Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP announced today that Joe Wayland has returned to the Firm as a Partner in the Litigation Practice. Mr. Wayland most recently served as the Acting Assistant Attorney General of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division, where he oversaw all of the Division’s criminal and civil matters and led the Division in achieving several major litigation victories.
Mr. Wayland joined the Department of Justice (DOJ) in 2010 as the Deputy Assistant Attorney General for Civil Enforcement in the Antitrust Division and he was named acting head of the Antitrust Division in April 2012. During his tenure at the DOJ, Mr. Wayland served as the Division’s chief trial counsel and led several significant merger challenges on behalf of the government, including H&R Block’s proposed merger with TaxAct, which was the agency’s first successful litigation challenge to a merger in eight years. Mr. Wayland also led the trial team that challenged AT&T’s proposed $39 billion purchase of T-Mobile USA, which was abandoned after four months of litigation. As the acting head of the Division, Mr. Wayland led new policy initiatives directed at potential patent misuse and competition issues arising from health care consolidation. He also led the Division’s negotiations and discussions with foreign competition authorities, including all of the major agencies in Europe, Asia and Latin America.
“We are pleased to welcome Joe back to the Firm and to our outstanding antitrust practice group,” said Pete Ruegger, Chairman of Simpson Thacher’s Executive Committee. “Joe’s valuable government experience and achievements will be an asset to our clients and also complement the deep public sector experience of our antitrust team.”
“Joe offers a depth of remarkable trial experience, both on behalf of the government and in private practice, which will greatly benefit our clients facing potential challenges to their mergers and acquisitions,” added Kevin Arquit, Head of Simpson Thacher’s Antitrust Practice.
Mr. Wayland joined Simpson Thacher in 1988 and became a partner in 1994. Prior to joining the Firm, he served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force following his graduation from Columbia Law School in 1983. During his time at Simpson Thacher, he represented clients in an array of criminal and civil matters, including monopoly abuse cases, international cartel investigations and alleged anticompetitive conduct. In recognition of his trial skills, he was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2009.
“I am happy to once again be a part of Simpson Thacher’s highly-regarded antitrust team,” said Mr. Wayland. “The opportunity to serve the government in a senior capacity provided me with unparalleled opportunities and a wealth of knowledge that I hope will serve our clients well as they face new and evolving enforcement and consumer protection initiatives.”
Simpson Thacher’s antitrust team has earned a long track record of achieving regulatory clearance for the largest and most complex mergers and acquisitions in history. The Firm offers unparalleled global experience in every facet of antitrust practice — from complex mergers and acquisitions that require clearance from multiple competition authorities to high stakes litigations and government investigations. The Firm’s antitrust lawyers represent clients globally in a wide range of industries including, among others, finance, telecommunications, online applications and advertising, business application software, entertainment and media, automotive, healthcare, insurance, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, utilities, heavy manufacturing, transportation, residential and industrial products, and defense.
