Focus Areas
Representative Matters
Merger Control/Antitrust Investigations
- On secondment as in-house competition counsel, represented global power management company in connection with Second Request investigation of $3.3 billion merger.
- Represented global motion-and-control technologies manufacturer in connection with HSR filing and subsequent DOJ antitrust investigation of $4.3 billion merger.
- Represented manufacturer of equipment and components for oil-and-gas industry in connection with Second Request investigation of $2.5 billion merger.
- Represented hardware distributor in FTC’s investigation of its acquisition of self-service key duplication kiosk business.
- Helped guide rubber manufacturer in sale of rubber track plant to military contractor through inquiry from DOJ and DOD.
- Represented scrap metal company in its purchase by competitor and related inquiry from DOJ.
- Regularly prepare HSR filings and counsel clients (including manufacturing companies, investors and private equity funds) regarding HSR reportability, exemptions and risk-sharing and related provisions in merger and purchase agreements.
Antitrust Counseling
- Advised European clients on U.S. antitrust risks posed by proposed mergers and acquisitions (including HSR compliance), as well as joint ventures and other competitor collaborations.
- Advised investment funds concerning antitrust issues associated with common ownership of competing portfolio companies.
- Advised clients, including dental imaging provider and aftermarket auto parts distributor, regarding antitrust risks associated with participation in group purchasing organizations.
- Advised manufacturers regarding exclusive supply and distribution arrangements
Antitrust, Class Action and Other Complex Litigation
- Represent Mission Essential, a defense and intelligence services provider, in antitrust class action alleging unlawful no-poach agreement between and among defense intelligence contractors.
- Represent Fortune 500 company in litigation concerning alleged breach of distribution agreement and fraud.
- Represented specialty chemical manufacturer in antitrust price-fixing class action and follow-on litigation commenced under the False Claims Act.
- Successfully defended financial institution in class action alleging failure to timely record mortgage satisfactions, including several appeals.
- Successfully litigated and settled litigation on behalf of steel manufacturer against coal supplier for breach of contract.
- Won arbitration award on behalf of floor care manufacturer against terminated dealer.
- Part of team that obtained summary judgment on behalf of composite deck manufacturer in class action alleging product defects and breach of warranty.
- Part of team that obtained dismissal of complaint against national concert promoter commenced by concert venue alleging tortious interference and breach of contract.
- Obtained dismissal of tortious interference claims by cell phone store owner against national wireless carrier.
- Successfully obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunctive relief on behalf of national financial institution to freeze assets of massive fraud.
- Successfully obtained judgment after bench trial against former employee of polymer manufacturer for breach of noncompete agreement and breach of duty of loyalty.
- Represented global manufacturer in litigation commenced by terminated dealer and obtained favorable settlement.
- Prepared writ of certiorari to U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of manufacturer of industrial vehicles concerning constitutionality of dealer statute.
Government Enforcement/Investigations/White-Collar Criminal Defense
- Represented architect through investigation and jury trial of fraud and extortion charges in federal court.
- Represented Fortune 500 company in internal investigation of fatal incident at manufacturing facility.
- Represented physical therapists in False Claims Act investigation.
Pro Bono
- Part of team that won reversal of federal hate crimes conviction before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
- Argued appeals before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit on behalf of individuals convicted of crimes.
- Successfully represented several tenants in eviction disputes.
- “Back in the Good Ole Days? The Biden Administration Seeks to Roll the Antitrust Clock Back to the 1970s With Criminal Prosecution for Monopoly Offenses,” Thompson Hine Compliance Guidepost, April 2022
- “Is the Biden Administration Taking Antitrust Enforcement Back to the Future?” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Winter 2022
- Co-Author, “Giving Effect to the Remedy,” Global Competition Review’s Merger Remedies Guide (4th Edition), November 2021
- “Selling Through Dealers – Antitrust Guidelines for Manufacturers,” Thompson Hine Antitrust Law Guidelines, April 2021
- “Supreme Court Rules FTC Cannot Obtain Equitable Monetary Relief Directly in Court,” Thompson Hine Antitrust Law Update, April 2021
- “Proposed Amendment to HSR Rules Would Increase Filing Obligations for Private Equity Funds,” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Spring 2021
- “Antitrust Agencies Suspend Early Termination – Temporary or Indefinite?” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Distribution Update, February 2021
- “HSR Filing Thresholds Decrease in 2021,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Distribution Update, February 2021
- “Justice Department Issues First Update to Antitrust Merger Remedies Guidance in a Decade,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Distribution Update, September 2020
- “New Vertical Merger Guidelines Face Bipartisan Calls for Stronger Antitrust Enforcement,” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Spring 2020
- “FTC and DOJ Announce Changes to Civil Merger Review Process During COVID-19 Pandemic, Including Changes to HSR Early Termination Procedure,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, April 2020
- “FTC and DOJ Announce Expedited Procedure to Provide Antitrust Guidance to Businesses Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic,” Thompson Hine COVID-19 Update, April 2020
- “FTC Reiterates Rule Against HSR Avoidance Devices, Imposes Substantial Fines,” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Winter 2020
- “Antitrust Agencies Release New Vertical Merger Guidelines,” Thompson Hine Antitrust Law Update, January 2020
- Co-author, “Beyond the Mob: ‘Varsity Blues’ and DOJ’s Expanding Use of RICO to Prosecute White-Collar Crime,” Criminal Justice, American Bar Association, Fall 2019
- “Time to Dust Off Your Antitrust Compliance Efforts? Major DOJ Policy Shift Designed to Reward Companies that Do,” Thompson Hine Antitrust Law Update, July 2019
- “Generic Drugs: Biggest Price-Fixing Case Ever?,” Thompson Hine Antitrust Law Update, March 2019
- “The Common-Interest Doctrine: Preserving the Attorney-Client Privilege in M&A Deals,” Thompson Hine Business Law Update, Winter 2017
- “Antitrust Agencies’ Annual HSR Report Reveals Increases in Filings, Scrutiny of Large Deals & Enforcement,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Trade Regulation Update, October 2016
- “Penalty for HSR Violations More Than Doubled,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Trade Regulation Update, August 2016
- “U.S. Supreme Court: A Bare Technical Violation of Statute Insufficient to Demonstrate Standing,” Thompson Hine Business Litigation Update, May 2016
- “Congress Passes Federal Trade Secret Law,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Trade Regulation Update, April 2016
- “Antitrust Agencies’ Merger Review Data Demonstrate More Filings, Bigger Deals and Continued Enforcement,” Thompson Hine Antitrust, Competition & Trade Regulation Update, September 2015
- “Small Deals Spurring Big Antitrust Problems,” The Deal.com, December 2014
- Co-presenter, “Presidential Executive Order Targets Changes in Antitrust Enforcement,” Thompson Hine Competition Cafe Podcast Series, April 2022
- Received a 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones To Watch recognition for Commercial Litigation and Litigation-Antitrust; included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for Commercial Litigation
- Selected to the Ohio Rising Stars list, 2019-2021
- Champion and Best Final Round Advocate, Mackenzie Hughes Edmund H. Lewis Appellate Competition
- Excellence Award, New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers
- CALI Excellence for the Future Awards: Appellate Advocacy, Constitutional Law, Constitutional-Criminal Procedure, Evidence and Legal Writing
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association, Antitrust Section
- Counsel to the Section Chair
- Associate Editor, Antitrust Law Journal
- Federal Bar Association, Northern Ohio Chapter
- Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Northern Ohio Chapter, Young Professionals Board
Education
- Syracuse University College of Law, J.D., 2010, magna cum laude,
Order of the Coif; Order of Barristers; lead articles editor, Syracuse Law Review
- Ohio University, B.S., 2006
Bar Admissions
- New York
- Ohio
Court Admissions
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Business Law Update – Winter 2022,
Thompson Hine Newsletter
, March 7, 2022 - FTC Announces Increases to HSR Filing Thresholds for 2022,
Antitrust Law Update
, January 24, 2022 - Thompson Hine Elects Six New Partners,
Thompson Hine LLP
, January 13, 2022 - Thompson Hine Attorneys Joshua L. Shapiro and Mark R. Butscha, Jr. Author Chapter in Global Competition Review’s Merger Remedies Guide,
Thompson Hine LLP
, November 11, 2021 - FTC Adjusts Merger Review Due to “Tidal Wave” in Merger Filings,
Antitrust Update
, August 4, 2021 - Selling Through Dealers – Antitrust Guidelines for Manufacturers,
Antitrust Law Guidelines
, April 30, 2021 - Supreme Court Rules FTC Cannot Obtain Equitable Monetary Relief Directly in Court,
Antitrust Law Update
, April 23, 2021 - Business Law Update – Spring 2021,
Thompson Hine Newsletter
, March 23, 2021 - Antitrust Agencies Suspend Early Termination – Temporary or Indefinite?,
Antitrust, Competition & Distribution Update
, February 9, 2021 - HSR Filing Thresholds Decrease in 2021,
Antitrust, Competition & Distribution Update
, February 2, 2021