
Kail J. Jethmalani
Partner
Lauded in Chambers USA for delivering “creative solutions” and in The Legal 500 for his “excellent strategic judgment” and “first-rate subject matter knowledge,” Kail Jethmalani is a go-to antitrust advisor for clients with bet-the-company litigation and challenging deals. He is known for a pragmatic, commercial approach, and cohesive strategies to successfully defend high-stakes antitrust litigation and secure antitrust approvals for difficult deals.
Kail J. Jethmalani
Partner
Lauded in Chambers USA for delivering “creative solutions” and in The Legal 500 for his “excellent strategic judgment” and “first-rate subject matter knowledge,” Kail Jethmalani is a go-to antitrust advisor for clients with bet-the-company litigation and challenging deals. He is known for a pragmatic, commercial approach, and cohesive strategies to successfully defend high-stakes antitrust litigation and secure antitrust approvals for difficult deals.

Kail’s recent representations include Cummins in its $3 billion battery JV with Daimler Truck and PACCAR and other transactions; First Advantage in its $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check; and Choice Hotels in its proposed acquisition of Wyndham Hotels. His recent litigation experience includes: lead counsel defending Exelon in an alleged industry-wide wage-fixing class action; defending Tyson Foods in multiple treble-damage class actions and State Attorney General litigations alleging industry-wide conspiracies to raise the prices of broiler chicken and pork, and to suppress compensation to broiler chicken farmers; and Greif in a putative class action alleging price-fixing in containerboard.
Kail was named a Rising Star by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association in 2024. He was recognized by Who’s Who Legal as one of only three “most highly regarded” Future Leaders in Competition in North America in 2021 and 2022, and as a Global Elite Thought Leader in 2024. In addition, Kail is recognized by Lawdragon as one of the “500 Leading Global Antitrust & Competition Lawyers.”
Experience
- Lead counsel for Exelon Corporation in class action alleging a decades-long, industry-wide conspiracy to fix the compensation paid to nuclear power plant employees.
- Representing Greif Inc. in class action alleging a conspiracy to fix the price of containerboard and its constituent parts.
- Represented First Advantage in its $2.2 billion acquisition of Sterling Check Corp.
- Lead antitrust counsel to Independence Health Group in group boycott action brought by spinal fusion device manufacturer.
- Lead counsel for Tyson Foods in class action and parallel State AG litigation alleging antitrust, consumer protection, fraud, and tort claims related to closure of facility.
- Antitrust counsel to Choice Hotels International Inc. in the proposed acquisition of Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.
- Legal global coordinating counsel to Cummins Inc. in its $3 billion proposed EV Battery joint venture with Daimler and PACCAR, as well as in multiple other transactions.
- Representing Tyson Foods Inc. in multiple major treble-damage class actions and state attorney general litigations alleging industry-wide conspiracies to raise the prices of broiler chicken and pork, as well as a conspiracy to depress broiler grower pay.
- Representing Axinn’s longstanding client, Independence Health Group in multiple class actions and direct actions against the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and individual Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. The lawsuit, which alleges that the plans’ designated service areas are anti-competitive, is the most significant challenge to the Blue System in its 90-year history.
- Represented McKesson subsidiary RelayHealth in FTC litigation and investigation involving monopolization claims relating to electronic prescribing.
Honors
- Chambers USA, New York: Antitrust (2025)
- Best Lawyers, Ones to Watch (2021 – 2022; 2024 – 2025)
- Lawdragon, “500 Leading Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyers” (2025)
- Lawdragon, "500 Leading Litigators in America" (2025 – 2026)
- Lawdragon, "500 X – The Next Generation" (2024 – 2025)
- MCCA Rising Star (2024)
- Profiles in Diversity Journal Asian Leadership Award Winner (2024)
- Profiles in Diversity Journal Emerging Leaders Award Winner (2024)
- The Legal 500 United States, Antitrust – Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense (2025)
- Who’s Who Legal: Competition, Future Leaders (2020 – 2024)
- Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders - Global Elite (2023)
- U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut, Pro Bono Honor Roll (2023)
- New York State Bar Association, Empire State Counsel Honoree for Pro Bono Service (2017 – 2018; 2021 – 2023)
- Super Lawyers, “Rising Star” for Antitrust Litigation (2018 – 2025)
- Global Competition Review, on the team shortlisted for “Litigation of the Year – Cartel Defence” for its work on behalf of Nishikawa Rubber Company in the Auto Parts litigation (2018)
Education
- JD, magna cum laude – University of Michigan Law School (2014) Order of the Coif
- BA – Skidmore College (2009)
Admissions
- New York
- U.S. District Court District of Colorado
- U.S. District Court District of Connecticut
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
Quotes
Kail is remarkably intelligent and very well-versed in subject matter. He thinks about creative solutions and he is always making himself available.
Chambers USA
Kail is a fantastic antitrust attorney who thinks strategically at all stages of litigation.
Chambers USA
Kail has extremely strong subject matter knowledge and works well with witnesses.
Chambers USA
Kail Jethmalani is 'one of the best lawyers of his generation' who impresses with 'his ability to quickly understand complicated issues and develop big picture strategies'
Who's Who Legal Future Leaders 2021
News & Insights
News & Insights
SABA North America Corporate Counsel Retreat 2026
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
Why Should I Care About Property Controls?
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
Axinn Partners Named to Lawdragon's 2026 "500 Leading Dealmakers in America" Guide
Awards & Recognitions
How Justices' Ruling Upends Personal Jurisdiction Defense
Byline Articles
Litigation & Trials
Fordham 52nd Annual Conference on International Antitrust Law and Policy
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
Axinn Attorneys Recognized in Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Litigators in America” Guide
Awards & Recognitions
Axinn Attorneys Named to the 2025 Lawdragon 500 X – The Next Generation Guide
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Hanging in the Balance: Supreme Court Declines to Decide the Uninjured Class Member Question in Labcorp v. Davis
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
Axinn Recognized by Legal 500 2025 U.S. Guide for Excellence in Antitrust and Litigation
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Axinn Earns Band 1 Recognition in Multiple Categories in 2025 Chambers USA Guide
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust





