Daniel K. Oakes
Partner
Daniel (Dan) Oakes guides clients through a host of challenging competition issues, including complex multidistrict and class action litigation, high-stakes criminal and other governmental investigations, and merger analysis amid the ever-changing landscape of antitrust law.
Daniel K. Oakes
Partner
Daniel (Dan) Oakes guides clients through a host of challenging competition issues, including complex multidistrict and class action litigation, high-stakes criminal and other governmental investigations, and merger analysis amid the ever-changing landscape of antitrust law.
Recognized as a leading antitrust practitioner by The Legal 500 United States, Dan takes a client-centered, analytical approach to defending companies and individuals against a range of Sherman Act Section 1 and Section 2 claims, including cartel, monopolization, no-poach, and other conspiracy allegations, as well as state competition claims.
Dan advises clients in criminal investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the Competition Bureau of Canada, and the European Commission and regularly responds to civil demands by the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He has helped to persuade authorities to close investigations without taking enforcement action and has also helped clients through the process of securing leniency protection.
Additionally, Dan has counseled many clients on a wide range of issues including analysis of potential mergers, transactions, business practices, and antitrust compliance. In mergers, Dan has coordinated responses to several second requests. He has also represented multiple clients in responding to government and third-party subpoenas and navigating merger litigation.
With an ability to pivot with precision when dynamic complexities arise, Dan represents clients across a broad range of industries, including food and beverage, defense, technology, advertising, distribution, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, automobile parts, healthcare, and insurance. He leverages his past work experience as a managing analyst at consulting firm Compass Lexecon to craft legal arguments that are backed by a thorough economic analysis of the competitive landscape of these sectors.
Experience
- Defending Tyson Foods Inc. in a consolidated treble-damages class action case alleging industrywide conspiracy to manipulate the price of broiler chicken in the Northern District of Illinois.
- Representing three employees in a criminal no-poach investigation of a major defense contractor.
- Conducting a confidential internal investigation on behalf of a major multinational consumer packaged food and beverage company.
- Representing an executive of a national healthcare company in a DOJ no-poach investigation.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) in a case alleging conspiracy and monopolization in the Western District of Pennsylvania, affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
- Represented Nishikawa Rubber Company in an auto parts criminal investigation and automotive parts class action multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Eastern District of Michigan.
- Represented Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. in its $13.6 billion acquisition of Life Technologies Corp. The deal was shortlisted for Global Competition Review’s 2014 “Matter of the Year” award.
- Represented pharmaceutical clients through FTC pay-for-delay investigations, which ultimately closed without enforcement action.
- Represented a company as the leniency applicant in a criminal investigation involving an alleged no-poach agreement between the company and a competitor.
- Represented international data aggregation and analytics provider in FTC investigation regarding electronics distribution.
- Conducted internal investigations in industries ranging from agriculture, consumer goods, to health care and manufacturing for issues including price fixing, labor-market collusion, and fraud.
- Represented divestiture monitor in FTC settlement of merger between Hertz / Dollar Thrifty.
- Represented M. Holland Company in its acquisition by Ravago Group.
Honors
- Chambers USA – District of Columbia: Antitrust (2024)
- Lawdragon, 500 Leading Litigators in America (2025)
- The Legal 500 United States – Antitrust: Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Defense (2022); Antitrust: Cartels (2023 – 2024)
- Winner – Concurrences Legal Writing Award (2024)
- Global Competition Review, on the team shortlisted for “Litigation of the Year – Cartel Defence” for its work on behalf of Nishikawa Rubber Company in the Auto Parts litigation (2018)
- Global Competition Review, on the team shortlisted for “Matter of the Year” for its work on behalf of Thermo Fisher Scientific in its $13.6 billion acquisition of Life Technologies Corp. (2014)
- Who’s Who Legal: Competition Future Leaders (2023-2024)
Education
- JD, with Honors – The George Washington University Law School (2011)
- BA – Brigham Young University (2005)
Admissions
- California
- District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
Quotes
Daniel Oakes is smart, thoughtful and careful.
Chambers USA
Dan was very sharp. He had the extra instincts that you would hope a seasoned, strong practitioner to have.
Chambers USA
Dan is very solid and a pleasure to work with. You can rely on him, and he is just really skillful, good at analyzing problems and choosing when to fight and when not to.
Chambers USA
News & Insights
News & Insights
AIJA IP/TMT Seminar // 11th Antitrust Annual Conference
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
Axinn Partners Named to Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America 2025
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Who's Who Legal Recognizes Twelve Axinn Attorneys
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Setting the AI Standard for Algorithmic Pricing in the U.S.: Per Se or Rule of Reason?
Byline Articles
Antitrust
Court Temporarily Halts FTC Proposed Rule on Non-Competes
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
ABA International Cartel Workshop: U.S. Enforcement Takeaways
Axinn Viewpoints
Antitrust
Axinn’s Antitrust Practice Nationally Ranked by The Legal 500 United States for 2024
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
Chambers USA 2024 Ranks 16 Axinn Lawyers, including 14 Antitrust Partners, and Recognizes the Firm in Seven Jurisdictions
Awards & Recognitions
Antitrust
AIJA Half-Year May Conference 2024
Speaking Engagement
Antitrust
United States: Cartels
Byline Articles
Antitrust