John D. Harkrider

Partner

Contact

Practice Areas

Antitrust

John Harkrider is a founding partner of Axinn. He is ranked Band 1 by Chambers and Partners, which quoted clients as saying that John is a "brilliant" "powerhouse" with "the best understanding of not only how to build a case but also how to break it." Who's Who Legal stated that "John Harkrider is one of the USA’s most prominent antitrust litigators with unrivaled corporate practices." John won Global Competition Review Lawyer of the Year and American Lawyer Litigator of the Week. He has been lead or co-lead on almost half a trillion dollars’ worth of deals, including Broadcom/VMware, Dell/EMC, BellSouth/AT&T, and AT&T Wireless/Cingular.

John D. Harkrider

Partner

New York

Contact

Practice Areas

Antitrust

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He has become a trusted advisor to multinational corporations, guiding them through intricate antitrust investigations, merger reviews, and regulatory compliance issues. Beyond the courtroom, John is a thought leader in the antitrust field. His insights have earned him industry recognition, including a Concurrences Antitrust Writing Award nomination for his contribution to Global Competition Review’s Merger Remedies Guide.

Experience

Transactional

VMware’s $69 billion acquisition by Broadcom
Dell's $67 billion acquisition of EMC
Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $3.1 billion acquisition of Olink Holding,
Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $13.6 billion acquisition of Life Technologies
Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $12.5 billion tender offer for Qiagen
Thermo Fisher Scientific in its approximately $1.85 billion acquisition of PeproTech, Inc.
Google's $12.5 billion acquisition of Motorola Mobility
Google's $700 million acquisition of ITA
Ball Corporation's $6.85 billion acquisition of Rexam PLC

Sherman Act Litigation

Omnicare with respect to its Section One conspiracy claims against United Health in both the Northern District of Illinois and the Seventh Circuit
United Technologies Corporation in connection with Walker Process and Handgards claims in the Northern District of Illinois and District of Maryland
Stanley Black & Decker with respect to Section One conspiracy claims in the Eastern District of Virginia and Fourth Circuit

Investigations

Google Section 2 investigation before agencies throughout the world
Google with respect to its Standard Essential Patents decree with FTC
Stanley Works with respect to Made in USA markings

FTC and DOJ Merger Challenges

Tyson Foods and George’s in DOJ merger challenge in the Western District of Virginia
SunGard in DOJ merger challenge to acquisition of Comdisco in D.C. District Court
U.S. DOJ in challenge to WorldCom's $129 billion acquisition of Sprint

Honors

Chambers USA – Band 1 (Global, Nationwide and New York City)
Axinn won Global Competition Review "Law Firm of the Year" (Americas) (2021 and 2016)
Winner of Global Competition Review "Matter of the Year" (2013)
Named "Litigator of the Week" by The American Lawyer (January 13, 2013)
Winner of Global Competition Review "Lawyer of the Year" (2012)
The Legal 500 United States – Antitrust: Merger Control (2022 – 2024); Leading Lawyer for Antitrust Merger Control (2023 – 2024); Antitrust: Cartels (2024)
Winner of "Merger Control Matter of the Year" (2012)
Comp360 MVP (2012)
Antitrust Writing Award sponsored by the Institute of Competition Law (2014)
Lawdragon, 500 Leading Dealmakers in America (2024 – 2025)
Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America (2023 – 2025)
Best Lawyers in America (2017 – 2025)
Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Competition (2024 – 2025)
Who's Who Legal: Competition (2019 – 2024)
Who’s Who Legal: Thought Leaders – Global Elite (2023)

Education

PhD Program – University of Michigan (did not complete dissertation)
JD, cum laude – University of California, Hastings College of the Law (1991) Order of the Coif
BA, with highest Honors – University of Michigan (1988)

Admissions

District of Columbia
New York
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation

Quotes

John Harkrider is one of the USA's most prominent antitrust litigators, with an unrivalled corporate practice as well as deep expertise in litigation and agency investigations.

Who’s Who Legal

The 'brilliant' John Harkrider is a 'powerhouse' and 'gifted advocate.'

Chambers USA

A 'really terrific lawyer' who is a 'very smart, excellent writer.'

Chambers USA

An extremely intelligent attorney with formidable understanding of business and finance.

Chambers USA

Incredibly bright mind and intellectual capacity.

Chambers USA

Has the best understanding of not only how to build a case but also how to break it.

Chambers USA

John Harkrider is one of the USA's most prominent antitrust litigators, with an unrivalled corporate practice as well as deep expertise in litigation and agency investigations.

Who’s Who Legal

John Harkrider is one of the USA's most prominent antitrust litigators, with an unrivalled corporate practice as well as deep expertise in litigation and agency investigations.

Who’s Who Legal

News & Insights

View all Insights

October 18, 2024

Axinn Partners Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America 2025

Axinn is pleased to announce that Lawdragon has recognized eight partners in its 2025 “500 Leading Dealmakers in America” guide.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

September 6, 2024

Axinn Partners Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2025

Axinn is pleased to announce that Lawdragon has recognized 23 partners in its "500 Leading Litigators in America" guide for 2025. The attorneys recognized were selected through submissions, research, and vetting with the nation's leading trial lawyers.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

September 1, 2024

Axinn Partners Recognized in Who’s Who Legal (WWL) – Thought Leaders Competition 2025 Report

Axinn is pleased to announce partners Rachel Adcox, Daniel Bitton, Lisl Dunlop, Mike Keeley, and John Harkrider have been recognized in the Who's Who Legal (WWL): Thought Leaders Competition 2025 Report.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

August 15, 2024

Axinn Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2025

Axinn is pleased to announce that eleven attorneys have been named to the 2025 list of “Best Lawyers in America” and sixteen attorneys have been named to the list of “Ones to Watch.” Two attorneys have been named “Lawyer of the Year” in their individual practice areas. Best Lawyers® compiles their lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

July 10, 2024

Axinn Advises Thermo Fisher Scientific in Securing Global Merger-Control Clearances for its Acquisition of Olink Holding

Axinn is pleased to represent Thermo Fisher Scientific (NYSE: TMO), a global life sciences leader, in helping obtain unconditional regulatory clearance worldwide in its $3.1 billion acquisition of Olink Holding (Nasdaq: OLK), the Swedish provider of next-generation proteomics solutions.

Deals & Cases

Antitrust

June 12, 2024

Axinn’s Antitrust Practice Nationally Ranked by The Legal 500 United States for 2024

Axinn is pleased to announce that The Legal 500 United States has recognized Axinn as one of the leading law firms in the Legal 500 United States 2024 guide. The Legal 500 rankings are based on feedback from 300,000 in-house peers, and a review of law firms' deals and confidential matters.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

June 6, 2024

Chambers USA 2024 Ranks 16 Axinn Lawyers, including 14 Antitrust Partners, and Recognizes the Firm in Seven Jurisdictions

Axinn is excited to announce that Chambers USA has ranked 16 Axinn lawyers, including 14 antitrust partners, and recognized the firm in seven jurisdictions, including Antitrust Cartel Nationwide and Antitrust CA – both new rankings -- in its 2024 edition.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

January 12, 2024

Two Axinn Thought Leadership Pieces Nominated for the Antitrust Writing Awards

Two written pieces authored by Axinn lawyers have been nominated for the Concurrences 2024 Antitrust Writing Awards. These awards aim to promote competition scholarship and contribute to competition advocacy. Axinn’s lawyers have consistently been recognized in previous nominations over the years.

Awards & Recognitions

Antitrust

News & Insights

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