Competition Policy & Corporate Mergers

Helping your merger navigate the process of competition regulation

We provide comprehensive strategic advice and legal counsel to companies involved in mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and other business combinations that come under review by the antitrust and competition policy regulators at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and states' attorneys general.

We don’t just focus on the agencies reviewing the transaction. Our Competition Policy & Corporate Mergers Group focuses first on the Congressional committees with oversight jurisdiction over the DOJ and FTC. Members of Congressional committees may request details of transactions and the effects of mergers on the market, industry or the effect on their home districts. We help you think strategically when communicating with Congress about high-profile matters. This can include negotiating the scope of hearings and testimony, developing ways to maximize opportunities to provide positive messages, preparing witnesses for testimony and navigating the political and legal minefields associated with any appearance before Congress.

We are regularly in front of the Antitrust Division of the DOJ and other relevant agency divisions. When your transaction enters the review phase, we advise and provide strategic counsel as the transaction review proceeds.

We have previously represented Oracle during its merger with Seibel Systems, AMC Theaters in the AMC-Loews deal, U.S. Airways in its bid to takeover Delta Airlines, and Google in its acquisition of DoubleClick.

The Brownstein Advantage

Group members' experience includes:

• A Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the DOJ Antitrust Division appointed by President George W. Bush in July 2003
• Commissioner on the U.S. Antitrust Modernization Commission
• Staff Director and Chief Counsel of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, working as the principal legal and policy advisor on matters within the committee’s jurisdiction for then-Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT)
• DOJ professional with experience handling investigations involving Federal Inspector Generals’ offices