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Craig D. Minerva
Partner
Craig Minerva, a former lead attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), counsels clients on all aspects of civil antitrust matters with a focus on leading high-stakes, multinational transaction reviews.
Craig D. Minerva
Partner
Craig Minerva, a former lead attorney with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), counsels clients on all aspects of civil antitrust matters with a focus on leading high-stakes, multinational transaction reviews.
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Craig advises clients across a range of industries, including technology, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, media, entertainment, transportation, and consumer products. He has deep experience in leading complex antitrust matters relating to litigation, investigations, and multibillion-dollar mergers and acquisitions. Craig leverages his background in economics and his enforcement experience to anticipate potential business challenges and devises creative legal solutions to achieve clients’ goals.
Prior to joining Axinn, Craig led teams at DOJ to investigate high-profile transactions and prevent anticompetitive outcomes, including the Disney/Fox, Visa/Plaid, Quad Graphics/LSC Communications, and Chicago Tribune/Chicago Sun-Times mergers. He received both the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award and the Assistant Attorney General Award for his achievements in these areas. Prior to his government service, he worked at a global law firm, which included a detail in London, where he advised on European and UK competition law matters and represented clients before the European Commission.
Experience
Private Practice
- Represented VMware Inc. in its $69 billion acquisition by Broadcom Inc.
- Represented Elite Roofing Supply in its acquisition by Gulfeagle Supply.
- Representing a pharmaceutical company in a confidential Federal Trade Commission investigation.
- Represented Thermo Fisher Scientific in numerous matters, including its $3.1 billion acquisition of Olink, its $12.5 billion tender offer for QIAGEN N.V., and its approximately $1.85 billion acquisition of PeproTech Inc.
- Represented Choice Hotels in its proposed acquisition of Wyndham Hotels.
- Represented Dundee Partners in its strategic partnership with Universal Music Group to acquire KKR’s majority interest in Chord Music Partners, valued at $1.85 billion.
- Represented Sagard Holdings, Fairfax Financial Holdings, and Peak Achievement Athletics Inc. in the DOJ review and clearance of Rawlings Sporting Goods’ acquisition of Easton Diamond Sports.
- Represented D.G. Yuengling & Son in its joint venture with Molson Coors Beverage Company to expand west.
- Counseled a leading digital platform as it considered strategic M&A options.
- Advised a leading digital platform on policies and product development to minimize antitrust risk.
- Represented Novartis in the sale of its animal health division to Eli Lilly.
- Represented United Airlines in its proposed acquisition of take-off and landing slots from Delta at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Honors
- Lawdragon, “500 Leading Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyers” (2025)
- Lawdragon, "500 Leading Dealmakers in America"(2024 – 2025)
- Winner - Mondaq Thought Leadership Awards, Spring 2024
Education
- JD – Cornell Law School (2008)
- BA – Cornell University, Economics & Government (2005)
Admissions
- New York
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court District of Columbia
Quotes
Axinn is one of the only firms that truly places antitrust front and center and truly positions itself as a thought leader in this space.
The Legal 500 United States
Their knowledge of the industry, law, and implications is deep and thoughtful. The quality of the work...is first-rate.
Chambers USA
News & Insights
News & Insights
ABA 73rd Annual Section of Antitrust Law Spring Meeting
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
A Vertical Merger in a “Horizontal” Market: Court Rejects FTC’s Challenge to Tempur Sealy’s Acquisition of Mattress Firm
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
Axinn Represents Sectigo, Inc. in Securing Antitrust Clearance for Acquisition of Entrust’s Public Certificate Business
Deals & Cases
Antitrust
New Trump Administration Files First Merger Lawsuit Seeking to Block HPE/Juniper
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
Axinn Attorneys Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Antitrust & Global Competition Lawyers Guide
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Four Axinn Thought Leadership Pieces Nominated for the Antitrust Writing Awards
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Canadian Bar Association’s Define “Restore”: Canada’s New Remedies Standard for Mergers
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
Axinn Partners Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Dealmakers in America 2025
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
CompLaw EU Merger Control Conference 2024
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
FTC’s Noncompete Ban Survives Preliminary Challenge in Pennsylvania Federal Court
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
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