DLA Piper Strengthens Antitrust Practice with Three Key Litigation Partners

International law firm DLA Piper has announced the latest expansion of its Antitrust and Competition practice with the addition of three highly accomplished litigation partners. Amanda Wait, Victor Domen, and Carsten Reichel, all former government antitrust enforcers, have joined the firm and will be based in its Washington, DC office.

Amanda Wait, a seasoned attorney and former Federal Trade Commission (FTC) lawyer, brings a wealth of experience to the firm. She is known for her expertise in advising deal makers and litigants across diverse industries, with a particular focus on healthcare, energy, and retail sectors. Notably, Wait successfully led the team responding to the Department of Justice’s investigation of US Sugar’s proposed acquisition of Imperial Sugar, overcoming the DOJ’s attempt to block the transaction in court. Her track record includes advising a major health system in a strategic cross-market combination, guiding a major US energy company through a vertical acquisition, and leading a global merger clearance strategy for a transportation industry manufacturer in a multi-billion euro transaction.

Victor Domen, with over 25 years of state and federal antitrust experience, joins DLA Piper as a government antitrust investigations and prosecutions attorney. A former antitrust enforcer for the Tennessee Attorney General’s office, Domen served as the lead lawyer in significant investigations and prosecutions of federal and state antitrust matters on behalf of the state of Tennessee. His leadership as Chair of the National Association of Attorneys General Multistate Antitrust Force involved coordinating antitrust enforcement efforts among State Attorneys General, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, FTC, and international antitrust enforcement agencies in various merger and conduct matters.

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Carsten Reichel, a former federal prosecutor with nearly 15 years of experience at the Department of Justice (DOJ), specializes in representing corporations and individuals in government antitrust and white-collar investigations, as well as follow-on civil litigation. Reichel has an impressive track record, spearheading some of the DOJ’s most significant criminal cartel matters. His expertise includes investigating and prosecuting cross-border price-fixing, bid rigging, market allocations, conspiracy, and fraud. Reichel’s global perspective is highlighted by his collaboration with competition agencies worldwide, advising on cartel investigative practices and coordinating international cooperation in enforcement activities.

DLA Piper’s US vice chairman and chair of the US Disputes practice, Loren Brown, expressed confidence in the new additions, stating, “Amanda, Vic, and Carsten are first-rate lawyers with a proven track record of success in high-stakes merger counseling, antitrust litigation, and government investigative matters. We know our clients will quickly value their advice and counsel in many of their most significant matters.”

John Hamill, co-chair of the US Antitrust & Competition group at DLA Piper, emphasized the significance of the new hires in navigating the complex landscape of antitrust and competition laws. He stated, “Antitrust and competition laws permeate virtually every aspect of business, and the addition of Amanda, Vic, and Carsten enhances our ability to help clients navigate this changing landscape. They bring years of experience and insight into the complicated US and global antitrust enforcement environment.” With these additions, DLA Piper is poised to strengthen its position as a leader in antitrust and competition law on both domestic and global fronts.

Source: DLA Piper