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Hogan Lovells Strengthens Antitrust Practice with Hire of Former FTC Official

By  |  October 16, 2024

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has announced the hiring of Jennifer Fleury, a prominent lawyer from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as part of its Washington, D.C. office. Fleury, who joins the firm as a partner, brings substantial expertise in antitrust enforcement, a hot-button issue amid increasing regulatory scrutiny of mergers and acquisitions in the United States.

Fleury previously served as deputy chief trial counsel in the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. She was instrumental in several high-profile cases, including leading the FTC’s successful lawsuit to block the proposed merger between IQVIA, a healthcare data and analytics firm, and DeepIntent, a healthcare advertising company owned by Propel Media. The agency argued that the deal would stifle competition, increase prices, and negatively impact patients. According to a statement from Hogan Lovells, a federal judge in Manhattan ruled in favor of the FTC in December 2023, which led to both companies abandoning the merger.

Before joining the FTC in 2022, Fleury had a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice and also worked as a senior associate at Hogan Lovells. In her new role, she is expected to bolster the firm’s antitrust practice, particularly as the FTC continues to pursue aggressive enforcement under the leadership of Chair Lina Khan.

Per a statement by Fleury, antitrust enforcement will remain a focal point regardless of future political leadership. She emphasized that the FTC’s recently finalized merger-filing requirements would have long-term impacts beyond the Biden administration, signaling continued vigilance in monitoring corporate consolidation.

Under President Joe Biden, the FTC has ramped up its antitrust efforts. According to a 2022 Reuters analysis, the Biden administration challenged more mergers in its first two years than both the Obama and Trump administrations. This increased scrutiny comes as part of a broader effort to limit market consolidation and promote competition across industries.

With Fleury’s return, Hogan Lovells appears well-positioned to navigate the complex and evolving antitrust landscape, particularly as companies face heightened regulatory challenges.

Source: Hogan Lovells

Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Ruling in Consumer Bureau Battle Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Ruling in CFPB Battle

Federal Appeals Court Temporarily Halts Ruling in Consumer Bureau Battle

By  |  April 3, 2025

A federal appeals court on Thursday temporarily put on hold a lower court ruling that had delivered a significant victory to government employees and consumer advocates opposing President Donald Trump’s efforts to curtail the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). According to Reuters, the decision maintains a temporary pause while the court considers an emergency request from the Justice Department to overturn the previous ruling entirely.

The U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia stopped short of reversing any provisions set forth by U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson in her March 28 ruling. Per Reuters, her decision had ordered the CFPB to reinstate dismissed employees, restore canceled contracts, and continue performing its legally mandated duties. However, the appellate judges left in place interim measures preventing the administration from taking further action against agency staff or halting essential operations.

Despite the temporary stay, the three-judge panel emphasized that the decision should not be interpreted as an indication of their final ruling. “The purpose of this administrative stay is to give the court sufficient opportunity to consider the emergency motion for stay pending appeal and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion,” the order stated, according to Reuters.

Related: CFPB Allows Some Operations to Resume Amid Legal Challenge

The Justice Department formally notified the court on Saturday of its intent to challenge Judge Berman Jackson’s order, seeking to overturn her directive that prevented the administration from erasing agency data, terminating employees, or discontinuing active contracts. The Trump administration’s moves against the CFPB began in February when the president dismissed the agency’s director and granted officials from Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency extensive access to sensitive CFPB data systems. The actions resulted in widespread layoffs, contract cancellations, and office closures, prompting consumer protection groups and affected workers to file a lawsuit denouncing the changes as unlawful.

According to Reuters, agency leadership has since attempted to walk back some of these measures, a move Judge Berman Jackson described as likely “a charade for the court’s benefit.” While the appeals court’s temporary stay keeps aspects of the lower court’s ruling in place for now, the broader legal battle over the CFPB’s future remains unresolved.

Source: Reuters