Sidley Austin is making a significant move to broaden its antitrust practice by hiring Corey Roush, the global co-leader of Akin Gump’s antitrust division. This strategic decision is in line with the increasing demand for antitrust counsel as the Biden administration intensifies its regulatory enforcement. Roush, who joins as a partner in Washington, has an impressive portfolio, having represented 7-Eleven Inc. in its $21 billion acquisition of the Speedway gas station chain in 2021 and its $1 billion acquisition of 204 stores from Sunoco LP earlier this year.
Roush noted, “Sidley’s antitrust practice is fantastic, and I’m excited about the opportunity—not just of joining it, but helping it grow to becoming a destination practice for our current and future clients.” This hiring move underscores Sidley’s commitment to bolstering its capabilities in response to more aggressive enforcement actions by the Federal Trade Commission and the Justice Department. Recent cases, such as the antitrust suit against Alphabet Inc. regarding its monopoly in online advertising technology and the probe into Microsoft Corp.’s AI acquisition, exemplify this trend.
In May, the Justice Department, along with several states, sued Live Nation Entertainment Inc. over its alleged monopoly in the live event sector, seeking to force the sale of its ticketing arm, Ticketmaster. Brian Fahrney, co-leader of Sidley’s M&A and private equity practice group, remarked on the global surge in antitrust activity, highlighting the firm’s strategic focus on expanding its antitrust capabilities as a response.
Further cementing its position, Sidley has recently recruited a dozen lawyers from Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison, including notable figures like M&A partner John Godfrey, and private equity experts Ramy Wahbeh and David D’Urso. Roush’s move from Akin Gump follows a notable career, having joined Akin in 2015 from Hogan Lovells, and successfully defending high-profile clients like Gucci America Inc. in antitrust class actions.
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