US: Former FTC assistant director joins Kirkland & Ellis

Former Federal Trade Commission assistant director Matthew Reilly has joined the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis as a partner in its antitrust and competition practice.

Reilly joined Monday from Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where he was a partner in the antitrust practice and focused on matters including litigation, complex transactions and counseling, and government investigations since 2012.

“Matt is a talented and respected attorney with a strong reputation for successful outcomes, whether representing corporations or the government,” said Jeffrey C. Hammes, chairman of Kirkland’s global management executive committee, in a statement.

“His significant experience handling high-profile and complex merger clearance and antitrust litigation matters, as well as his senior government enforcement experience, will be an enormous benefit to our clients executing sophisticated transactions in a complex regulatory environment,” Hammes said.

Kirkland has been building up its antitrust and competition team, with Reilly’s appointment bringing the group to nearly 120 lawyers worldwide. The team handles government investigations, criminal and civil antitrust transaction clearances and counseling, according to the firm.

Reilly served for five years (2007 to 2012) as the head of the FTC’s mergers IV division, where he led challenges and investigations in industries including hospitals, retail and consumer products. He spent a total of 13 years at the FTC, from May 1999 until May 2012.

While at the regulator he was head litigator in commission challenges of Whole Foods Markets Inc. in its bid for Wild Oaks Markets Inc., and against health care mergers such as Inova Health System’s purchase of Prince William Health System, and was first-chair litigator for the FTC in numerous antitrust trials.

Full Content: National Law Journal

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