Michael B. DeRita
Counsel
Mike DeRita represents clients in high-stakes antitrust and competition matters, with a focus on merger investigations, litigation, and compliance. Drawing on experience at both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), he provides practical, strategic counsel on merger clearance and antitrust compliance across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, energy, retail, media, transportation, and technology.
Michael B. DeRita
Counsel
Mike DeRita represents clients in high-stakes antitrust and competition matters, with a focus on merger investigations, litigation, and compliance. Drawing on experience at both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice (DOJ), he provides practical, strategic counsel on merger clearance and antitrust compliance across a wide range of industries, including healthcare, energy, retail, media, transportation, and technology.
Mike advises clients on complex antitrust and competition matters, drawing on deep experience in merger investigations, litigation, and compliance counseling. He regularly guides clients through U.S. merger control and Hart-Scott-Rodino processes before both the DOJ and FTC. His work spans industries including healthcare, energy, retail, media, transportation, and technology.
Mike leads clients through every stage of merger review — from pre-filing strategy to negotiations with federal and state agencies — and defends clients in federal and administrative court challenges. In addition to transactional work, he provides proactive antitrust counseling: drafting policies, training compliance programs, and advising on joint ventures, trade association activities, and other competitive interactions.
Mike began his legal career in the Mergers IV Division of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, where he analyzed hospital, retail, and food distribution deals. He also served as a trial attorney in the DOJ Antitrust Division’s Transportation, Energy & Agriculture Section, working on both merger and conduct matters, including the DOJ’s litigations to unwind the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue and block JetBlue’s attempted acquisition of Spirit.
He holds a J.D. from George Mason University School of Law, where he was Senior Research Editor of the Journal of Law, Economics & Policy, and a B.A. in Economics from Boston University.
Experience
Government Experience
- Successfully obtained an injunction blocking JetBlue’s attempted acquisition of Spirit. Took direct examination of the chief revenue officer of Allegiant, a proposed divestiture buyer, and cross-examined defendants’ industry expert, resulting in the court determining that he “lacks credibility, and therefore must be given no weight.”
- Successfully obtained an injunction of the Northeast Alliance between American Airlines and JetBlue. Conducted trial examination of the DOJ’s primary economic expert.
- Successfully obtained a preliminary injunction blocking Sysco’s acquisition of US Foods.
- Investigated Office Depot’s acquisition of OfficeMax and drafted the FTC’s statement closing the investigation.
- Investigated Moses Cone Memorial Hospital’s acquisition of Alamance Regional Medical Center.
Education
- JD – George Mason University School of Law (2012)
- BA – Boston University (2007)
Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New York
Quotes
The lawyers have a deep knowledge of antitrust laws.
Chambers USA
Axinn is one of the most respected antitrust firms, and its reputation is well deserved.
Chambers USA
