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James O’Connell is a partner and a member of the firm’s global antitrust and competition law practice. Most recently, he served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in charge of International, Policy, and Appellate matters for the Justice Department’s Antitrust Division.
As Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Mr. O’Connell was responsible for the Antitrust Division’s international enforcement, appellate litigation, and policy development programs. In addition to being involved in the development of the Antitrust Division’s major legislative and policy positions, such as the Division’s September 2008 report on Section 2 of the Sherman Act, Mr. O’Connell was responsible for coordinating the Division’s relations with competition law enforcement agencies around the world, which included significant interaction with the European Commission. Mr. O’Connell was also heavily involved in the U.S. government’s consultations with the leadership of the then-emerging Anti-Monopoly Law regime in China.
Mr. O’Connell joined the Department’s Antitrust Division as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in 2003. In that position, he worked on significant cases including United States v. Oracle Corp., United States v. National Ass’n of Realtors, and United States v. Microsoft Corp. In 2006, he became Deputy Chief of Staff, rising to Chief of Staff in 2007. As Chief of Staff, Mr. O’Connell advised the Assistant Attorney General on all matters related to civil and criminal enforcement of the antitrust laws and supported the AAG in the management of the Antitrust Division.
Prior to his government service Mr. O’Connell worked in private practice, where he guided clients through all aspects of the U.S. civil and criminal antitrust enforcement process and provided counsel on the antitrust implications of mergers and other transactions, joint ventures and other collaborations, and general business practices. Mr. O’Connell represented clients from a wide range of industries, including the manufacturing and heavy industry, pharma and life sciences, high-tech, and entertainment and media sectors.
Mr. O’Connell has testified on antitrust policy issues before the U.S. Congress and the Antitrust Modernization Committee.
Memberships and Affiliations
- Member of the American Bar Association’s Section of Antitrust Law and Associate Editor of the Section’s Antitrust magazine
Publications and Speeches
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