International law firm Hogan Lovells announced today the addition of Jennifer Fleury, a prominent antitrust lawyer from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), to its Washington, D.C. office. Fleury, who joins as a partner, arrives at a pivotal time as the FTC continues to intensify its antitrust scrutiny under the Biden administration, particularly with regard to mergers and acquisitions.
Fleury, a former deputy chief trial counsel at the FTC’s competition bureau, brings a wealth of expertise from her role at the agency, where she was at the forefront of high-profile cases. Her arrival at Hogan Lovells signals a strategic move as the firm continues to expand its antitrust practice in response to growing regulatory challenges in the marketplace.
In her previous role at the FTC, Fleury led the agency’s lawsuit that blocked a proposed $12.9 billion merger between healthcare data and analytics firm IQVIA and DeepIntent, a healthcare advertising firm owned by Propel Media. The FTC argued that the deal would reduce competition, drive up consumer prices, and negatively affect patient care. A federal judge in Manhattan agreed with the FTC’s position, ultimately halting the merger in December 2023, leading to its abandonment shortly after.
Fleury’s experience also includes her involvement in the high-profile antitrust battle over Microsoft’s $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. Despite the FTC’s efforts to block the deal, a federal court ruled in favor of Microsoft. The agency has since appealed that decision, and the case continues to unfold at the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Fleury’s move to Hogan Lovells comes at a time when antitrust enforcement is rapidly evolving. Under the leadership of FTC Chair Lina Khan, the agency has taken a more aggressive stance on regulating corporate mergers, particularly in the tech and healthcare sectors. A recent Reuters analysis revealed that the Biden administration has launched more antitrust challenges in its first two years than either the Obama or Trump administrations.
“There will be a level of increased antitrust scrutiny that will pertain no matter who is in the White House,” Fleury said, emphasizing that recent regulatory changes, including the FTC’s finalization of new merger-filing requirements, will have a lasting impact, regardless of the political climate. These changes reflect the growing complexity of antitrust enforcement and its broader implications for businesses navigating merger activity.
Logan Breed, co-lead of Hogan Lovells’ antitrust, competition, and economic regulation practice, said Fleury’s arrival will provide “a fresh perspective” on both tech and healthcare-related antitrust cases, as well as insight into the FTC’s current enforcement approach.
While the FTC continues to shape the future of antitrust regulation, Fleury’s expertise will position Hogan Lovells as a key player in assisting clients through an increasingly complex legal landscape.
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