Leveraging his diverse legal and non-legal experience in both the private sector and government, David Pearl represents technology companies and other clients in high-stakes antitrust litigations and investigations by the Department of Justice and Federal Trade Commission in the US, as well as by international competition authorities in Europe, Australia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, among others. David also advises clients facing cross-border merger reviews from both an antitrust and foreign direct investment perspective.

David, a Harvard Law School graduate, balances an ability to see the big-picture with an emphasis on executing for his clients. David has an extensive track record of managing large groups across multiple law firms to successful outcomes. David also has particular expertise in Section 2 of the Sherman Act, having represented Google in multiple Section 2 litigations bought by government enforcers and private plaintiffs regarding Google’s advertising technology business.

Prior to joining Axinn, David was a senior political appointee at the US Department of the Treasury during the Obama Administration. In this role, he drove cross-functional teams to advance policy initiatives across the Treasury portfolio in coordination with the White House and other federal agencies. From this vantage point, David was able to contribute to the Treasury Department in a variety of ways, including spearheading Congressional testimony prep, assessing transactions subject to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) review, and leading planning efforts for the 2016 Presidential Transition.

Experience

• Representing Google in numerous litigations and investigations into its advertising technology business practices in the US and other jurisdictions.
• Defended Tyson Foods Inc. in a consolidated treble-damages class action case alleging industry-wide conspiracy to manipulate the price of broiler chicken in the Northern District of Illinois.
• Represented Stanley Black & Decker Inc. in its initial acquisition of a 20% stake in, and subsequent acquisition of the remaining 80% of, MTD Holdings Inc., a worldwide leader in outdoor power equipment.
• Represented Goodrich Corporation in its $18.4 billion acquisition by United Technologies Corp.
• Represented Clear Channel Communications, Inc. on its acquisition of Metro Networks, a producer and distributor of local radio programming.
• Represented Essilor International in its acquisition of 50 percent of Shamir Optical Industry Ltd., an Israeli ophthalmic lens technology company.
• Represented Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in connection with a Department of Justice investigation into its proposed acquisition of Physicians Health Plan of Mid-Michigan.
• Represented Hostess Brands, Inc. in the sales of its Wonder, Merita, Nature's Pride, Home Pride, and Butternut bread brands and associated bakeries to Flowers Foods, Inc.

* Includes matters handled prior to joining Axinn

Honors

• US Department of Treasury, Treasury Medal, the second-highest honor bestowed by the US Secretary of the Treasury (2017)

News

• Axinn Matter Named 2022 GCR Behavioural Matter of the Year – Americas
• Axinn Represented Stanley Black & Decker in its $1.6B Acquisition of the Remaining 80% Stake in MTD Holdings
• Axinn Promotes Daniel Oakes and Craig Reiser to Partner, Kenina Lee and David Pearl to Counsel
• Three Axinn Articles Nominated for Antitrust Writing Awards
• Axinn Represented Stanley Black & Decker in its Acquisition of a 20% Stake in MTD Products
• View More ›

Thought Leadership

• The Not-So-Silk Road: The Proliferating Regulatory Obstacles to Chinese Investment in the U.S., CPI Antitrust Chronicle, March 29, 2023
• Federal Government Enhances Focus on Labor in Antitrust Reform, Daily Journal, November 17, 2021
• Klobuchar Proposes Bill That Would Overhaul U.S. Antitrust Law, Daily Journal, June 1, 2021
• Highlights From OECD Roundtable on Conglomerate Mergers, Law360, July 13, 2020
• Let Me Ride: No Short-Cuts in the Antitrust Analysis of Ride Hailing, CLA: Competition, Fall 2019, Vol 29, No. 2, Fall 2019
• Competition in Display Ad Technology: A Retrospective Look at Google / Doubleclick and Google / Admob, Competition Policy International, April 17, 2019

Proposed Rule Ties Withdrawal of HSR to SEC Notification (co-author), The M&A Lawyer, 2013

ACO’s and Their Antitrust Implications (co-author), The ACO Handbook: A Guide to Accountable Care Organizations, 2012

Education

• JD – Harvard Law School (2008)
• BS, Psychobiology, cum laude – University of California, Los Angeles (2004)

Admissions

• California
• District of Columbia