A&O Shearman

A&O Shearman continues to be a highly sought-after destination practice for business-critical mergers and M&A approvals, representing major global clients on highly scrutinized and contentious merger proceedings before the DOJ and FTC, as well as international regulatory authorities, leveraging the firm’s transatlantic offering to collaborate seamlessly with its European offices. The practice continues to be active on high-profile mandates, notably representing JetBlue in its $3.8bn takeover bid for Spirit Airlines. The team includes diverse merger and contentious antitrust experts that have deep agency experience, with practice head David Higbee, a former Chief of Staff at the Antitrust Division, noted for his ability to represent clients in varied industries. Elsewhere in the team, New York-based Jessica Delbaum regularly advises multinational clients before the FTC and DOJ, navigating the complexities of multijurisdictional antitrust defense for transactions, while Ben Gris specializes in antitrust investigations and litigation. Attorneys are based in Washington DC unless otherwise stated. Following the merger between Shearman & Sterling and Allen & Overy in May 2024, the team has expanded. Elaine Johnston is a go-to for business-critical and global mergers, while Noah Brumfield, based in Washington DC, stands out for his expertise in the tech industry, regularly representing clients in high-stakes deals and strategic disputes. Elsewhere in the team, Hugh Hollman, who splits his time between the Washington and Brussels office, is distinguished for his work on global merger reviews, while New York-based Puja Patel, promoted to partner in April 2024, plays a key role in Second Request investigations and merger-related litigation.