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Ross A. Demain

Partner

Washington +1 202 662 5994

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Ross Demain advises clients in complex antitrust matters, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions; government investigations; litigation; compliance counseling; and trade association activities.

    He is particularly known for guiding innovative companies through antitrust scrutiny by helping antitrust enforcers understand the competitive dynamics of rapidly evolving technologies and industries. Clients turn to Ross to secure regulatory clearance for transformative transactions and to navigate intensive antitrust investigations, including “second request” reviews and other high-profile enforcement matters, where strategic advocacy before government authorities is critical to achieving successful outcomes.

    He represents clients in civil and criminal investigations before the Department of Justice, Federal Trade Commission, and state antitrust enforcers, and has represented clients in private antitrust litigation in courts across the United States. Ross also regularly counsels clients on their premerger notification obligations under the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act.

    Ross has deep experience across technology, media and entertainment, electronics, cable, broadcast, industrial products, energy and natural resources, defense, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, sports, and financial services. His recent work includes co-leading global regulatory clearance for Warner Bros. Discovery in its $111 billion acquisition by Paramount and representing Salesforce in its $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack.

    Ross is recognized as a leading next-generation antitrust practitioner. He has been named a "Future Leader" by Lexology Index: Competition and a Technology "Rising Star" by Law360.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Co-led global regulatory clearance for Warner Bros. Discovery in its $111 billion acquisition by Paramount, one of the largest media and entertainment transactions to date.
    • Advised a major technology company in multiple, multi-billion dollar transactions.
    • Successfully represented Salesforce in multiple AI and software transactions, including its $27.7 billion acquisition of Slack. The transaction closed after a “second request” investigation with the DOJ taking no action.
    • Successfully represented Discovery, Inc. in its $14.6 billion acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive. The transaction closed after a “second request” investigation with the DOJ taking no action.
    • Successfully represented Expedia in its $1.3 billion acquisition of Orbitz Worldwide, which was awarded "Merger Control Matter of the Year" by Global Competition Review.
    • Advised Facebook in several transactions, including its $22 billion acquisition of WhatsApp and $2 billion acquisition of Oculus.
    • Represented the National Football League in matters that include:
      • the sale of the NFL Network and certain other assets to ESPN in return for the NFL acquiring a 10% stake in ESPN;
      • antitrust challenges to the League’s trademark licensing arrangements brought by a former licensee (American Needle, Inc. v. New Orleans La. Saints) and by a putative class of consumers (Dang v. San Francisco Forty-Niners, Ltd.);
      • a purported class action antitrust suit brought by retired players alleging a conspiracy to restrain a market for the sale of their images and likenesses (Washington v. National Football League);
      • responding to a series of third-party subpoenas arising out of the League’s licensing practices; and
      • disputes with the NFL Players Association over the interpretation and application of the parties’ collective bargaining agreement.
    • Cartel and government investigation matters include:
      • Advised an automotive parts manufacturer in connection with an antitrust grand jury investigation.
      • Advised a defendant airline in connection with an antitrust grand jury investigation.
      • Represented a major American company in a government investigation. Secured favorable resolution of a multi-state attorney general investigation of a major sports league.
      • Conducted internal investigation in connection with potential violation of the Anti-Kickback Act.
    • Litigation victories include:
      • obtaining dismissal of an antitrust claim in a precedent-setting case at the International Trade Commission (ITC) that confirmed that the antitrust injury requirement applies to claims brought under Section 337 (ITC 2018);
      • achieving one of the first dismissals of a corporate defendant on jurisdictional grounds in the sprawling, In re Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation (E.D. Mich. 2013);
      • attaining dismissal of a purported class action antitrust suit brought by retired NFL players alleging a conspiracy to restrain a market for the sale of their images and likenesses, Washington v. National Football League (D. Minn. 2012); and
      • obtaining an early dismissal of novel resale price maintenance claims brought in federal court under New York's Donnelly Act, Worldhomecenter.com, Inc. v. KWC America, Inc. (S.D.N.Y. 2011).

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • New York University School of Law, J.D., 2009
        • cum laude
        • NYU Journal of Law and Business, Senior Notes Editor
    • Washington University, B.A., 2006
        • magna cum laude
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • Virginia
    Pro Bono
    • Represented an individual plaintiff in a child custody dispute in D.C. Superior Court.
    • Represented group of DC homeowners in a suit against builder, developer, and seller of deficient homes.
    Accolades
    • Lexology Index: Competition, "Future Leaders" (2025-2026)
    • Law360, Technology "Rising Star" (2024)
    • Who’s Who Legal, Competition (2024)
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • American Bar Association, Antitrust Section
      • Contributor, Antitrust Law Developments (7th edition)
      • Senior Editor, Competition Laws Outside the United States (2d ed. 2011)

    Areas of Expertise

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Topic

Global Merger Enforcement

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