside Jonathan Gleklen , who specializes in high tech and network industry mergers. Michael Bernstein is advising Kroger on its $24.6bn proposed merger with Albertsons, and also acts for a number of other major public and private companies across industries, while Matthew Tabas is noted for his expertise in antitrust litigation, including representing clients against DOJ and FTC merger action.

Latham & Watkins LLP remains active on complex, business-critical merger mandates for blue-chip clients, and enjoyed considerable success in contested mergers in 2022, most notably representing US Sugar against the DOJ’s challenge to its acquisition of Imperial Sugar, and advising Illumina on the multi-jurisdictional investigations into its acquisition of GRAIL. The team, which has a strong presence in Washington DC and the West Coast, was strengthened by the 2022 arrival of Katherine Rocco, a prolific merger counsel who has expanded the firm’s antitrust work in New York, and DC-based Makan Delrahim, formerly Assistant Attorney General for Antitrust, reinforcing the firm’s DOJ and FTC expertise. As well as handling major US clearances, related investigations, and litigation, the firm also leverages its global base, particularly in Paris and Brussels, to advise on multi-agency approvals across jurisdictions. The team is led by global antitrust chair Amanda Reeves  in DC, who took the lead on the US Sugar clearance, and Bay Area-based vice chair Belinda Lee , while DC-based Michael G. Egge is a vastly experienced figure with a track record in complex clearances, most notably representing Illumina in the GRAIL deal. Also in DC, Farrell J. Malone  is noted for his cross-border expertise, while Bay Area-based Kelly Fayne continues to expand her profile in the market, notably working closely with Reeves on MGM’s $8.45bn acquisition by Amazon.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP remains a sought-after destination practice for business-critical, complex M&A approvals, representing major global clients throughout highly scrutinized and contentious merger proceedings by the FTC, DOJ, and international regulatory authorities, working in concert with its growing European presence on international deals. Particularly strong in the tech and gaming spaces, the firm is advising Microsoft on its high-profile acquisition of Activision Blizzard, which is facing a FTC challenge, as well as representing Meta in its proposed $400m acquisition of Within Unlimited, while other sector strengths include retail and healthcare. Global antitrust head Steven Newborn is a former head of Mergers I at the FTC, and continues to handle a wide range of global merger approvals, while Brianne Kucerik, now co-head of US antitrust, is also highly active on contentious multi-jurisdictional merger cases, particularly within the gaming industry. Fellow co-heads Jeffrey Perry and and Michael Moiseyev are also former FTC Merger Division heads, furthering the team’s agency expertise, and Jeff White is noted for his broad practice, advising major companies and private equity clients throughout the merger process, including investigations and litigation. Megan Granger has bolstered her reputation within the space, playing key roles on the Meta and Microsoft deals along Moiseyev. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Baker Botts L.L.P. focuses on complex, high-stakes merger clearance processes, advising major global businesses across industries such as energy, tech, and pharma on transactions facing scrutiny from the DOJ, FTC, and international antitrust agencies, from initial filing through to investigations and litigation. The firm offers strong contentious antitrust expertise, as well as broad multijurisdictional capabilities, regularly working with its teams in Europe on cross-border merger control mandates, and can call upon key senior agency experience in its senior team, with practice co-chair Maureen Ohlhausen a former chair of the FTC,  Taylor Owings having served as Chief of Staff at the DOJ Antitrust Division, and Mark Botti a former Section Chief at the DOJ. The team accordingly specializes in securing clearance for contested deals, including co-chair John Taladay ‘s successful closing of Mandiant’s acquisition by Alphabet, which faced a DOJ Second Request. In a key demonstration of the firm’s international expertise, Paul Cuomo  represented Liberty Latin America in its agreement with América Móvil to combine VTR and Claro Chile, a deal requiring approvals in multiple jurisdictions. Matthew Adler was promoted to partner in March 2022, and is noted for his work before the DOJ and FTC on regulated industry merger clearances. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP handles merger counselling mandates, both pre- and post-notification, for major corporates in the US and internationally, as well as representing clients throughout high-stakes regulatory actions and litigation relating to mergers, offering deep agency expertise and strong connections with the firm’s market-leading corporate practice. The team advises clients in a wide range of industries, and continues to see success in clearing deals in industries facing significant regulatory scrutiny, including a high-profile victory for Illumina against the FTC challenge to its acquisition by GRAIL, a standout development for practice head Christine Varney , a ‘world class strategist’ and former FTC Commissioner. Elsewhere in the team, Maggie Segall is praised by clients as a ‘superstar’ and is prolific in securing clearances for high-value mergers, as well as advising clients on government investigations, while former FTC official Daniel Zach has great experience of merger litigation and successfully represented Louis Dreyfus Company against the DOJ’s challenge to the sale of subsidiary Imperial Sugar to US Sugar. Former FTC Commissioner Noah Joshua Phillips joined the firm as co-head of the antitrust practice in late 2022, expanding its regulatory expertise and resident in the firm’s Washington DC office. Lawyers are in New York unless otherwise stated.

With a broad US-wide and global platform, Jones Day advises clients throughout complex domestic and cross-border transactions in key industries including energy, financial services, pharma, and healthcare, with capabilities in domestic and international merger filings, DOJ and FTC investigations, including Second Request processes, and merger-related litigation. The practice is led by Craig Waldman, who has worked in the FTC’s Mergers I division and specializes in the tech, financial services, and transport sectors, while Michael Gleason advised Parker-Hennefin on its $8bn cross-border acquisition of Meggitt, a standout international mandate for the team. Kenneth Field is an expert in healthcare antitrust issues, and Ryan Thomas  is noted for his expertise across deals in a wide range of industries, encompassing contentious investigations and global approvals. In Houston, Bruce McDonald has litigation experience and regularly handles transactions in the energy, infrastructure, and transport sectors. Aimee DeFilippo continues to bolster her reputation on complex deals, advising Valmet on its statutory merger with Neles. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP advises public and private companies, including major names such as Bain Capital, KKR, and Celanese on merger clearance for M&A and private equity transactions, combining a prolific record in HSR filings with strong capabilities across DOJ and FTC investigations, including Second Request proceedings, global approval processes, and antitrust litigation relating to mergers. The team has deep agency experience, with practice head Matthew Reilly, who is advising Celanese on its proposed $11 billion acquisition of Dupont’s Mobility & Materials business, having acted as assistant director of the FTC Mergers Division, and an expert in high-stakes merger trials across sectors such as pharma, telecoms, and defense. Andrea Murino, who held positions at the FTC and DOJ, focuses securing clearances from the agencies for major deals, including handling Second Requests. New York’s Ian John is a prolific advisor to major clients on complex cross-border transactions, while Marin Boney offers economics expertise and experience in analyzing joint ventures and vertical agreements alongside merger control capabilities. All lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP combines high-stakes merger clearance expertise with strong capabilities in regulatory investigations and merger-related litigation thanks to deep agency experience, bolstering its contentious antitrust expertise with the arrival of New York-based Katherine Forrest, an experienced litigator and former judge, from Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in late 2022. The team acts for major public companies in a variety of industries, as well as bulge-bracket private equity clients, combining a solid deal flow from the firm’s active transactional practices with regular destination instructions for business-critical strategic deals. Antitrust co-chair and former Acting Assistant Attorney General Andrew Finch is a key figure in the team, regularly advising the likes of Apollo and Mastercard on merger clearances, while Joshua Soven arrived from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in February 2022 and is noted for his expertise in regulated industry antitrust issues, particularly in the healthcare and tech fields. Aidan Synnott also co-chairs the antitrust team, and notably advised Continental Grain on the acquisition of Sanderson Farms. Kenneth Gallo is a key name, focusing on antitrust litigation, while Brette Tannenbaum continues to bolster her reputation in contentious mandates.  Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP leverages its strong profile within the private equity space, advising a number of major buyout funds on global antitrust filings and investigations, combining this work with a notable focus on complex public M&A approvals, offering deep agency experience on mandates facing Second Request investigations as well as antitrust lawsuits brought by the DOJ and FTC. The team is able to handle mergers in highly scrutinized industries, particularly healthcare, with Washington DC-based co-head Sara Razi successfully representing Change Healthcare in the DOJ challenge to its acquisition by UnitedHealth, as well as financial services. New York’s Peter Guryan co-heads the team and is a former Antitrust Division trial attorney, allowing him to handle contentious merger proceedings both domestically and internationally, and is particularly active on behalf of private equity-backed companies and funds. DC-based Preston Miller is an increasingly key team member, focusing heavily on merger review and playing a major role in the Change deal, with senior counsel Richard Jamgochian in New York also noted for his broad sector knowledge and work on antitrust risk analysis at the outset of deals.

White & Case LLP has a strong record in securing clearances for business-critical, global transactions, and is a destination practice for a number of high-profile deals, handling DOJ and FTC investigations, regulatory challenges, and multijurisdictional approvals. In a standout representation for practice head George Paul and highly-rated senior associate Heather Greenfield, the firm is acting for Albertsons in its $24bn merger with Krogers, a major deal in the supermarkets sector which is currently facing a FTC Second Request, while the practice has also expanded its work for major big tech clients including Twitter and Google, as well as remaining active in key sectors such as tech and software. Rebecca Farrington is a key name for FTC and DOJ merger investigations as well as cross-border mandates, and is representing Avast in its high-profile merger with Norton Life, a deal with US and UK elements, while Tamer Nagy was promoted to partner in January 2023 and specializes in Middle East-domiciled work. Anna Kertesz continues to offer agency expertise on contested mergers, and is a regular advisor to key clients such as Meta and Whatsapp. All lawyers are in Washington DC.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP advises clients on HSR filings alongside DOJ and FTC reviews of mergers and joint ventures, as well as offering strong capabilities in high-stakes merger litigation and accompanying antitrust investigations, and being able to secure multi-jurisdictional clearance for transactions in concert with foreign counsel and the firm’s global offices. Sector strengths for the firm include financial services, consumer good, pharma, and telecoms, with a large portfolio of high-profile clients featuring major names such as Albertsons, American Express, and Verizon. The practice is overseen by New York-based Michael Schaper , who has a successful record in private equity, Washington DC-based litigator Ted Hassi, and New York’s Erica Weisgerber, a specialist in financial services antitrust issues. Senior associate Leah Martin in DC has played a key role in merger clearances for top clients including Albertsons and CD&R.

Dechert LLP handles merger clearances for public companies, private equity funds, and their portfolio companies, combining work on HSR filings and joint venture approvals with notable litigation capabilities and regular roles representing third-party challengers to high-profile mergers in proceedings brought by the FTC and DOJ, as well as before international antitrust regulators and state attorneys general. The team has broad sector expertise, with notable involvements in the retail, healthcare, and energy industries, with practice co-head Mike Cowie  a go-to for contentious merger work in the life sciences and healthcare space, and a former FTC official alongside James A Fishkin , who has in-agency experience of merger trials. Steven Bizar  co-leads the team from Philadelphia, while Shari Ross Lahlou is noted for her expertise in investigations and merger-related litigation, and Rani Habash  continues to expand his reputation with regular work for major healthcare clients such as CVS Health and Aetna. The team was bolstered by the February 2023 arrival of the experienced Jay Jurata, a specialist in tech platforms deals, from Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP continued its growth in the United States with the arrival of Jamillia Ferris from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati in September 2022, contributing significant agency experience of complex merger review processes, including both the DOJ and FTC. Alongside growth in its bench, the team also expanded its share of household-name clients, representing Google, Verizon, and eBay in new antitrust mandates during 2022. The team has experience in representing major domestic and global clients in US merger control proceedings, as well as co-ordinating global approvals in concert with its international offices, including in the UK and Europe, and representing clients facing regulatory action by agencies, encompassing investigations and litigation. Practice head Bruce McCulloch continues to be highly successful in merger mandates, notably representing Aerojet in its $4.4bn acquisition by Lockheed Martin, while Mary Lehner is also highly active, advising Cargill on its take-private of Sanderson Farms. Meghan Rissmiller  is another key team member, and is a regular antitrust counsel to major clients such as eBay, while Justin Stewart-Teitelbaum is noted for his work on complex merger investigations. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP advises a global client base on merger clearances in the US and internationally, leveraging the firm’s global reach in multijurisdictional mandates involving multiple regulatory approvals and investigations by US, European, and UK antitrust authorities. The firm handles matters in a variety of industries, with key representations for the likes of LIV Golf, Apple, and Norvatis, and combines merger filing expertise with standout contentious capabilities, supporting clients throughout investigations and high-stakes litigation. The team is led by San Francisco’s Rachel Brass alongside former FTC Deputy Director Stephen Weissman, with Michael Perry, who has long-standing experience in DOJ and FTC merger proceedings, Scott Hammond, and Cynthia Richman other key names to note. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Goodwin leverages its strength in key industry verticals across healthcare and life sciences, tech, and private equity, advising businesses and funds on strategic acquisitions, portfolio company mergers, and divestitures, with a strong record in both avoiding Second Requests from the DOJ and FTC as well as navigating investigations brought by regulatory authorities. The firm combines a prolific deal flow with involvement in high-profile, contentious merger clearances, notably advising iRobot on its acquisition by Amazon, and handling the antitrust elements of Nimbus Therapeutic’s defense of a hostile takeover attempt by Bristol Myers Squibb. The practice is led by Washington DC’s Andrew Lacy, who represents clients through the merger process, including litigation brought by the DOJ and FTC, alongside Arman Oruc, a life sciences antitrust specialist who divides his time between DC and Los Angeles. Also in DC, Paul Jin  is noted for his HSR expertise, while Kara Kuritz is another specialist in HSR issues, having previously served in such a role at the DOJ Antitrust Division, and also has a standout focus on pre-merger risk analysis.

Offering a strong focus on regulated industries such as healthcare and tech, and a successful record in contentious merger cases, encompassing filings, investigations, and litigation, the team at Hogan Lovells US LLP represents major US and international clients before the DOJ, FTC, and global agencies in strategic mergers and joint ventures approval processes. The team offers considerable agency experience, with Edith Ramirez a former chair of the FTC and an expert in global merger clearances, while Charles Loughlin previously served as a trial counsel at the FTC and specializes in contested merger cases. Practice head Logan Breed  continues to be active on high-value, business-critical clearances across industries, and is representing Within in its proposed acquisition by Meta, which has been challenged by the FTC. Lauren E. Battaglia handles cross-border mergers, and is particularly active in the life sciences and biopharma spaces. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Linklaters LLP offers broad DOJ and FTC expertise to a wide range of global clients, with a particularly strong focus on strategic merger clearances in regulated industries such as healthcare, pharma, and financial services. Alongside domestic and international approval processes, the team also offers demonstrable expertise in contentious issues including regulatory investigations and litigation relating to contested mergers, and is able to handle emerging issues relating to foreign investment controls. Washington DC’s Antonia Sherman leads the team, and combines an active HSR practice with cross-border M&A experience, particularly in Latin American jurisdictions. Tom McGrath in New York specializes in life sciences and chemicals transactions, while counsel John Eichlin, also New York-based, has worked in Europe and Asia, and contributes standout multijurisdictional merger and foreign investment control capabilities, as well as global consumer protection issues relating to deals in diverse industries.

McDermott Will & Emery LLP is noted for its high-level specialist healthcare antitrust and FTC practices, combining a steady stream of HSR filings and merger approvals with standout capabilities in government merger investigations and litigation, also working regularly on transactions in the tech and defense sectors, among others. The team includes diverse merger and contentious antitrust experts, with practice head Raymond Jacobsen working on major US and international mandates in industries including defense, medical devices, and biotech, while former FTC Mergers II lawyer Joel Grosberg has a strong knowledge of FTC and DOJ merger processes, advising on acquisitions, sales, and joint ventures. Jon Dubrow is a prolific HSR counsel and also focuses on securing first-stage approvals for highly scrutinized deals, Gregory Heltzer stands out for his merger defense work, and Lisa Rumin has also seen success in defending mergers in the healthcare, pharma, and biotech against investigations by state and federal authorities. Chicago’s Stephen Wu  plays a key role in the firm’s health antitrust offering. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP offers an active HSR-focused practice, advising a wide range of major companies in industries such as tech, defense, and life sciences, as well as private equity funds including Apollo and Digitalbridge, on pre-merger notifications for strategic acquisitions, as well as handling DOJ and FTC investigations and regulatory challenges. The team is noted for its cross-border capabilities, representing clients throughout the approval process for multijurisdictional deals, including its standout work for Perrigo on its $1.9bn acquisition of HRA Pharma, a deal requiring approval in multiple European jurisdictions, as well as facing a FTC Second Request investigation. The team is overseen by New York’s Harry Robins , an experienced transactional antitrust advisor and HSR specialist, with Washington DC-based Jonathan Rich specializing in cross-border merger approvals, while also in DC, Ryan Kantor is noted for his leading role in merger investigations.

Morrison Foerster stands out for its expertise in the tech, telecoms, and life sciences sectors, advising major international names in these industries and others on merger clearances, including FTC Second Request investigations and investigations in Europe and Asia, with notable ongoing involvements in the semiconductor space. Major clients for the firm include Target, UPS, and newly-acquired clients Salesforce and Showingtime, who co-head Alex Okuliar and Megan Gerking represented in its $500m acquisition by Zillow Group. Co-chair Lisa Phelan remains highly active in contentious investigations, as does Jeff Jaeckel, also a key name for cross-border merger approval processes. Former DOJ Antitrust Division official David Shaw is noted for his Big Tech expertise, and regularly handles litigation arising from contested and proposed mergers. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Offering strength in complex and contentious merger proceedings on both sides of the Atlantic, the team at Shearman & Sterling LLP  works with major US and global clients, often on a hired-gun basis, to secure approvals for deals in a diverse range of sectors, including aerospace and defense, tech, media, and financial services. The practice has deep agency experience, including former senior DOJ and FTC officials, allowing it to advise clients on agency strategy throughout Second Request proceedings and other high-stakes merger investigations and litigation. The firm handled two standout mandates for JetBlue in 2022, representing the client against the DOJ’s challenge to its alliance with American Airlines, as well as advising on its $3.8bn takeover bid for Spirit Airlines, both significant cases for key senior lawyer Jessica Delbaum . A former Chief of Staff at the Antitrust Division, global antitrust head David Higbee is noted for his expertise in regulated industry deals, representing clients before US and international antitrust agencies, while Ben Gris is another active member of the team, previously Assistant Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition and focusing on merger-related investigations and litigation. Specialist antitrust litigator Ryan Shores saw a standout victory against the DOJ in 2022, representing Booz Allen Hamilton in the DOJ’s attempt to block its $440 million acquisition of EverWatch. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Vinson & Elkins LLP offers a broad nationwide antitrust practice with a strong presence across Washington DC, Texas, and California, working with clients in highly scrutinized sectors such as energy, tech, chemicals, and pharma on merger clearances, combining prolific HSR filing work with a successful record in antitrust litigation relating to contested mergers. The team focuses on cross-border mergers, encompassing multijurisdictional filings and approval proceedings, alongside investigations by international regulators, best evidenced by co-head Darren Tucker’s representation of Google in its $2.1bn acquisition of Fitbit, which required European, Canadian, and Latin American merger approvals and was subject to international investigation. Co-head Hill Wellford is also noted for his specialism in antitrust investigations by the FTC and DOJ, including several high-profile merger cases. Vastly experienced antitrust litigator Alden Atkins  has a strong focus on the energy and infrastructure sectors, while Zachary Terwilliger, formerly United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, is also a key team member, focusing on contentious merger cases and trials. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz is active on high-stakes merger clearances in the US and globally, advising the firm’s clients, which include major names in financial services, pharma, and energy, on FTC and DOJ filings, investigations, and litigation, as well as co-ordinating multi-jurisdictional merger filings and approvals. Offering agency experience and a strong record in contentious merger clearances, he team handles complex, high-value transactions, including CAA’s acquisition of ICM Partners, a major win for practice head Ilene Gotts, while Nelson Fitts  successfully represented Sanderson Farms in the DOJ’s investigation of its $4.5bn acquisition by Cargill and Continental Grain. Christina Ma is active in the financial services space, and is noted for her risk analysis capabilities, advising clients on potential agency action ahead of proposed transactions. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

The team at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP has long-standing experience in merger litigation, representing clients in a number of high-stakes contested mergers before the DOJ and FTC, as well as having a successful record in shepherding strategic M&A through the clearance process. The firm has notable strength in the retail and manufacturing industries, and regularly handles complex processes such as divestment orders and issues relating to intellectual property in mergers. Corey Roush leads the team, having litigated against both the DOJ and FTC, with Gorav Jindal also a highly experienced antitrust litigator. Former FTC official Haidee Schwartz is an expert in domestic and international merger review processes, and offers experience on both sides of merger investigations, while counsel Brian Rafkin specializes in litigated merger challenges. All lawyers are based in Washington DC.

Allen & Overy LLP stands out for its work on complex cross-border merger clearances, working with a global client base in industries such as energy, tech, and financial services on merger filings, investigations, and regulatory challenges before the DOJ, FTC, and European antitrust agencies, regularly collaborating with its London and Brussels offices on multijurisdictional mandates. The team also has notable expertise in the private equity space, advising funds such as Advent international on complex portfolio company mergers and disposals subject to antitrust scrutiny. New York’s Elaine Johnston, a specialist in cross-border merger strategy, leads the team alongside tech-focused Noah Brumfield in Washington DC, who represented GlobalWafers in its high-profile attempted $5.4 billion takeover of rival Siltronic. Senior associate and ‘fantastic legal partner‘ Puja Patel , also in New York, is a key member of the team, playing important roles in a number of complex mergers and Second Request investigations.

Axinn Veltrop & Harkrider is a specialist antitrust firm with a successful record in high-value, strategic merger clearances, focusing on complex and business-critical transactions for major US businesses facing regulatory scrutiny by US and international agencies on a hired gun basis. The firm combines its active merger work with contentious and litigation expertise, representing major corporations in fields such as manufacturing, pharma, and tech against government actions arising from merger activity. The firm is headed up by Michael Keeley, who is prolific in the merger space, representing major repeat clients such as Thermo Fisher and Tyson Foods, alongside New York-based John Harkrider, a vastly experienced antitrust counsel who successfully advised VMWare on its $69bn pending acquisition by Broadcom, and Lisl Dunlop. Bradley Justus is also a key team member, regularly handling FTC, DOJ, and global merger reviews in diverse jurisdictions and industries, with former senior DOJ official Leslie Overton noted for her combination of contentious and non-contentious merger work. James Attridge joined the team in September 2022, having previously served as Chief of Staff at the Antitrust Division. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Clifford Chance combines institutional relationships with major businesses and private equity funds as merger counsel with high-profile hired gun instructions from key names in fields such as healthcare, education, and consumer goods, handling cross-border strategic merger clearances as well as DOJ and FTC investigations and related litigation, with standout capabilities in acting for third parties objecting to proposed mergers and advising on multijurisdictional approvals for transactions in healthcare and life sciences. In a major development for the team, Leigh Oliver arrived from Hogan Lovells US LLP in March 2022, and promptly successfully represented UnitedHealth Group in its acquisition of Change Healthcare, a $13bn deal that faced significant scrutiny from the Antitrust Division and state attorneys general, while HSR specialist Brian Concklin was promoted to partner in May 2022. The team is led by former acting Assistant Attorney General Sharis Pozen, who has also held senior antitrust positions at the FTC and in-house, and specialises in complex merger litigation, and Timothy Cornell, a key name for multijurisdictional clearances processes and investigations. Former DOJ official Peter Mucchetti is also a key team member, with expertise in healthcare and consumer goods mandates. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP handles a large number of DOJ and FTC clearance processes for deals in a wide range of industries, representing major clients in telecoms, private equity, and pharma, among others. The Washington DC-based team, led by former Deputy Assistant Attorney General William J. Kolasky , is also able to handle contentious regulatory investigations and enforcement actions relating to mergers, as well as approvals by merger authorities in global jurisdictions. Robert B. Bell  is highly experienced in merger clearances, and also offers deep knowledge of vertical distribution arrangements relating to transactions, while Philip Giordano is a former DOJ antitrust enforcer and focuses on the financial services sector. Associate Kristin Millay has a strong record in HSR pre-merger notifications and DOJ merger investigations.

Milbank bolstered its team with the arrival of ‘outstanding lawyer‘ Adam Di Vincenzo from Gibson Dunn in June 2022, adding significant experience in the energy and infrastructure antitrust space and establishing the firm’s presence in Washington DC, while senior counsel Daniel Rosenthal joined in August 2022 from White & Case LLP, specializing in government investigations. The firm continues to be active on domestic and cross-border deals within energy and infrastructure as well as private equity, with standout clients including the Carlyle Group, and is able to handle HSR filings alongside agency investigations and challenges, with experience in litigation before state and federal courts. The ‘smart and driven‘ Fiona Schaeffer, a highly experienced advisor on bet-the-company mergers in key sectors such as healthcare, financial services, and media, leads the team. Lawyers are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP specializes in complex merger control cases for tech clients including software and robotics companies, advising on FTC and DOJ oversight of innovative strategic acquisitions, as well as advising clients on other regulated industries such as energy and pharma on merger filings, investigations, and regulatory actions. Eileen Cole offers deep experience of technology regulation, while Craig Falls has a successful record in DOJ, FTC, and state attorneys general merger processes. Amy Ray now leads the team and is also active in the tech space, as well as picking up work for new clients including Superior Plus US Holding. The team was bolstered in November 2022 by the arrival of antitrust investigations specialist Anna Aryankalayil from the FTC. All lawyers are based in Washington DC. Jay Jurata left the firm in February 2023.

Paul Hastings LLP advises a wide range of clients on contested strategic mergers, with a team offering extensive in-house and agency expertise across contentious and non-contentious merger reviews, investigations, and associated litigation. The firm has a notable focus on growth industries including tech, life sciences, energy, and cannabis, acting for major cannabis players such as Cresco Labs and Canopy Growth, as well as regularly working with third parties objecting to proposed mergers. Also of note is the firm’s global platform, with the US team regularly collaborating with European and Asian offices on complex multijurisdictional approval processes and regulatory investigations. Michael Wise is the key name for merger control work, advising prolifically on merger approval processes, including the standout representation of Symphony Technology Group in the acquisitions of FireEye from McAfee, while practice head Gary Zanfagna has deep in-house and private practice experience in merger review cases, encompassing acquisitions, divestments, and joint ventures, particularly in the life sciences space. Former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Murray is also a key name, having coordinated merger proceedings and trials as both a regulator and an attorney. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

Ropes & Gray LLP offers broad expertise across DOJ and FTC merger processes, advising a broad range of corporate and private equity clients on  HSR filings through to investigations and regulatory actions, as well as coordinating global merger approvals in concert with its international offices. The firm is particularly strong in the life sciences space, advising strategic purchasers and investors on contested transactions facing significant regulatory scrutiny, such as Medtronic’s $1.1bn acquisition of Intersect ENT, which succeeded following a FTC Second Request in a notable victory for the highly experienced Michael McFalls  and former FTC Mergers I head Jonathan Klarfeld . Additionally, the firm is active in handling merger filings and strategy for private equity clients such as Bain Capital, with the prolific Deirdre Johnson in Boston specializing in HSR work. Mark Popofsky  oversees the team, which also includes Samer Musallam, who focuses on merger-related investigations in a range of regulated sectors, including medical devices, telecoms, and semiconductors. All attorneys are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has a prolific record in HSR filings and merger review processes, advising a wide range of businesses and private equity investors on approvals for deals in diverse sectors, with a particularly strong focus on the healthcare space. The team also offers significant agency review and contentious expertise through John Carroll, a former FTC official who represents clients before the DOJ Antitrust Division, FTC, and international and state antitrust enforcement authorities. Bevin Newman specializes in healthcare antitrust matters, advising on merger control cases relating to acquisitions, collaboration agreements, and joint ventures across the sector, while Century City-based David Garcia is a key name for contested mergers, regularly representing hospital and physician groups. Leo Caseria specializes in HSR filings, while special counsel Malika Levarlet focuses on approvals for cross-border transactions. Lawyers are in Washington DC unless otherwise stated.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP remains highly active across domestic and cross-border merger proceedings, combining a strong record in DOJ and FTC approval processes with capabilities in international reviews and investigations, with the team regularly collaborating with its European and UK offices on multijurisdictional mergers. The firm also enjoys standout international contentious expertise, again collaborating with its international offices on merger litigation, and is able to handle complex cases in diverse and highly-scrutinized industries such as financial services, tech, and pharma. William Rooney co-leads the team, and is a vastly experienced antitrust counsel, handling contentious and non-contentious merger reviews and related litigation, notably advising Trussway on all antitrust aspects of the sale of the company to BFS Group LLC, while co-head Jeffrey Korn is noted for his focus on matters and regulatory investigations before US and European antitrust enforcement agencies. Counsel Agathe Richard also has notable experience of US and European merger approval processes, and played a key role on Kaseya’s $6.2bn acquisition of Datto. All lawyers mentioned are in New York.

WilmerHale combines an active HSR practice with strong capabilities in contentious merger review proceedings, handling approvals for transactions in highly-scrutinised industries including defense, healthcare, and telecoms. The team is able to leverage strong litigation and enforcement expertise, as well as multijurisdictional capabilities, representing international and US-based clients in multi-agency reviews and challenges. The team is overseen by Thomas Mueller, who has strong litigation experience and has practiced in the US and Brussels, while Leon Greenfield is noted for his leading role in high-value deals for major clients such as Danaher. Former FTC official Dominic Vote is also heavily focused on merger control mandates. All lawyers mentioned are in Washington DC.

The Washington DC-based team at King & Spalding LLP handles complex, high-value merger review processes alongside regulatory investigations and litigation arising from contested mergers, working with major names in tech, chemicals, and education, including notable new transactional mandates for Rice University and Cox. The practice offers US-wide expertise, cross-border capabilities, and significant agency experience, with practice co-head Norm Armstrong previously serving as Deputy Director and Deputy Assistant of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, while co-head Jeff Spigel has a successful record in acting before the DOJ and FTC in strategic merger filings and investigations, as well as regularly working on multijurisdictional transactions requiring global antitrust approvals.