Freshfields's Washington, DC-based antitrust litigation practice works on complex and high-stakes competition disputes and consistently acts as lead trial counsel in landmark proceedings. Christine Wilson brings regulatory insight to the team, drawing on her senior leadership experience at the FTC to shape sophisticated enforcement and litigation strategy. Antitrust trial lawyer Eric Mahr anchors the practice, combining rare success on both sides of merger litigation with deep credibility before courts and agencies. Julie Elmer is a courtroom advocate whose DOJ trial pedigree underpins her leadership in some of the most significant monopolization and ad tech cases currently before the courts. Andrew Ewalt is a strategic litigator with an exceptional early-career record, trusted with shaping winning motions, expert strategy and merger trial defenses in precedent-setting cases.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Very strong and competent people. Knowledgeable and experienced in their trade.'
- 'The partners are proficient and competent in their areas of practice. They bring a great deal of highly appreciated experience to the decision making and legal process.'
- 'Former government experience and relevant matters for other clients.'
- 'Mary Lehner is excellent. She has a calm demeanor and very good instincts. Will Cooke is a standout associate who is extremely responsive and nice to work with.'
Key clients
- Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Holcim
- International Tennis Integrity Agency
- Master Builders Solutions
- Camber Pharmaceuticals
- Goodman Real Estate
- Canyon Bicycles
- Discord
Work highlights
Lead counsel defending Google in three parallel antitrust actions concerning the company’s advertising technology business.
Represented HPE in securing a settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), clearing the path for HPE’s $14 billion acquisition of Juniper Networks to close on the eve of trial.
Defending a higher education institution (MIT) in class-action litigation under the Sherman Act, which alleges Section 1 violations by elite national universities in connection with the calculation and award of financial aid to undergraduate students.
Practice head
Christine Wilson; Eric Mahr
Other key lawyers
Julie Elmer; Andrew Ewalt; Heather Lamberg; Justina Sessions; Jan Rybnicek; Alan Ryan; Connie Forkner; Nina Frant; Mary Lehner; William Cooke