Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce that Lee Berger, former Chief of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s Civil Conduct Task Force (CCTF), has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.
As the first Chief of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s Civil Conduct Task Force, Lee supervised or advised on most of the civil conduct cases in the Antitrust Division. This gives him a deep understanding of a variety of antitrust legal theories, procedural positions, litigation questions, and investigative techniques. He also brings significant insights into the history and direction of the Division’s civil conduct practice, including its handling of conspiracy and monopolization cases.
At Steptoe, Lee’s practice will focus on defending companies facing government antitrust investigations and litigations and follow-on and private antitrust lawsuits, and advising companies on antitrust issues arising in mergers and acquisitions and their business decisions.
Steptoe Chair Gwen Renigar commented: “Lee’s experience at the Department of Justice fits perfectly in our market-leading Antitrust and Competition Practice, and will allow us to continue to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients. His tenure as the first Chief of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division’s Civil Conduct Task Force, experience with antitrust investigations and overall deep understanding of the antitrust space are significant assets.
“With Lee joining us alongside other recent joiners from government including Julia L. Gatto, former federal defender for the Southern District of New York, former Assistant US Attorney Dwight J. Draughon, Jr, and Coy Garrison, past counsel to U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissioner, Steptoe is in a strong position to advise clients on issues which operate at the intersections between government, regulation, the courts, and business.”
Lee added: “I’m thrilled to bring my experience leading and managing cutting-edge antitrust investigation and litigations to Steptoe, and to work alongside such an outstanding antitrust, telecom, and technology team. This is an exciting next step in my career, and I look forward to drawing on all the resources and insights the firm has to offer to deliver quality results for Steptoe clients.”
Lee earned his BA from American University (1999) and his JD, cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center (2002). After graduating from law school, Lee was an associate at Cleary Gottlieb (2002-2012) and an of counsel at Paul Hastings (2012-2016). He left Paul Hastings to join the Antitrust Division, Media, Entertainment and Professional Services Section of the DOJ as a trial attorney, and was promoted to Chief of the Civil Conduct Task Force in August 2020.
