Shearman & Sterling is significantly expanding its Antitrust and Litigation practices with the arrival of a partner team to its Washington, DC office. The team, formerly with Hunton & Williams, is comprised of David A. Higbee, D. Bruce Hoffman, Djordje Petkoski and Todd M. Stenerson. 

“We are thrilled to welcome our new partners to the firm,” said Creighton Condon, Shearman & Sterling’s Senior Partner. “With the addition of David, Bruce, Djordje and Todd to our existing team, our clients will have the benefit of a deeper, integrated global antitrust team that covers the full spectrum of merger clearance, investigation, litigation and counseling services worldwide.” 

David Beveridge, the firm’s Global Managing Partner, added, “Our new partners significantly expand our presence in Washington, DC, broaden our corporate client base in industries such as oil and gas, insurance, technology and media, and significantly enhance our M&A and litigation offerings – all of which perfectly aligns with the firm’s strategy.”

"Combining our new partners – who bring tremendous government experience and industry expertise – with our existing strength in antitrust litigation and investigations will create a formidable team to best represent our clients in their highest stakes US antitrust litigations, cartel investigations and merger clearance matters, as well as a broad array of commercial disputes,” said Adam Hakki, the firm’s Global Head of Litigation.

“Antitrust rules present some of the most challenging and important business issues for companies to navigate,” said Matthew Readings, Global Co-Head of the Antitrust Group at Shearman & Sterling. “The team's stellar experience bolsters our global antitrust platform and ability to provide a market-leading one-stop shop for both the United States and Europe.” 

David A. Higbee

Higbee was the Vice-Chair of the Global Competition practice at Hunton & Williams and Managing Partner of the Washington, DC office. He focuses on antitrust government and internal investigations, merger review and complex litigation matters, and has represented clients in varied industries including defense, oil and gas, financial services and technology. Higbee served at the Department of Justice (DOJ) as Deputy Assistant Attorney General and Chief of Staff of the Antitrust Division, and recently led transition planning for the Antitrust Division during the change in Administrations. 

He also served at the White House under President George W. Bush as Special Assistant to the President and Associate Director for Presidential Personnel, advising the President on the appointment of senior officials throughout the Executive branch. 

D. Bruce Hoffman

Hoffman, who focuses on antitrust and unfair competition, including mergers, investigations and litigation, as well as advising on FTC advertising investigations, was head of the Global Competition practice at Hunton & Williams. He served at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) as Deputy Director and previously Associate Director of Regional Litigation of the Bureau of Competition. 

During his tenure at the FTC, he oversaw the Bureau’s antitrust enforcement and led numerous high-profile cases involving mergers, price fixing, monopolization, conspiracies and other issues in a broad range of industries. He has also participated in amicus brief efforts before the US Supreme Court. Hoffman’s private practice has included some of the highest-profile mergers and antitrust litigations. He has worked extensively with federal and state antitrust enforcers and has served as lead counsel in appeals, jury and bench trials, and in many court arguments. Hoffman also frequently lectures and speaks on antitrust issues.

Djordje Petkoski

Djordje Petkoski has a broad competition law practice with a focus on criminal antitrust matters and on international clients, particularly in Japan. He has represented over a dozen corporate and individual clients in cartel investigations by the DOJ and enforcers in other jurisdictions, including as lead counsel for significant corporate clients. He has also served as lead counsel for corporate clients involved in civil class actions that follow DOJ investigations.

Todd M. Stenerson

Todd Stenerson is a seasoned litigation partner with tremendous commercial litigation and class action experience throughout the courts of the United States. Representing both plaintiffs and defendants, Stenerson has played a leading role for clients in matters of crucial importance for decades. In addition to his extensive antitrust, multi-district litigation and arbitration experience, he has handled investigations by the DOJ’s Antitrust Division and the US Securities and Exchange Commission. 

As part of his broad complex commercial litigation background, Stenerson has handled several dealer termination and RICO cases as well as business torts, commercial lease, breach of contract and ERISA cases. AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell and a BTI Client Service All-Star, Stenerson routinely garners praise from clients and colleagues for his creativity, litigation skills and commitment to client service.

Shearman & Sterling’s leading Antitrust Group advises on some of the largest antitrust matters related to all aspects of US and EU antitrust law. These include issues involving merger control, cartels, compliance, unilateral conduct, market investigations, State aid and antitrust litigation. The group is recognized as one of only 25 “Global Elite” practices in the 2017 edition of Global Competition Review’s GCR 100, the annual assessment of the world’s top antitrust practices. Several of the firm’s antitrust attorneys are recognized in Who’s Who Legal, the listing of the world’s leading private practice lawyers from over 200 national jurisdictions. 

Shearman & Sterling's Litigation Group is strongly positioned to counsel and protect clients in today's challenging environment. With more than 130 attorneys in the United States, Europe and Asia, our team is ready to assist in any crisis, whether the adversary is a government regulator, a competitor or a well-funded class action attorney.