Wrede Smith, a former U.S. Department of Justice antitrust lawyer who advises global companies in antitrust investigations and litigation, has joined McGuireWoods as a partner in Washington, D.C. Smith joins McGuireWoods from Arnold & Porter.

Smith represents clients in government reviews of mergers and acquisitions, civil and criminal government investigations, civil antitrust litigation and antitrust counseling. He assists parties in all stages of merger clearance, including pre-merger counseling and filings under the Hart-Scott Rodino Act, representation before the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission, and merger litigation.

 Before entering private practice, he was a trial attorney in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, where he analyzed proposed mergers in a variety of industries, including telecommunications, banking, aeronautics and defense, government contracting and mining.

Smith joins a McGuireWoods practice that represents clients throughout the world in virtually every significant area of antitrust and competition law, including litigation and government investigations, business antitrust counseling, and mergers.

“Wrede is an important addition to our practice and will strengthen our antitrust capabilities in Washington. We are thrilled to welcome his experience and insight into our group,” said Amy Manning, chair of the firm’s Antitrust, Trade & Commercial Litigation Department.

Smith is the third partner to join McGuireWoods’ D.C. office this year, following the arrival of former federal prosecutors John Moran and Michael Podberesky, both members of the firm’s Government Investigations & White Collar Litigation Department.

“Wrede is an outstanding lawyer and strategic advisor who complements our deep bench of former government regulators,” said Todd Mullins, managing partner of the firm’s D.C. office, which recently moved to a newly renovated building two blocks from the White House.

“McGuireWoods is a litigation powerhouse with a global reach in antitrust and competition matters,” Smith said. “The firm’s lawyers are known as innovative problem solvers and I am excited to be part of this world-class team.”