Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, LAW FIRM NEWS: Antitrust firms add new members, including a former FTC deputy director, (May 20, 2026)

By WK Editorial Staff

Other firms noted recognition their antitrust attorneys received, announced a promotion, and launched a new office.

New hires. Kirkland & Ellis announced that antitrust lawyers Robbert Snelders, Thomas Graf, Henry Mostyn and Conor Opdebeeck-Wilson will join the firm as partners. “Robbert, Thomas, Henry and Conor are market-leaders for high-stakes EU, UK and global merger control, cartel and unilateral conduct matters as well as in the growing field of digital regulation,” said Jon A. Ballis, Chairman of Kirkland’s Executive Committee. “Their experience significantly complements and enhances our strong existing antitrust team in London and Brussels.”

Arnold & Porter announced that Nicola Chesaites has joined the firm’s Antitrust/Competition litigation practice as a partner, resident in London. Kathleen Harris, head of Arnold & Porter’s London office, said: “Nicola is widely recognized as a leading competition litigator and for her skill in navigating complex litigation risk and strategic advisory work. Her arrival strengthens our robust competition and commercial litigation practices.”

King & Spalding announced that antitrust lawyer Jade-Alexandra Fearns has joined the firm as a partner in the Government Matters and Regulation practice group. She is based in the London office. Fearns’ practice focuses on antitrust and competition law along with international sanctions and other regulatory and compliance-related advice across several sectors.

Cooley announced that Norm Armstrong Jr. has joined as a partner and chair of its global antitrust and competition practice. Based in the firm’s Washington, DC, office, Armstrong brings decades of sophisticated experience in enforcement priorities, deal execution and cross-border antitrust matters from tenures within the highest levels of government and private practice.

A former deputy director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition, Armstrong advises clients on high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, as well as complex government investigations and antitrust litigation.

Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, heralded the arrival of Diane Hazel as a partner in the Antitrust Law Group in the Denver office. Hazel is a nationally recognized antitrust litigator and former government enforcer who represents clients in complex litigation and high-stakes investigations. A former attorney at both the FTC and the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, she brings deep agency insight and strategic acumen defending clients in investigations by the FTC, Department of Justice, and state attorneys general.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP announced that Rebekah T. Scherr has joined the firm as a partner in the Antitrust and Mergers & Acquisitions Groups in Washington, D.C. Scherr advises U.S. and cross-border clients on antitrust and competition matters, with a focus on merger notification compliance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act and merger control aspects of transactions.

Geradin Partners announced that Henriikka Piekkala will join the firm as Senior Counsel, effective from June 1, 2026. Piekkala has over two decades of extensive experience in regulated markets and competition law. She represents clients before national courts, the European Commission, and the Court of Justice of the European Union, handling a wide range of regulatory and competition matters.

Simonsen Sussman reported that Braden Fain has joined the firm as an Associate. Announcing the hire on social media, the firm said: “Braden shares our passion for anti-monopoly enforcement, and we are thrilled to have him join us.”

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips announced that Ana Tagvoryan has joined the Firm in Los Angeles as a litigation partner in its Consumer Protection and Advertising practice. Tagvoryan’s arrival enhances Manatt’s class action litigation bench and strengthens its ability to defend businesses in complex, high-stakes matters, including privacy disputes, state and federal government enforcement and advertising-related litigation in California and across the country.

Promotions. Freshfields announced on May 14 that it named Mark Sansom, a member of the firm’s litigation team focusing on antitrust/competition law, as its new global Client Partner. Victoria Sigeti was appointed as his successor. She will serve as the firm’s new U.K. Managing Partner.

Recognition. Bona Law announced that partner Aaron Gott has been elected chair of the Minnesota State Bar Association Antitrust Law Section Council for the 2026–27 term. Gott previously served as vice chair of the section’s council and has been an active contributor to its programming, including continuing legal education events on employee non-competes and the Capper-Volstead Act farm cooperative exemption.

Alston & Bird shared that partner Matthew Kent has been nominated to serve as Program Officer for the American Bar Association Antitrust Law Section.

Leandra Ipiña, an associate in Axinn’s Antitrust group, was among the recipients of the “High Honors” distinction by the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, the firm announced. In 2011, the D.C. Courts established the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll, which annually recognizes members of the D.C. Bar who perform over 100 hours or more of pro bono legal services with a “High Honors” distinction.

Firm opens new office. Crowell & Moring has opened a new office in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a focus on the firm’s regulatory, enforcement and litigation strengths in areas including antitrust and competition. The office has an initial team of eight attorneys. Minneapolis is Crowell’s 13th office and follows office openings last year in Boston and Dallas.

Attorneys: Robbert Snelders, Thomas Graf, Henry Mostyn, Conor Opdebeeck-Wilson, and Jon A. Ballis (Kirkland & Ellis). Nicola Chesaites and Kathleen Harris (Arnold & Porter). Jade-Alexandra Fearns (King & Spalding). (Crowell & Moring). Norm Armstrong Jr. (Cooley). Diane Hazel (Morrison Foerster). Rebekah T. Scherr (Debevoise & Plimpton LLP). Henriikka Piekkala (Geradin Partners). Braden Fain (Simonsen Sussman). Ana Tagvoryan (Manatt, Phelps & Phillips). Mark Sansom and Victoria Sigeti (Freshfields). Aaron Gott (Bona Law). Matthew Kent (Alston & Bird). Leandra Ipiña, (Axinn).

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