James Attridge, a former Antitrust Division Chief of Staff, Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General, and federal prosecutor, counsels clients in cartel investigations, antitrust litigation, and complex merger reviews. Having most recently acted as the Antitrust Division’s Chief of Staff during the Biden Administration and Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General of the Antitrust Division across multiple administrations, Jimmy draws on first-hand government experience to provide a strategic and comprehensive perspective on a wide range of government investigations and litigation.

His unique background in government and private practice has given Jimmy the insight and extensive experience needed to advise clients on antitrust compliance, cartel investigations and defense, and follow-on civil litigation. He also counsels those interacting with the Antitrust Division in the range of areas where the Division has committed to heightened enforcement, such as merger reviews and civil conduct investigations.

During his time at the Department of Justice, Jimmy served as a criminal prosecutor and in a variety of leadership roles at the Antitrust Division. As Chief of Staff, he was a key advisor on policy changes, investigations, and enforcement efforts. He managed a team of advisors, oversaw work product ranging from articles to speeches, and represented the Division with fellow antitrust enforcers and within the Department of Justice. As Counsel, Jimmy advised the Division’s senior leadership team on a record-high docket of criminal investigations and ongoing litigation, including scores of recommendations to open investigations, resolve investigations, grant leniency, and seek indictments. Jimmy also implemented policy changes to bring criminal charges for collusion in the labor markets, to incentivize and assess corporate compliance, and to create the Procurement Collusion Strike Force, an interagency effort to detect and prosecute cartels and fraud affecting government procurement.

Prior to his government service, Jimmy practiced in the antitrust department of a large, global law firm. His practice focused on criminal investigations, civil litigation, civil investigations, and merger reviews. Following law school, he was a law clerk for the Honorable Liam O’Grady of the US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. During law school, Jimmy was a Charles H. March fellow and law clerk for Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz.

Clerkships

• Law Clerk to the Honorable Liam O’Grady, US District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Professional Activities

• American Bar Association, International Cartel Task Force

Experience

Government

• Advised the Assistant Attorney General on policy, investigations, and enforcement amid a record-breaking number of merger filings, and ongoing investigations and litigation.
• Advised on criminal investigations and ongoing litigation for cases involving labor, public procurement, agriculture, and health care.
• Trained and engaged with antitrust enforcers around the world on cartel investigation practices and policy issues.
• Analyzed, investigated, and prosecuted violations of fraud and competition laws in industries including shipping, health care, agriculture, and real estate.
• Obtained convictions in a $25 million bid-rigging scheme involving online auctions.

Private Practice

• Represented Corning Incorporated in the auto part criminal investigation and follow-on civil MDL.
• Represented global industrial company in an international cartel investigation involving the European Commission and number of other global enforcement agencies.
• Defended actions alleging monopolization and conspiracy, suits seeking to enjoin mergers and acquisitions, and follow-on private litigation.
• Defended pharmaceutical company in antitrust conduct investigation resulting in the government’s suspension of the investigation.
• Advised parties and non-parties in global merger review in support of transactions in industries from beer to semi-conductors.

*Includes matters handled prior to joining Axinn

Honors

• The Legal 500 United States (2023)
• Federal Trade Commission Award for Meritorious Service
• Federal Trade Commission Annual Janet D. Steiger Award

News

• Axinn’s Antitrust Practice Nationally Ranked by The Legal 500 United States for 2023
• Axinn Welcomes Former DOJ Antitrust Division Chief of Staff Jimmy Attridge

Thought Leadership

• Antitrust Cartel Leniency and Sentencing Handbook, American Bar Association, March 15, 2023
• Shift in Health Care Antitrust Prosecutions is Likely, Law360, February 7, 2023
• The Department’s Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policy Changes: Implications for Antitrust Practice, Competition Policy International, November 14, 2022
• 3 Years In, Procurement Collusion Strike Force Hits Its Stride, October 27, 2022

Turn the Page: The Antitrust Division’s New Approach to Incentivizing Antitrust Compliance Programs, Competition Policy International Antitrust Chronicle, November 2019

An Update from the Procurement Collusion Strike Force: One Year In, The Procurement Lawyer, Fall 2020

Events

Education

• JD – Georgetown University Law Center (2011)
• BA – Dartmouth College (2007)

Admissions

• District of Columbia
• Virginia
• US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• US District Court District of Columbia
• US District Court Eastern District of Virginia