Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, LAW FIRM NEWS: Antitrust firms welcome new hires from the Justice Department, (Jan 30, 2025)

By WK Editorial Staff

Meanwhile, there were other recent hires and attorneys recognized for their work in antitrust.

New hires from the Justice Department. Andrew C. Finch, a leading antitrust lawyer who served as Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Acting Assistant Attorney General in the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division from 2017 to 2019, will join Cravath as a partner, the firm announced. Finch advises clients on antitrust investigations and litigation, both criminal and civil, including merger reviews. At the Department of Justice, Mr. Finch similarly oversaw all aspects of the Antitrust Division’s operations, including merger reviews, civil and criminal antitrust investigations, litigation and appeals. Finch will practice within Cravath’s Litigation Department, from its New York office. “Andrew’s extensive experience in and out of government will be invaluable to our clients as they navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment,” said Faiza J. Saeed, Cravath’s presiding partner.

Baker Botts LLP announced that former Senior Litigation Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division Edward Duffy has joined the firm’s Litigation Department as an Antitrust partner in the Washington D.C. office. Duffy’s expertise includes leading landmark cases on behalf of the DOJ and advising on complex antitrust matters across various industries—including airlines, financial services, power generation, oilfield services, travel management, shipping, and agriculture. Notably, he served as lead trial counsel in the DOJ’s challenge to the JetBlue-Spirit merger, securing an injunction against the merger in federal court—one of the largest mergers blocked by the current administration. Duffy was lead counsel in the DOJ's monopolization case against Visa. Duffy also served as Acting Assistant Chief of the Transportation, Energy & Agriculture section of the DOJ Antitrust Division.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced that former U.S. Department of Justice litigator and trial attorney Meagan Bellshaw has joined the Firm as a partner in the Antitrust practice, based in the Washington, D.C. office. At the Department of Justice, Bellshaw most recently served as Assistant Chief in the Antitrust Division’s Financial Services, Fintech & Banking Section, overseeing the group’s civil merger and non-merger investigations and litigation. Her career experience at the Department, where she has worked since 2017, spans multiple industries including financial services, technology, insurance, media, telecommunications, publishing, entertainment, agriculture and sports. “As Weil continues to take on the most demanding, highest-stakes antitrust cases, Meagan will be a powerful advocate for our clients,” said Weil Executive Partner Barry Wolf. “We’re delighted to welcome her to Weil as we continue expanding our top-tier Antitrust capabilities.”

Ethan Davis, who had been a partner at King & Spalding after serving as the former Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, has moved to Meta Platforms, Inc., where he will be responsible for litigation strategy.

Other new hires. Morgan Lewis welcomed to its London office antitrust and competition lawyer Paul Johnson from Baker McKenzie. Johnson represents clients in a range of competition matters, including advocating for clients before the UK Competition and Markets Authority and the European Commission. Johnson has deep experience in all areas of EU and UK competition law, as well as multijurisdictional merger control and foreign investment review. He has experience in various industries, with a particular focus on life sciences and technology.

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced that Scott Eisman has joined its litigation practice as a partner in the New York office. Scott was most recently at Freshfields, where his work included defending Google against antitrust claims concerning advertising technology and in a commercial litigation matter involving a cryptocurrency scheme.

Kristin Mikeska Barkemeyer has joined Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP as an Antitrust Associate in their Washington D.C. office.

Promotions. Milbank LLP announced that 17 attorneys have been elected to the firm’s partnership effective January 1, 2025, including Moritz Lichtenegger, a member of the European Antitrust & Competition practice. He specializes in German and European antitrust law

Recognition. Lawdragon introduced its listing of The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers. Axinn was pleased to highlight that Lawdragon recognized 23 of the firm’s attorneys in the listing. Cohen & Gresser noted that its attorneys Melissa Maxman and Ron Wick were recognized.

McDermott Will & Emery announced that Elai Katz has been honored with the New York State Bar Association’s William T. Lifland Award. Katz is a distinguished antitrust lawyer with more than two decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions, litigation, counseling, and government investigations. The William T. Lifland Award recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves as leading antitrust practitioners and have served the broader antitrust community in a leadership role throughout their careers.

Norton Rose Fulbright announced that 8 US partners were included in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America guide, including the firm’s Robin Adelstein, Global Head of Antitrust and Competition.

Leading European antitrust publication Concurrences has shortlisted four articles authored by Latham lawyers for its 2025 Antitrust Writing Awards, the firm announced. The annual event honors “articles whose writing, scholarship, originality, and practical relevance make a contribution to competition advocacy.”

Other news. On January 8, 2025, Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca, launched a new Government Affairs team—a significant expansion of its current capabilities and bringing a wealth of Congressional and regulatory experience and strategic insights to help clients navigate complex policy challenges. The team includes: Slade Bond, former Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the Department of Justice’s Office of Legislative Affairs; Pamela Gilbert, a named partner and former Executive Director of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission with extensive consumer protection and antitrust advocacy experience; Amanda Lewis, former FTC Bureau of Competition attorney and House Antitrust Subcommittee Counsel; and Sarah Rooney, a distinguished legal policy expert with significant federal agency and advocacy achievements.

Attorneys: Andrew C. Finch and Faiza J. Saeed (Cravath). Edward Duffy (Baker Botts LLP). Paul Johnson (Morgan Lewis). (Baker McKenzie). Slade Bond, Pamela Gilbert, Amanda Lewis, and Sarah Rooney (Cuneo Gilbert & LaDuca). Meagan Bellshaw and Barry Wolf (Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP). Scott Eisman (Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP). (Freshfields). (King & Spalding). Elai Katz (McDermott Will & Emery). Robin Adelstein (Norton Rose Fulbright). Melissa Maxman and Ron Wick (Cohen & Gresser). Moritz Lichtenegger (Milbank LLP). Kristin Mikeska Barkemeyer (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP). (Latham & Watkins LLP).

Companies: Meta Platforms, Inc.

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