New York, United States
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP announced today that noted antitrust lawyer Charles ("Rick") Rule will join the firm as the head of the firm's antitrust practice. Mr. Rule will be resident in Cadwalader's Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Rule, the former head of the antitrust practice at Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver and Jacobson LLP, has represented a number of the world's largest corporations in connection with private antitrust litigation, major transactions and civil and criminal investigations by antitrust authorities around the world.
Cadwalader Chairman Robert O. Link, Jr. stated, "Issues of competitive risk come into play whether a company is buying, selling or merging. Broadening the foundation from which we can offer antitrust counseling and compliance and litigation services is a key component of extending our services to a large segment of our client base. We look forward to working with Rick to exploit synergies, enhance services for our clients and take advantage of new opportunities."
Mr. Rule noted that, "Cadwalader provides a tremendous platform for my practice. The firm's Litigation and Corporate Departments are outstanding and will compliment my practice well. I look forward to working with the firm's impressive list of diverse clients, from prominent financial institutions to leading corporations. Together with my new colleagues at Cadwalader, I believe we can provide uniquely capable, knowledgeable and experienced service.
"In particular, with the convergence of the U.S. and European markets and the emergence of Chinese businesses in international transactions, clients now more than ever need a forward-thinking legal team to help them navigate the maze of conflicting rules and regulations. With Cadwalader offices in each of these key regions, I look forward to helping clients by providing the cross-border capacity and global insight they need."
Among Mr. Rule's past representations include: Microsoft Corporation; US Airways Inc.; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Goldman, Sachs & Co.; the National Basketball Association; Bacardi & Company Ltd.; and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. He was a key member of the team that negotiated on behalf of Microsoft a conclusion to the historic antitrust lawsuit that the U.S. Justice Department and a number of states pursued against the company. He has also been involved in the antitrust clearance of some of the highest-profile mergers in recent years, including Exxon Corporation's merger with Mobil Oil Corporation and MGM Mirage in its acquisition of Mandalay Bay. He currently represents Delta & Pine Land Co. in its acquisition of Monsanto.
Mr. Rule joined Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP in 2001, following his tenure as a partner at the Washington law firm of Covington & Burlington, where he was chairman of the firm's antitrust and trade regulation practice group. Prior to private practice, he held various positions with the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Justice Department, including serving as William Baxter's special assistant and as acting head of the Division, before, in 1986, becoming the youngest person ever to be confirmed to the position of Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.
"Rick's rich and varied career at the DOJ and in private practice has resulted in his national reputation for his technical excellence, legal insight and business acumen. His experience fills a strategic niche in our Litigation Department, adding a level of capability that allows us to better serve clients with competition matters," stated Gregory A. Markel, Chairman of the firm's Litigation Department.
A summa cum laude graduate of Vanderbilt University in 1978, Mr. Rule received his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1981. Following law school, he served as a clerk for Chief Judge Daniel M. Friedman of the former United States Court of Claims (now the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit). He is listed among the world's leading antitrust lawyers by a variety of publications, including Chambers Global: The World's Leading Lawyers for Business (2006 edition) and Washington's Legal Times. He has written extensively and is a frequent lecturer on antitrust and regulatory topics. A former distinguished adjunct professor of law at American University's Washington College of Law, Mr. Rule is a member of the Advisory Board of BNA's Antitrust & Trade Regulation Report; a member of the advisory boards of the Washington Legal Foundation and the Landmark Legal Foundation; sits on the Board of Directors of the Children's Law Center; and serves on the Visiting Committee of the University of Chicago Law School. He is admitted to the bar in the District of Columbia.
About Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, established in 1792, is one of the world's leading international law firms, with offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington and Beijing. Cadwalader serves a diverse client base, including many of the world's top financial institutions, undertaking business in more than 50 countries in six continents. The firm offers legal expertise in antitrust, banking, business fraud, corporate finance, corporate governance, environmental, financial restructuring and reorganizations, healthcare, insurance and reinsurance, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, private client, private equity, real estate, securities and financial institutions regulation, securitization, structured finance, and tax. More information about Cadwalader can be found at www.cadwalader.com.
CONTACT: Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP Claudia Freeman +1 212 504 6470 claudia.freeman@cwt.com or Kaitlin Jaxheimer +1 212 445 8261 kaitlin.jaxheimer@webershandwick.com
Source: Business Wire (Business Wire India)