"The firm is a go-to destination for companies facing complex and challenging antitrust cases…." – Global Competition Review 2021 Firm of the Year - Americas
"An outstanding and unique antitrust boutique. . . ." - Chambers USA
"Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider is the biggest antitrust boutique in the U.S. . . . it also boasts one of the most experienced antitrust teams in the GCR 100." - Global Competition Review
Axinn’s antitrust practice is one of the largest and most experienced in the world. Our lawyers have served as lead or co-lead counsel on nearly half a trillion dollars in transactions and, in the last year alone, defended more than $450B in potential antitrust damages. Axinn has been global lead counsel on some of the most significant recent matters, including the largest cash merger in U.S. history, the largest tech deal in history and a wide array of cutting-edge litigation and counseling matters.
Axinn is recognized around the world by leading publications. The firm has been recognized by Global Competition Review for Law Firm of the Year (Americas), Lawyer of the Year, Matter of the Year and Merger Control Matter of the Year, and is annually included in the GCR 100. Its ranks include partners recognized by Chambers, Who’s Who Legal, and Legal500, and includes a GCR Litigator of the Year nominee, National Law Journal Trailblazers, and an American Lawyer Litigator of the Week.
MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS
Axinn's M&A practice is led by some of the world’s most experienced and respected antitrust lawyers. The firm's track record of obtaining global clearance of combinations of significant rivals has built Axinn's reputation as a "go-to" firm for strategic mergers and acquisitions. Axinn combines its extensive experience before antitrust agencies around the world with its ability to develop and present sophisticated econometric arguments, in order to obtain clearance of mergers and acquisitions that at first blush seem to raise insurmountable difficulties.
Axinn's most significant recent transactions include:
- Dell’s $67 billion acquisition of EMC, the largest tech deal in history
- Thermo Fisher’s $13.2 billion acquisition of Life Technologies and $12.5 billion tender offer to acquire QIAGEN
- Tyson Foods’ $2.16 billion acquisition of Keystone Foods
- Tufts Health Plan’s merger with Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Johnson Controls’ $2 billion sale of Scott Safety to 3M
- McKesson’s $3.4 billion tech joint venture with Change Healthcare
- Stanley Black & Decker’s acquisition of a 20% stake in MTD Products
- Google’s $700 million acquisition of ITA Software and its $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings
- Ball’s $6.7 billion acquisition of Rexam, PLC and and its $577 million acquisition of can manufacturing plants from InBev
- Axinn lawyers also have been hired by antitrust enforcers to challenge mergers, including by DOJ to act as lead counsel in its investigation of the largest merger it has ever challenged (WorldCom/Sprint). The NY Attorney General hired the firm to challenge a series of acquisitions that monopolized Jewish funeral homes in New York City.
Axinn has substantial experience as lead counsel litigating Section 7 challenges to mergers:
- The firm obtained a judgment rejecting DOJ’s bid to block SunGard's $825 million acquisition of Comdisco’s business recovery assets
- The firm successfully litigated against DOJ’s attempt to block George’s sale of assets to Tyson after the sale had been completed
- The firm successfully litigated against the City of New York in its efforts to stop GHI’s acquisition of HIP
- The firm also has used Section 7 claims to successfully resist hostile acquisitions, including Apollo’s attempted acquisition of Vantico
LITIGATION
Axinn's antitrust litigation practice is defined by its deep experience and by the sophisticated yet practical approach it has applied to a wide variety of major cases, including acting as lead counsel in major private treble damage actions (including several complex class actions). Its lawyers have handled all types of antitrust claims and have litigated in numerous industries, including: aerospace; automotive parts; avionics; biotechnology; cable television; chemicals; data storage; distilled spirits; earth-moving equipment; entertainment; factory automation; health care; manufacturing; pharmaceuticals; plastics; power tools; and telecommunications. While at the FTC, one Axinn partner was responsible for the most significant monopolization cases brought by that agency, including Toys"R"Us, Three Tenors, Dell and Rambus.
Representative cases include:
- Defense of Tyson Foods in multiple class action lawsuits alleging collusion amongst competitors
- Defense of 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
- Defense of Momenta Pharmaceuticals in monopolization and class action lawsuits
- Defense of IBC in the largest class action in U.S. history
- Defense of RelayHealth (McKesson) in In re Surescripts monopolization class action
- Defense of Shin-Tech in class action lawsuit alleging price fixing in caustic soda
- Defense of multiple companies in the automotive price-fixing MDL
- Defense of Alliance for Safe Online Pharmacies in a treble-damages class action case
- Defense of Stanley Black & Decker in the SawStop Section 1 case
CRIMINAL
In an aggressive enforcement landscape, a company’s choice of cartel counsel is critical. Its lawyers must not only be trusted advisors and advocates, but global strategists, skilled negotiators and experienced litigators.
Axinn brings all of these skills to the table. Its lawyers have worked on the two largest price-fixing investigations of the last decade, and have represented companies and individuals in criminal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Canadian Competition Bureau, the European Commission and other worldwide authorities. Axinn takes an integrated approach and handles all aspects of the representation, including compliance programs, internal investigations, government investigations, criminal proceedings and civil litigation. The firm recognizes that success requires a clear understanding of its clients’ goals and values, and of the unique challenges posed by every investigation. It uses this understanding to provide real strategic options rather than a "one-size-fits-all" approach.
COUNSELING
Axinn provides trusted guidance on antitrust issues that are central to its clients’ strategic goals as well as those that arise in their daily business. In particular, the firm has deep experience advising clients on issues arising at the intersection of the antitrust and intellectual property laws, including standard-setting and FRAND issues. The firm also is often called upon to conduct internal investigations or to develop and implement antitrust compliance programs.
Significant matters include:
- Representation of Google before FTC with respect to Standard Essential Patents
- Representation of Red Hat before DOJ with respect to patent acquisitions
- Representation of Motorola Mobility before FTC on patent issues
- Representation of MasterCard’s Board of Directors with respect to its IPO
- Representation of Momenta in standard setting litigation
News
- Axinn Advises TripActions on Acquisition of Reed & Mackay
- Axinn Advises Columbia Care in its $240M Acquisition of Green Leaf Medical
- Axinn Moves Washington, D.C. Office to New LEED Gold Status and WELL Certified Space
- Eight Axinn Articles Nominated for Antitrust Writing Awards
- Axinn Advises Dell Technologies on $4B Sale of Boomi
- Axinn Named Firm of the Year for Second Time by Global Competition Review
- Nine Axinn Attorneys Named to Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
- GCR Nominates Axinn for Firm of the Year and Litigator of the Year
- Axinn Advises Tyler Technologies on $2.3B Acquisition of NIC
- Trial Lawyer Denise Plunkett Joins Axinn’s Antitrust Group in New York Office
- Axinn Promotes Daniel Oakes and Craig Reiser to Partner, Kenina Lee and David Pearl to Counsel
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn Antitrust Group in Top Categories
- Axinn Advises Take-Two Interactive on Nearly $1B Acquisition of Codemasters
- Axinn Recognized in Ten Categories of "Best Law Firms" Report
- The District of Columbia Courts Recognize Four Axinn Attorneys in its 2019 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll
- Rachel Adcox Named a Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal
- Axinn Advises Iconic Sports Manufacturer Easton Diamond Sports in Proposed Transaction with Rawlings
- Daniel Bitton Named to The Recorder’s List of California Trailblazers
- Axinn Team Prevails for Alvogen in Suboxone Antitrust Litigation
- Axinn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2021
- Third Circuit Denies Appeal Against Axinn Client UPMC
- Who's Who Legal Recognizes Eleven Axinn Attorneys
- Axinn Advises Sunrun on $3.2B Acquisition of Vivint Solar
- Axinn’s Antitrust Practice Nationally Ranked by The Legal 500 United States for 2020
- Chambers USA 2020 Recognizes Axinn Lawyers and Practice Groups
- Koren Wong-Ervin Joins Axinn’s Antitrust Group in Washington, D.C. Office
- US DOJ Veteran Craig Minerva Joins Axinn’s Antitrust Group in Washington, D.C.
- Axinn Advised Thermo Fisher on $12.5B Acquisition of QIAGEN
- Axinn Representing Mitchell | Genex in its Acquisition of Coventry Workers’ Comp Services
- Three Axinn Articles Nominated for Antitrust Writing Awards
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn Antitrust Group in Top Categories
- Axinn Promotes Bradley Justus to Partner, Dan Oakes and Jarod Taylor to Counsel
- Axinn Partner Lisl Dunlop Named to Crain's New York Business 2020 List of Notable Women in Law
- Axinn Recognized in Nine Categories of "Best Law Firms" Report
- Tiffany Rider Named a Profiles in Diversity Journal Woman Worth Watching
- Axinn Partner Rachel Adcox Named Corporate Counsel Women, Influence & Power in Law Honoree
- Former Deputy Assistant Attorney General at DOJ Antitrust Division Leslie Overton Joins Axinn’s Washington, D.C. Office
- Axinn Partners Named to Best Lawyers 2020
- Axinn Representing Tufts Health Plan in Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Merger
- Axinn Secures Dismissal of Class Action Conspiracy Claims for Tyson Foods
- Who's Who Legal Recognizes Eight Axinn Attorneys
- Axinn’s Antitrust Practice Nationally Ranked by The Legal 500 United States
- Axinn Received Outstanding Achievement Award for Pro Bono Work
- Chambers USA 2019 Recognizes Axinn Lawyers and Practice Groups
- Summary Judgment Motion Granted for Axinn Client UPMC
- Experienced Antitrust Attorney Lisl Dunlop Joins Axinn in New York
- Axinn Helps H.I.G. Capital Secure Sale of Caraustar to Greif, Inc. for $1.8 billion
- Global Competition Review Nominates Rachel Adcox for Litigator of the Year
- Three Axinn Articles Nominated for Antitrust Writing Awards
- Axinn Represented Stanley Black & Decker in its Acquisition of a 20% Stake in MTD Products
- Axinn Promotes Josh Reisberg to Partner, Bradley Justus and Matt Murphy to Counsel
- Axinn Representing H.I.G. Capital in $1.8 billion Caraustar Disposition
- Axinn Adds Prominent Antitrust Attorney Peter Herrick to New York Office
- Axinn Recognized in Nine Categories of "Best Law Firms" Report
- Axinn Launches California Office, Bringing Elite Antitrust and IP Practices to West Coast
- Axinn Wins Motion to Dismiss on Behalf of Friedrich Boysen GmbH & Co. KG
- Axinn Successfully Secures Asylum for Pro Bono Client
- Jeny Maier Named a Profiles in Diversity Journal Woman Worth Watching
- Eight Axinn Partners Named to Best Lawyers 2019
- Prominent Antitrust Adviser Tiffany Rider Joins Axinn in Washington, DC
- Axinn Sponsors Travelers Championship 2018
- Who's Who Legal Recognizes Seven Axinn Attorneys
- Axinn Successfully Defeats a Motion to Dismiss on Behalf of Pro Bono Client
- Chambers USA Recognizes Axinn Practice Groups
- Chambers USA Recognizes Seven Axinn Partners
- Axinn Wins Unanimous Fourth Circuit Victory for Stanley Black & Decker
- Axinn Sponsors Genomics Lab at Connecticut Science Center
- Axinn Receives GCR Award Nomination for Cartel Representation
- New York State Bar Recognizes Twelve Axinn Attorneys
- Axinn Promotes Jeny Maier and Jason Murata
- Axinn Recognized in Eight Categories of "Best Law Firms" Report
- Axinn Representing Silver Lake Partners LP in IMG/Learfield Merger
- Axinn Helps Johnson Controls Secure Global Antitrust Clearance for its $2 Billion Sale of Scott Safety to 3M
- Seven Axinn Partners Named to the 2018 List of Best Lawyers in America
- Rachel Adcox Named One of Diversity Journal's Women Worth Watching
- Who's Who Legal Recognizes Seven Axinn Attorneys
- Axinn Sponsors Travelers Championship
- Chambers USA Recognizes Axinn Practice Groups
- Six Axinn Partners Recognized by Chambers USA
- Axinn Represents Thermo Fisher in $7.2 Billion Acquisition of Patheon
- Former Axinn Partner Named Commissioner of the CT Department of Consumer Protection
- Axinn Represents Johnson Controls International in the $2 Billion Sale of its Scott Safety Business to 3M
- GCR Nominates Axinn for Litigation of the Year, Deal of the Year and Dealmaker of the Year
- Axinn Represents McKesson in its $1.4 Billion Acquisition of CoverMyMeds LLC
- Axinn Represents Stanley Black & Decker in its Purchase of the Craftsman Brand from Sears Holdings
- Axinn Promotes Stacie Ropka and Jeny Maier
- Axinn Secures Antitrust Clearance for McKesson’s Transaction with Change Healthcare to Form $3.4 Billion New Healthcare Information Technology Company
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn Antitrust Group in Top Categories
- Axinn Earns Six Tier 1 Categories in "Best Law Firms"
- Axinn Obtains Dismissal of Portion of Treble-Damages Claim for Danfoss Group Companies
- Axinn Wins Summary Judgment for Stanley Black & Decker
- Axinn Represents Dell in $60 Billion Acquisition of EMC
- Six Axinn Partners Named to the 2017 List of Best Lawyers in America
- Axinn Secures Global Antitrust Clearance for Ball’s Acquisition of Rexam
- Axinn Represents McKesson in Transaction with Change Healthcare to Form New Healthcare Information Technology Company
- Chambers USA Recognizes Axinn Practice Groups
- Axinn Represents Thermo Fisher in $4.2 Billion Acquisition of FEI
- Axinn Named to The National Law Journal’s 2016 Midsize Hot List
- Axinn Featured as an “Elite” Firm by GCR
- Axinn Named Firm of the Year by GCR
- Axinn Receives Three Nominations for 2016 GCR Awards
- Axinn Obtains FTC Clearance for Dell’s $67B Acquisition of EMC
- Axinn Represents Charles River Laboratories in $585M Acquisition of WIL Research
- Axinn Represents Thermo Fisher in $1.3B Acquisition of Affymetrix
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn as "Highly Recommended"
- Three Axinn Antitrust Partners Included in “Who’s Who in Legal”
- Axinn Represents Tyler Technologies, Inc. in its Acquisition of New World Systems Corporation
- Axinn Recognized in Six Categories of "Best Law Firms" Report
- Axinn Successfully Represents Alvogen Before FTC
- Axinn Represents IDC in $5.2B Acquisition by ICE
- Axinn is Lead Antitrust Counsel in Dell’s $67B Acquisition of EMC
- Axinn Represents Alvogen Before FTC in Connection with Divested Products from Pfizer and Hospira
- Axinn Partners Named to the 2016 List of Best Lawyers in America
- Axinn Advises SunGard on Acquisition by FIS
- Chambers USA 2015 Recognizes Axinn Practice Groups
- Axinn Partners Ranked by Chambers in Global Guide
- Axinn Named Litigation Department of the Year
- The Class of 2014
- Axinn Nominated for Global M&A Deal of the Year by Atlas Awards
- Supreme Court Victory for FTC in NC Dental Board Case
- Axinn Acts as Global Coordinating Antitrust Counsel for Ball’s $6.85 Billion Acquisition of Rexam
- Axinn Obtains Antitrust Clearance for Caraustar Industries’ Acquisition of The Newark Group
- Axinn Promotes Rachel Adcox and John Tanski to Partner; Thomas Hedemann to Counsel
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn as "Highly Recommended"
- Axinn Earns Six Tier 1 Categories in "Best Law Firms"
- Axinn Obtains Dismissal of Monopolization and Attempted Monopolization Suit Against Rapid Aid, Ltd.
- Matt Becker, Jim Veltrop, John Briggs, Steve Axinn and Fran Morrison Named to the List of 2015 Best Lawyers in America
- Axinn Wins Motion to Dismiss Monopolization Suit for Stanley Black & Decker
- Axinn Named to The National Law Journal's Midsize Hot List
- Chambers USA Recognizes Axinn Practice Areas and Individual Lawyers
- Axinn Honored With Litigation Department of the Year
- Axinn Represented Bauer Performance Sports Ltd. in $330 Million Acquisition of Easton Baseball/Softball
- FTC Approves Final Order for Thermo Fisher's $13.6 Billion Acquisition of Life Technologies
- Axinn Receives Three Nominations for 2014 GCR Awards
- Axinn Obtains Global Antitrust Clearance for Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.’s $13.6 billion Acquisition
- Axinn welcomes FTC veteran, promotes in New York
- Longtime FTC Veteran Richard Dagen Joins Axinn
- Axinn Promotes Daniel Bitton and Stacie Ropka
- GCR 100 Ranks Axinn as "Highly Recommended"
- Axinn Earns Tier 1 in "Best Law Firms"
- Axinn Matter Named 2013 GCR Matter of the Year
- Tomkins PLC Win in the European Court of Justice
- Partner John D. Harkrider Selected as "Litigator of the Week" by The American Lawyer
- Axinn Represented Google in the Standard Essential Patent Investigation by the FTC
- GCR Rates Axinn's Antitrust Practice as "Highly Recommended"
- Axinn Serves as Lead Antitrust Counsel for Ecolab in $2.2 Billion Acquisition
- Getting Your Best Outcome Post-AU Optronics: Pay No Attention to That Case Behind The Curtain
- Axinn Partners Selected by Chambers USA
- Axinn winner of “Merger Control Matter of the Year- Americas” by Global Competition Review
- John Harkrider selected as “Lawyer of the Year” by Global Competition Review
- Axinn Obtains Antitrust Clearance for $1.775 Billion Combination of SunGard Higher Education and Datatel, Inc.
- Axinn represents Google in connection with the patent/antitrust issues raised by Google’s $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility Holdings, Inc.
- Axinn Partner John D. Harkrider named a 2011 Law360 "MVP"
- Axinn Partner Selected to The Best Lawyers in America 2012
- Axinn Represents Omnicare Inc. in Proposed Acquisition of PharMerica Corp.
- Axinn Partners Again Ranked by Chambers
- Axinn's Antitrust Practice "Highly Recommended" in Global Competition Review Survey
- Axinn Wins ICC Arbitration on Behalf of Major European Airframe Manufacturer
- Mark Alexander Speaks to Bloomberg News About Antitrust Concerns and Winning Holder Approval of Nasdaq Bid for NYSE
- Axinn Represents Google in its $700 Million Acquisition of ITA
- Axinn Lead Counsel to Bemis Corporation in its Successful $1.2 Billion Acquistion
- Axinn Practice Groups, Attorneys Rank Highly in Chambers 2010 USA Release
- Axinn Wins 7-0 Summary Judgment in Connecticut Supreme Court
- The International Legal Alliance Recognizes Axinn as One of the Top Antitrust Firms in the U.S.
- Axinn Recognized Among the Best Antitrust Practices in NY by Global Competition Review Magazine
- The Antitrust Review of the Americas
- John Harkrider Discusses White House Announcement of Revised Antitrust Laws with The Wall Street Journal
- Axinn Ranked Among Top New York Law Firms by Chambers USA
- Global Competition Review Ranks Axinn's Antitrust Practice Among Best in New York
- John Harkrider Featured in Competition Law 360
- Chambers USA Ranks Axinn Among Top New York Law Firms
- Axinn Successfully Defeats the City of New York’s Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order Seeking to Enjoin the Affiliation Between Group Health Incorporated and the Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York
- Axinn Files Lawsuit to Compel Attorney General to Maintain the Confidentiality of Subpoenaed Materials
- Axinn Obtains Antitrust Clearance for Rent-Way, Inc.'s $567 Million Acquisition by Rent-A-Center
- Axinn Successfully Concludes Foreign Auction Bid Rigging Case
- Axinn Obtains Antitrust Clearance for Omnicare's Acquisition of Rival Neighborcare
- Axinn Wins Antitrust Clearance for Movie Gallery's Acquisition of Hollywood Video
- John D. Harkrider Speaks at Milton Handler Annual Antitrust Review
- Senior Partner Steve Axinn Named in Chambers USA 2005 Client’s Guide
- Axinn Counsels BellSouth and Cingular in Acquisition of AT&T Wireless
- Global Competition Review Names Axinn in Top 100 firms in Annual Survey
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