Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, LAW FIRM NEWS: Antitrust attorneys jump to new firms, earn promotions and recognition, (Dec 2, 2024)

By WK Editorial Staff

Meanwhile, two antitrust litigation firms have merged into one.

New hires. King & Spalding announced that Olivier N. Antoine has joined its Business Litigation practice group as a partner in the firm’s New York office. Antoine’s practice focuses on high-stakes antitrust litigation, government investigations, and transactional matters, the firm stated. He joins King & Spalding from Crowell & Moring, where he led the New York antitrust practice.

Squire Patton Boggs shared that it has appointed Michael S. Wise as a partner in Washington, D.C., where he will serve as the firm’s U.S. Antitrust Practice Leader. Wise joins Squire Patton Boggs from Paul Hastings, where he was a partner in Antitrust and Competition and led the team handling antitrust regulatory issues, the announcement stated. Squire Patton Boggs’ Managing Partner Michele Connell commented that “[d]eepening our US antitrust team is a strategic priority for the firm, and [Wise] has the track record with clients and leadership skills to spearhead our continued growth.”

Luke T. Taeschler has joined Crowell & Moring as Counsel in Antitrust and Litigation, based in the firm’s New York office. Taeschler joins Crowell from his previous position as an attorney with the FTC Bureau of Competition, where he investigated horizontal and vertical mergers as well as other business conduct. His practice at Crowell covers class action litigation, competitor litigation, merger reviews and investigations, conduct investigations, and antitrust counseling.

Brian E. Hanna has joined Dechert as Counsel in the firm’s global antitrust/competition practice, based in Washington, D.C. Hanna joins Dechert from the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, where he was a trial attorney and former lead counsel. Hanna has experience handling complex antitrust issues, particularly in the transportation, energy, and agriculture sectors, the firm stated.

Promotions. Cleary Gottlieb announced that it promoted 26 partners and four counsel, effective January 1, 2025. Those promoted to partner include six attorneys who practice in antitrust: Cunzhen Huang (Washington, D.C.), Joseph M. Kay (New York), Romi Lepetska (Brussels), Blair (Kuykendall) Matthews (Washington, D.C.), John Messent (London), Vladimir Novak (Brussels). Antitrust attorney Stéphanie Patureau (Paris) was among those promoted to counsel.

Among 14 lawyers who will become partners at Steptoe on January 1, 2025, is Karen Bruni, whose practice includes counseling electric utilities before federal courts in appeals of FERC orders and litigations related to enforcement and antitrust matters.

Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney announced its 2025 promotions class of four shareholders and six counsels. Among those being promoted to shareholder are Andrew G. Hope, who has experience in antitrust litigation, and Jennifer M. Oliver, who specializes in antitrust and other types of litigation.

Weil elected 18 new partners. Those elected include Brian Liegel, who practices in antitrust among other types of litigation, and Josh Wesneski, who advises clients on a variety of litigation and regulatory issues, including antitrust, arbitration, securities, and administrative law.

Law firm merger. Sperling & Slater, LLC, and Kenny Nachwalter, P.A., merged to form Sperling Kenny Nachwalter with effect as of December 1, 2024. The new firm handles commercial litigation and antitrust matters and has offices in Chicago, Miami, Nashville, Austin, and Washington, D.C.

Recognition. Morrison Foerster shared that Margaret A. Webb, an associate in the firm’s Litigation Department and a member of the firm’s Global Antitrust Law group, received a New Lawyers to Watch award from the California Lawyers Association’s Antitrust and Unfair Competition Law Section.

Hausfeld celebrated being recognized by Lexology Index as the “Competition Plaintiffs Law Firm of the Year.” Lexology Index also named Hausfeld’s Managing Partner in Germany, Alex Petrasincu, as “Competition Plaintiff Lawyer of the Year.”

McGuireWoods announced that Chicago partners Amy B. Manning and Angelo M. Russo were recognized among Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Litigators in America. Manning is co-leader of the firm’s antitrust practice group and handles criminal and civil antitrust matters for international and U.S. companies, as well as individuals, throughout the United States. Russo represents individuals and international and domestic companies in criminal antitrust investigations and civil antitrust litigation.

Jones Day shared that it received 29 National Tier 1 rankings, including for Litigation – Antitrust, in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. DiCello Levitt also received several Best Law Firms® recognitions, including National Tier 1 recognition for Antitrust Law and recognition in the New York (Antitrust Law) metropolitan area. The 10 Best Law Firms® recognitions garnered by Axinn included a National Tier 1 ranking in Litigation – Antitrust and a National Tier 2 ranking in Antitrust Law, as well as a Metropolitan Tier 1 recognition for New York City – Antitrust Law and a Metropolitan Tier 2 recognition for Washington, D.C. – Antitrust Law. Meanwhile, Vinson & Elkins celebrated receiving 34 national rankings in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®, including Tier 2 rankings in Antitrust Law and Litigation - Antitrust.

Attorneys: Olivier N. Antoine (King & Spalding LLP). Michael S. Wise (Squire Patton Boggs). (Paul Hastings, LLP). Luke T. Taeschler (Crowell & Moring LLP). Brian E. Hanna (Dechert LLP). Cunzhen Huang, Joseph M. Kay, Romi Lepetska, Blair (Kuykendall) Matthews, John Messent, Vladimir Novak, and Stéphanie Patureau (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP). Karen Bruni (Steptoe LLP). Andrew G. Hope and Jennifer M. Oliver (Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC). Brian Liegel and Josh Wesneski (Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP). (Sperling & Slater, LLC). (Kenny Nachwalter, P.A.). (Sperling Kenny Nachwalter). Margaret A. Webb (Morrison & Foerster LLP). Alex Petrasincu (Hausfeld LLP). Amy B. Manning and Angelo M. Russo (McGuireWoods). (Jones Day). (DiCello Levitt LLP). (Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP). (Vinson & Elkins LLP).

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