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Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer Expands US Antitrust Team

By  |  October 6, 2025

Leading global law firm Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer announced the appointment of John Elias, former Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, as a partner in its Washington, DC office. According to a statement from the firm, Elias will focus on antitrust counseling, merger filings, investigations, and litigation, drawing on nearly twenty years of experience in both government and private practice.

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    Per a statement, Elias previously spent 18 years with the DOJ, most recently serving as a senior leader overseeing the Antitrust Division’s appellate, international, and policy work. Earlier in his tenure, he worked in the Division’s Transportation, Energy and Agriculture Section and the Criminal Section, where he secured the then-largest criminal penalty in a domestic antitrust case—US$195 million in U.S. v. Sandoz.

    At Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, Elias will advise clients across industries facing antitrust scrutiny from both regulators and private parties. His addition follows the firm’s recent recruitment of Burr Eckstut, who joined in September to lead the U.S. Technology Transactions practice from the firm’s New York office.

    The expansion of the firm’s antitrust practice extends beyond the U.S. Earlier this year, partner Liza Carver rejoined the Sydney office after serving over three years as a Commissioner at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. In Paris, partner Laurence Bary was also added to strengthen the firm’s European antitrust team.

    Read more: Herbert Smith Freehills and Kramer Levin Join Forces in Global Merger

    Justin D’Agostino, Global CEO of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, said in a statement that Elias’s arrival represents a significant milestone in the firm’s U.S. growth strategy and enhances its Washington, DC capabilities. U.S. Executive Partner Paul H. Schoeman noted that Elias’s DOJ experience would provide valuable insight to clients navigating increasingly complex antitrust and regulatory landscapes.

    According to Kyriakos Fountoukakos, Managing Partner of Competition, Regulation and Trade, Elias’s appointment reinforces the firm’s commitment to supporting clients on cross-border antitrust issues.

    Elias expressed enthusiasm for joining the firm, emphasizing that companies today face heightened global coordination among regulators. He said he looks forward to applying his government experience to help clients manage risk, respond to investigations, and achieve their business goals.

    Elias holds a J.D. from Stanford Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from Yale University.

    Source: Business Wire