Fried Frank announced that Kathy O’Neill has joined the firm as a partner in its global Antitrust and Competition Department, based in Washington, DC. O’Neill served nearly 16 years in the Department of Justice (DOJ)’s Antitrust Division.
O’Neill focuses on clearance of mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, as well as investigations and litigation under federal and state antitrust laws, and antitrust compliance counseling and training.
While at DOJ, O’Neill served as the senior-most career official overseeing all civil antitrust enforcement. She previously served as chief of the Antitrust Division’s Transportation, Energy and Agriculture Section, and as a trial attorney in the Telecommunications and Media Section. During her tenure, Kathy played a leading role in advancing numerous high stakes antitrust investigations and litigations across a wide range of industries including agriculture, airline, banking, communications, energy, media and entertainment and technology. Her more than 20 years of government experience also includes roles as assistant attorney general for the New York Attorney General’s Office and as an attorney advisor at the Federal Communications Commission.
“Kathy is a standout antitrust lawyer with decades of government experience, making her an exceptional addition to our global antitrust team,” said Steven Epstein, Fried Frank’s managing partner and co-head of the firm’s M&A and Private Equity Practice. “Adding Kathy’s experience and capabilities creates a powerful synergy with our corporate and litigation practices, ensuring that we offer our clients the most insightful strategic advice.”
“I’ve known and worked with Kathy for many years. She is a formidable and innovative lawyer, and someone whom I deeply respect for her keen judgment and strategic thinking,” said Bernard (Barry) A. Nigro Jr., partner and global chair of Fried Frank's Antitrust and Competition Department. “Her deep understanding of antitrust laws and how they are applied by federal and state enforcers, her strong relationships and front-line experience significantly enhance our team’s ability to advise clients on critical transactions, investigations, litigation and compliance. This is especially crucial at a time when companies and merging parties must navigate heightened antitrust scrutiny and enforcement.”
Fried Frank’s global Antitrust and Competition Department has successfully advised clients on some of the largest and most high-profile competition matters around the world. The experienced team, which includes prominent former government officials from the DOJ, Federal Trade Commission and UK Competition and Markets Authority, represents clients in a wide range of industries on a variety of matters including mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, cartels and government investigations, antitrust litigation and risk management and compliance. Together with members of Fried Frank’s Corporate and Litigation Departments, the team provides seamless global coverage from the firm’s offices in the United States and Europe. The Antitrust and Competition Department's efforts are regularly recognized by Chambers Global, Chambers Europe, Chambers USA, Chambers UK, Legal 500 US (first-tier law firm winner for Antitrust-Merger Control), Legal 500 UK and Global Competition Review, among others.
This news story was originally published on the firm’s website.