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Fried Frank Expands Antitrust Practice With New Washington, DC Partner

By  |  January 29, 2026

International law firm Fried Frank has strengthened its antitrust and competition practice with the addition of veteran attorney Shawn R. Johnson to its Washington, DC office, according to Newsweek. The move reflects the firm’s continued focus on expanding its regulatory and transactional capabilities in one of the country’s most important legal markets.

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    Before joining Fried Frank, Johnson served as co-chair of the antitrust and competition group at Crowell & Moring, where he played a key role in shaping the firm’s work in merger review, regulatory strategy, and enforcement matters, per a Newsweek. His arrival brings more than 20 years of experience advising corporations on a broad range of antitrust and competition issues.

    Johnson’s practice has covered major transactional work, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and compliance with the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, which governs the premerger notification process in the United States, according to Newsweek. Over the years, he has counseled clients across diverse industries such as aerospace, defense, healthcare, information technology, telecommunications, chemicals, metals, and natural resources.

    In addition to deal-related work, Johnson has represented companies facing grand jury investigations and civil non-merger inquiries, as well as navigating complex antitrust reviews in the US and abroad, per a Newsweek. His experience includes appearances before key regulators such as the US Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Defense, and various international competition authorities.

    Related: Fried Frank Expands Antitrust Practice With New Washington Partner

    Fried Frank leadership welcomed Johnson’s move to the firm, highlighting the strategic importance of his background. Barry Nigro, the firm’s global chair of antitrust and competition, said, “We are incredibly excited to welcome Shawn to our team. His arrival underscores our commitment to providing top-tier counsel on sophisticated transactional and regulatory matters,” according to Newsweek.

    Steven Epstein, Fried Frank’s managing partner, also pointed to the benefits Johnson brings as clients face increasingly complex regulatory scrutiny. “We are delighted to welcome Shawn to Fried Frank. His proven track record guiding clients through merger reviews and regulatory challenges will be a tremendous asset as our clients pursue their strategic goals in an increasingly complex dealmaking environment,” Epstein said, per a Newsweek.

    With Johnson now based in Washington, DC, Fried Frank aims to further bolster its ability to guide clients through high-stakes antitrust reviews and regulatory proceedings at a time when global dealmaking continues to face heightened oversight.

    Source: ICLG