Axinn Welcomes Former DOJ Antitrust Division Leader Jacklin Chou Lem to San Francisco Antitrust Practice
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced today that Jacklin “Jackie” Chou Lem, who most recently served as Civil Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, has joined its Antitrust practice as a partner in the San Francisco, CA office.
Shifting Trends in Healthcare Antitrust Enforcement: Navigating the Evolving Landscape
The healthcare industry has long been under the microscope of antitrust regulators, with a focus on preserving cost-effectiveness, improving access, and ensuring high-quality care.
Axinn Attorneys Recognized in Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Litigators in America” Guide
Axinn is proud to announce that 23 partners have been recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide for 2026.
Axinn Welcomes Former DOJ Antitrust Division Leader Jacklin Chou Lem to San Francisco Antitrust Practice
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced today that Jacklin “Jackie” Chou Lem, who most recently served as Civil Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, has joined its Antitrust practice as a partner in the San Francisco, CA office.
Shifting Trends in Healthcare Antitrust Enforcement: Navigating the Evolving Landscape
The healthcare industry has long been under the microscope of antitrust regulators, with a focus on preserving cost-effectiveness, improving access, and ensuring high-quality care.
Axinn Attorneys Recognized in Lawdragon’s 2026 “500 Leading Litigators in America” Guide
Axinn is proud to announce that 23 partners have been recognized in Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Litigators in America” guide for 2026.
Axinn Welcomes Former DOJ Antitrust Division Leader Jacklin Chou Lem to San Francisco Antitrust Practice
Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced today that Jacklin “Jackie” Chou Lem, who most recently served as Civil Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Office, has joined its Antitrust practice as a partner in the San Francisco, CA office.
Antitrust
Axinn’s full-service antitrust practice stands among the largest and most experienced. Our team works coast to coast and across borders to deliver integrated counsel on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), litigation, and government investigations.
Global Leader in Antitrust
Celebrated as a top-ranked antitrust practice by Chambers and Partners and Global Competition Review, Axinn is renowned for representing some of the world’s largest companies in matters of the highest strategic importance. Our track record of success includes leading high-profile civil and criminal litigations and investigations. Orchestrating approximately half a trillion dollars in M&A transactions, we have gained clearances for intensely contested deals, including the largest cash merger in U.S. history, the largest-ever tech deal, and other landmark transactions.
Unmatched Experience
We don't just understand the government authorities you'll face – we have inside agency experience. Our team of more than 70 dedicated antitrust lawyers includes former high-ranking officials from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as well as European Union antitrust regulators. Our dual perspective and experience enable us to tackle the most challenging multinational antitrust issues.
Deep Commitment to Client Success
Invested in our clients' success, we provide in-depth analysis and dedicated advocacy. Our inquisitive and incisive approach enables us to navigate the most complex legal issues with precision. We value collaboration and inclusivity, evidenced by our success in leading multijurisdictional teams to resolve sprawling litigations and advance cross-border deals.
Our reputation as tenacious advocates for strategic transactions is built on our track record of obtaining global clearances for multibillion-dollar deals combining industry rivals.
Axinn lawyers regularly serve as lead counsel, overseeing co-counsel around the world. Our unique experience and perspectives make us adept at developing cohesive strategies to address regulators’ concerns head-on and gain approvals in the most challenging jurisdictions.
Experience:
- Broadcom’s $69 billion acquisition of VMware.
- Dell’s $67 billion acquisition of EMC.
- Thermo Fisher Scientific’s $13.2 billion acquisition of Life Technologies and $12.5 billion tender offer to acquire QIAGEN .
Axinn’s substantial experience as lead counsel in Section 7 challenges to mergers includes:
- Obtained a judgment rejecting the DOJ’s bid to block SunGard’s $825 million acquisition of Comdisco’s business recovery assets.
- Successfully litigated against the DOJ’s attempt to block George’s Inc.'s sale of assets to Tyson Foods after the sale had been completed.
- Successfully litigated against the City of New York in its efforts to stop Group Health Inc.'s acquisition of HIP Insurance Company.
Employing a sophisticated yet practical approach, Axinn has defended major industry players in some of the most high-profile and complex antitrust litigations and deal reviews in recent history. From private treble-damage class actions and sprawling multidistrict litigations (MDL) to price-fixing, bid-rigging, market allocation, and other antitrust claims, we resolve cases strategically and efficiently. Our experience extends to monopolization disputes, merger trials, criminal defense, and internal investigations.
Our inquisitive nature drives us to explore all facets of antitrust claims, ensuring comprehensive and diligent representation across industries. We consistently apply our creativity and bottom-line perspective to achieve exceptional outcomes in matters involving third-party subpoena defenses, leniency applications, antitrust compliance, and government investigations.
Experience:
- Representing Tyson Foods in multiple class action lawsuits alleging collusion among competitors.
- Representing Alvogen in the sprawling Generic Drugs MDL and in its antitrust counterclaims against Indivior relating to Alvogen’s launch of a generic equivalent to SUBOXONE®sublingual film.
- Representing Momenta Pharmaceuticals in a monopolization and class action lawsuit.
In today’s aggressive enforcement environment, the choice of cartel counsel is crucial. Lawyers must be incisive advisors, inquisitive strategists, and invested advocates. Axinn embodies these qualities.
We pride ourselves on handling the two largest price-fixing investigations of the past decade. We’ve represented clients in cartel investigations by major global authorities, including:
- DOJ
- Australian Competition and Consumer Commission
- Brazil’s Administrative Council for Economic Defense
- Canadian Competition Bureau
- European Commission
Our ranks include former federal prosecutors and leaders from the DOJ Antitrust Division who have overseen criminal investigations, trials, and policy initiatives. Leveraging our government experience, we take an integrated approach to managing all aspects of representation: compliance programs; internal investigations; government probes; criminal proceedings; and civil litigation.
We understand that each client’s goals and challenges are unique and devise tailored, creative strategies to resolve investigations.
We excel in leading complex matters at the intersection of antitrust and intellectual property (IP) laws. Combining our advanced technical training and focused IP experience, we regularly advise on standard-setting and fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory issues.
Clients call on us to conduct thorough internal investigations and to develop and implement robust antitrust compliance programs. Our client-centric approach empowers clients to navigate the most challenging antitrust landscapes with confidence.
Experience:
- Representing Google before FTC with respect to Standard Essential Patents
- Representing Red Hat before DOJ with respect to patent acquisitions
- Representing Motorola Mobility before FTC regarding patent issues
Our appellate lawyers combine firsthand government service with proven advocacy in high-stakes appeals. With former federal and state appellate clerks, U.S. Department of Justice and State Solicitor General’s Office veterans, and experienced Supreme Court practitioners, we distill complex trial records into concise, persuasive arguments.
We handle appeals across antitrust, commercial, intellectual property, and government enforcement matters—including by stepping in post-trial to preserve victories or reverse adverse rulings. We also work seamlessly with trial teams to preserve key issues, develop case strategy, and present the strongest possible arguments. From briefing to oral argument—and through merits briefs, petitions for discretionary review, and amicus submissions—we deliver targeted strategies that protect outcomes and shape the law.
Insights
Event
|November 19, 2025
Informa 34th Annual Advanced EU Brussels Conference
On November 19, Axinn partner Jimmy Attridge will speak on the "Competition Policy in the New Geopolitical Landscape" panel at Informa's Advanced EU Brussels Conference, being held November 18-19. ...Read more
Event
|November 18, 2025
GCR Live: Women in Antitrust 2025
On November 18, Axinn partner Lisl Dunlop will speak on "The Next Four Years: Merger Control Following U.S. Leadership Changes" at Global Competition Review's Women in Antitrust conference in Washington, DC. ...Read more
Event
|November 3, 2025
On November 3, Axinn antitrust practice chair Mike Keeley will speak on the "Competition Law Compliance in the World of Shifting Antitrust Enforcement and High Tech" panel at the International Bar Association's Annual Conference, being held November 2-7 in Toronto. ...Read more
Event
|October 24, 2025
GCR Live: Global Merger Control 2025
On October 24, Axinn partner Bradley Justus will speak on the "Scoping Remedies in Merger Control: Permissive or Restrictive?" panel at Global Competition Review's Global Merger Control Conference, being held October 23-24 in Brussels. ...Read more
Event
|October 22, 2025
On October 22, Axinn counsel Kenina Lee will speak on the "Algorithms and Antitrust: The Legal Risks of AI-Driven Pricing" panel at Transperfect Legal's LegalNext conference in New York....Read more
Event
|October 21, 2025
On October 21, Axinn partner James Hunsberger will speak on the "Antitrust Considerations in Joint Ventures" panel at Informa's Antitrust Texas conference in Houston....Read more
Publications
|October 20, 2025
|less than 1 min read
Why Some Retail Deals Get Deeper Scrutiny? An Examination of Retail Merger Review and Analysis
Retail mergers have increasingly captured public and regulatory attention as consumers grow concerned about consolidation and its impact on prices and competition. In this episode, Axinn Counsel Laura Onken joins Emily Blackburn of King & Spalding to share insights on how antitrust enforcers determine which retail mergers warrant closer examination....Read more
October 15, 2025
|8 min read
Shifting Trends in Healthcare Antitrust Enforcement: Navigating the Evolving Landscape
Event
|October 14, 2025
Axinn is pleased to sponsor this year's MCCA Gala on October 14. ...Read more
October 13, 2025
|5 min read
Practice Chair
Featured Insights
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Informa 34th Annual Advanced EU Brussels Conference
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Kisaco Research Pharma and Biotech Patent Litigation Summit 2025
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GCR Live: Women in Antitrust 2025
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Global Legal Group Global Class Actions Symposium 2025
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ITCTLA Mock Hearing Program 2025
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IBA Annual Conference 2025
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Patent Eligibility in the AI Era: Aligning Judicial Precedent With USPTO Guidance
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Thomson Reuters 24th Annual Law Firm COO & CFO Forum
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LegalNEXT 2025
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