Morrison & Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Vishal Mehta has joined the firm as a partner in its Global Antitrust Law Practice based in Washington, D.C. Mr. Mehta brings a broad range of antitrust experience to Morrison & Foerster, including M&A, investigations, litigation, compliance, counseling, and public affairs. He joins the firm from Baker Botts, where he maintained a full-service antitrust practice with a focus on mergers.
Mr. Mehta has extensive experience representing clients before the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), and competition authorities outside of the U.S. in all phases of the merger review process. He has defended clients in high-profile merger investigations across a range of industries, including technology, media, telecommunications, energy, oilfield services, specialty chemicals, life sciences, agriculture, heavy equipment, consumer products, and retail, among others.
In addition to his robust mergers practice, Mr. Mehta has represented companies in antitrust and other complex litigation involving claims of price-fixing, monopolization, breach of contract, and patent infringement. He has also defended clients in non-merger government investigations at the state, federal, and international level. Mr. Mehta regularly works with clients to provide practical solutions to commercial challenges touching on antitrust issues; conduct internal audits; design and administer antitrust compliance programs; and advance competition policy objectives through proactive engagement with government stakeholders.
Mr. Mehta is a valuable addition to Morrison & Foerster’s antitrust practice, which has a deep bench of attorneys based in offices around the world, including Berlin, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Singapore, Tokyo, and Washington D.C. In July of this year, Morrison & Foerster added Lisa Phelan*, former Chief of the National Criminal Enforcement and Washington Criminal I Sections of the Antitrust Division at DOJ, who joined the firm to expand the team’s criminal investigations and enforcement experience. Of counsel Megan Gerking joined in September and is a former trial attorney in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division who investigated and prosecuted global cartel cases.
“I am delighted to welcome Vishal to the firm as we continue to build out our global antitrust practice to meet the needs of our clients. His experience, especially with merger reviews and clearances, will be invaluable at a time when many transactions are coming under growing scrutiny,” said Jeff Jaeckel, Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Global Antitrust Law Practice. “Vishal’s arrival also further expands the firm’s bench strength in Washington, D.C. as we strive to meet our clients’ regulatory requirements.”
“I am excited to join Morrison & Foerster and add to the depth and sophistication of the firm’s world-class antitrust group,” said Mr. Mehta. “The team has an excellent track record of successfully representing clients in complex, high-stakes transactions, which dovetails nicely with the core of my practice. More generally, the firm has a global footprint, a broad platform with expertise across various practice areas, a culture of collaboration, and a genuine commitment to diversity and inclusion. I look forward to working with my colleagues to deliver value and results to our clients.”
Morrison & Foerster’s Washington D.C. office has grown substantially over recent years as the firm has built out an elite group of litigators to meet client needs. In addition to Ms. Phelan and Ms. Gerking, Morrison & Foerster has made a number of key additions from high-ranking government positions, including John Carlin, John Smith, Bob Litt, and David Newman to grow the firm’s Global Risk & Crisis Management Practice and National Security, CFIUS, Sanctions and Export Control Practice, and Chuck Duross and James Koukios to further expand the firm’s FCPA and Anti-Corruption Practice. In addition to these prominent government hires, the firm has also grown in other key practice areas, including through the addition of a high-profile group of eight government contracts partners and the expansion of its East Coast IP Litigation capabilities with the arrival of Mark Whitaker.
Source: www.mofo.com
