Our practice is global, and we have a significant presence in the United States, the European Union, and China.
We represent clients before competition authorities such as the Antitrust Division of the DOJ and FTC, the European Commission (EC), the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MofCom), the U.S. State Attorneys General and the Competition Authorities of the Member States of the European Union (EU). We also represent clients before other US and UK regulatory bodies with jurisdiction over competition-related matters, such as the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), the US Department of Transportation, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the UK Office of Communications (Ofcom) and the UK Office of Gas & Electricity Markets (Ofgem).
We defend clients in some of the largest global cartel investigations, parallel civil cases, and class actions, and we obtain regulatory clearance of multi-billion dollar transactions for Fortune 500 companies.
Our lawyers have handled complex antitrust and competition law matters on every continent except Antarctica. Our global reach is especially valuable to clients given the increasing cooperation between antitrust authorities throughout the world. Sixty antitrust/competition practitioners, supported by a global firm of nearly 2,000 lawyers, provide coverage everywhere our clients face competition issues.
Our partners have held senior positions and have led enforcement efforts at key antitrust and competition law authorities and judicial bodies, including the U.S. DOJ, the U.S. FTC, and the Court of Justice of the EU. Recognized for our trial skill and ability, we have shaped antitrust law through appellate advocacy and the preparation of policy comments on behalf of the American Bar Association to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and have served in leading roles in several landmark U.S. Supreme Court antitrust decisions.
Our clients rely on us for help with criminal and cartel investigations spanning multiple countries and continents. When an investigation involves several jurisdictions, the strength of our U.S., EU, and Asian presence differentiates us from other law firms. We coordinate the defense across time zones and jurisdictions as part of one unified and experienced team.
When one member of an industry is raided by the U.S. DOJ, the European Commission, or another antitrust authority, every member of that industry should conduct a thorough internal review to assess its own potential exposure. Our team works closely with clients to identify business risks and needs, and assists them in acting promptly in the best interest of the business. If a client faces a criminal investigation, we have a strong and experienced team, including several former government enforcers, to defend our client’s vital interests. In many instances, we have persuaded government enforcers to drop an investigation. When necessary, we have represented our clients aggressively and successfully at trial and on appeal.
TransactionsWe help clients structure transactions by isolating or minimizing competition concerns. This involves analyzing substantive competition issues, preparing merger control notifications, and representing merging parties before the competition authorities. For multi-jurisdictional mergers, we evaluate notification and approval obligations and manage the process across multiple jurisdictions.
ChallengesWe advise clients that are opposed to or concerned about mergers of competitors or suppliers. We assist them in presenting concerns to the relevant enforcement agencies, proposing appropriate divestitures or other relief, and acquiring assets to be divested.