Antitrust Litigator Joins Dechert’s Ranks in Washington, D.C.

Dechert LLP has hired prominent antitrust litigator Shari Ross Lahlou in Washington, D.C. Ms. Lahlou regularly represents Fortune 100 companies in high-profile antitrust matters, including DuPont, AT&T and Humana. She was recently part of the team that represented AT&T in its trial victory over the Department of Justice in the US$85 billion purchase of Time Warner.

Ms. Lahlou is the 12th female partner to join Dechert globally within the last year, nine of whom have joined the litigation practice. 

Ms. Lahlou’s practice focuses on significant antitrust and other complex litigation, including class actions and multidistrict proceedings. Named 2018 “Litigator of the Year” by Global Competition Review, Ms. Lahlou’s background in non-merger antitrust cases, complemented by a well-known ability defending mergers, further enhances Dechert’s reputation as one of the few global antitrust/competition groups that handles cartel investigations and antitrust litigation, alongside a combined multi-billion dollar mergers practice. She joins from another international law firm where she was co-chair of its antitrust group.

Ms. Lahlou is a first chair trial lawyer who has successfully litigated antitrust and other complex cases at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts. She defends clients in antitrust cartel cases, in addition to cases alleging monopolization, tying, exclusive dealing and other anticompetitive conduct.

“We are very lucky to have Shari on board,” said Steven Bizar, co-leader of Dechert’s antitrust/competition group. “Her combined antitrust and trial experience adds to the capabilities of our antitrust group and our global litigation platform." 

“I’m thrilled to join Dechert and its exceptional antitrust team,” said Ms. Lahlou. “I look forward to collaborating with lawyers around the world to help clients attack their most complex antitrust challenges.”

Dechert’s global antitrust/competition group is renowned for achieving success in the highest profile matters including the decisive victory for Pennsylvania egg producer R.W. Sauder, Inc. in a US$1 billion antitrust class action jury trial in Pennsylvania; winning a complete victory for national magazine distributor Curtis Circulation Company in a rare antitrust group boycott conspiracy case; and serving as lead antitrust counsel for CVS Health in its US$70 billion acquisition of Aetna. Additionally the practice is widely known for developing key proprietary market tools such as DAMITT (Dechert Antitrust Merger Investigation Timing Tracker), the leading information source on the duration of significant U.S. and EU antitrust merger investigation and litigation trends.

Other recent women hires to Dechert include product liability partner Sheila Birnbaum, international trade partners Amanda DeBusk and Melissa Duffy, litigation partners Dorothy Cory-Wright, Robin Nunn and Maria Sit, international arbitration partner Michelle Bradfield, IP litigation partner Katherine Helm, and financial services partners Carol Widger, Marianna Tothova and Sarah Smith. The hires underscore Dechert’s commitment to building a top-tier diverse and inclusive partnership. 

Ms. Lahlou received her J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, Order of the Coif, with highest honors, and her B.A from Dickinson College, cum laude. 

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 27 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver
commercial and practical advice for clients.