Latham & Watkins has boosted its antitrust and competition bench in Washington DC with the hire of a former deputy assistant attorney general. 

Andrew Forman has joined the firm’s litigation and trial practice after just under three years in the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, where he advised on merger and conduct investigations and litigations, and contributed to antitrust policy programmes. 

In a statement Latham noted Forman’s experience as a deputy AG and his time in the Federal Trade Commission, as well as his transactions experience, were particularly valuable in the current climate of growing antitrust enforcement. 

“Demand for sophisticated merger control expertise on a global scale is at an all-time high, so we are thrilled Andy is joining us and helping expand our leadership in closing strategic deals,” said Mike Egge, global chair of Latham’s antitrust practice. 

Mandy Reeves, managing partner of Latham’s Washington DC office, added that Forman’s experience managing complex civil enforcement programmes at both the DOJ and FTC, as well as in private practice, would be a “tremendous asset” to the firm’s clients. 

Forman practised at Paul Weiss and Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft for 15 years prior to joining the Antitrust Division, focusing on antitrust merger clearances, agency investigations and antitrust counselling. Between 2004 and 2007 he had a stint at the FTC investigating M&A deals and has experience across industries including technology, healthcare and life sciences, pharmaceuticals, insurance, finance and fintech, consumer products, entertainment, industrials and defence, among others.

Forman’s arrival at Latham follows partner David Brenneman – who defends major transactions before the DOJ, FTC and the European Commission – joining in Washington DC last month from Morgan Lewis. 

Latham boasts a leading antitrust practice particularly noted for handling high-stakes cartel defence for large international clients and having a deep bench of former government employees, including Reeves, who was an attorney advisor at the FTC before joining the firm.