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Former DOJ Antitrust Chief Joins Axinn as Partner in San Francisco

By  |  August 19, 2025

Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP announced that Jacklin “Jackie” Lem has joined its Antitrust practice as a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office. Lem most recently served as Civil Chief of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division’s San Francisco office, where she oversaw some of the division’s most prominent cases involving Silicon Valley technology companies.

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    According to a statement from the firm, Lem played a role in monopolization and merger cases, including United States v. Apple and United States v. HPE/Juniper Networks. Her work also spanned international and domestic criminal cartel matters during her tenure at the DOJ, where she served across five different presidential administrations.

    The firm emphasized that Lem’s experience positions her to guide technology clients through an evolving regulatory landscape. Per a statement, she was instrumental in creating the first civil antitrust enforcement and litigation program in the DOJ’s San Francisco office. She also contributed to strategic planning, recruitment, and advising senior DOJ leadership, including the Assistant Attorney General.

    Related: Axinn Expands Antitrust Practice with Addition of Former DOJ Litigator

    Mike Keeley, chair of Axinn’s Antitrust practice, said the addition of Lem enhances the firm’s ability to handle high-stakes cases amid intensifying regulatory scrutiny. Daniel Bitton, founder of the firm’s San Francisco office, also highlighted her deep experience in the technology sector, citing her seventeen years with the DOJ.

    Lem has been recognized with the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for her work as lead prosecutor in a price-fixing cartel case. She holds a law degree, with distinction, from Stanford Law School and a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. In addition, she is a frequent speaker at international antitrust conferences.

    In a statement, Lem noted that joining Axinn offers her an opportunity to apply her government background and trial experience to advising the firm’s growing client base.

    Source: Business Wire